NPR co-host Ari Shapiro announces departure amid financial reductions within the organization (on All Things Considered program).

NPR co-host Ari Shapiro announces departure amid budget reductions from 'All Things Considered' program.

In a series of announcements made over the past few weeks, National Public Radio (NPR) has seen some significant changes. Ari Shapiro, a core voice of NPR, announced his departure from the network in late September, marking the latest major exit since Congress stripped federal funding for public broadcasters.

Edith Chapin, NPR's news chief, announced Shapiro's departure in late July, stating that he will host his final edition of "All Things Considered" on September 26. This news comes shortly after the announcement of Susan Stamberg's retirement, one of NPR's founding mothers, who will step down starting September 1.

Shapiro's departure, however, has nothing to do with the challenges facing public radio, the news media, or the country. In a Substack post, Shapiro clarified that his decision was not informed by these challenges. Instead, he plans to continue engaging with them in meaningful ways.

Starting mid-October, Audie Cornish will take over Shapiro's role on "All Things Considered." This transition will mark a significant change for the popular evening news programme.

Despite leaving NPR, Shapiro has expressed his intention to go on tour with the multi-genre band Pink Martini after his departure. This is not a new venture for Shapiro, as he has been a guest singer with the band for almost 20 years.

During his tenure at NPR, Shapiro kept the original 1970 mission statement from NPR founder Bill Siemering taped in view of his desk. Particularly, he appreciates the part of the mission statement that encourages a sense of active constructive participation, a value he has embodied throughout his time at NPR.

In a positive note, Chapin and Shapiro have discussed the possibility of working together on specific projects in the future. This suggests that the partnership between the two may not end with Shapiro's departure from NPR.

The next steps to fill Shapiro's host chair at NPR are likely to be announced next week. As NPR navigates these changes, it continues to uphold its commitment to providing high-quality, unbiased news to its audience.