NPR's New Chief Faces Tough Choices On Funding

On Oct 2, former NPR CEO Vivian Schiller tweeted a strong endorsement for the choice of Gary Knell to replace her. In the same 140 characters, however, Schiller characterized continued federal funding of public radio as "untenable."

Schiller has told associates the subsidy allows lawmakers to use NPR unfairly as a political punching bag. Such are the challenges that will soon confront Knell, currently chief executive of the company that produces the beloved children's public TV program Sesame Street. He formally takes over his new responsibilities at NPR in December. And pretty much from day one, Knell will have to grapple with the financial structure of public radio. According to two people who participated in the process that led to Knell's selection, he embraced a two-track approach: fight forcefully for continued federal support and plan actively for the day when such subsidies vanish, just in case.