NPR selects Edward Schumacher-Matos as ombudsman

Edward Schumacher-Matos, a journalist, educator and columnist, is the new NPR ombudsman, the pubradio network announced today (April 29). He begins a three-year term on June 1.

Schumacher-Matos has been ombudsman for the Miami Herald since 2007. He founded Meximerica Media and Rumbo Newspapers in 2003, launching four Spanish-language daily newspapers in Houston, San Antonio, Austin and the Rio Grande Valley. He is also founding editor and associate publisher of Wall Street Journal Americas, the business newspaper's Spanish and Portuguese insert editions in Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Until recently he also wrote a syndicated column for the Washington Post.

Since January 2008, he has been at Harvard University as a Robert F. Kennedy visiting professor in Latin American studies; a Shorenstein Fellow on the press, politics and public policy; and a lecturer at the Kennedy School of Government.

Schumacher-Matos succeeds Alicia Shepard, NPR’s ombudsman since October 2007. She agreed to extend her two-year appointment in 2009.

Senate in South Carolina stands up to governor for pubcasting funding

The South Carolina Senate is fighting Gov. Nikki Haley's move to defund public broadcasting in the state, reports The State newspaper. The GOP-controlled Senate on Thursday (April 28) approved a measure 25-18 that uses general funds to pay for South Carolina ETV. It's part of the debate over the state's $5.8 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year. The governor also replaced the entire public broadcasting board last month.

NPR's succession plan put Slocum at the top

When NPR general counsel Joyce Slocum took over after Vivian Schiller's March departure, "the move was sudden, but not unscripted," notes Law.com. In 2009 NPR’s board of directors drew up a succession plan that designated Slocum as the replacement if Schiller left unexpectedly. Carol Cartwright, vice-chair of NPR’s board, says one of the main attractions was that Slocum didn't want the job. “We did not want an interim c.e.o. who would be actively pursuing the role on a permanent basis,” Cartwright says.