NPR has announced that it has appointed Thomas Evans to serve as its new Editor-in-Chief.
Evans joined the public radio outlet from CNN last year, where he served as the Vice President and London Bureau Chief for nearly eight years. He led the network’s operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
“I had a lot of respect from beforehand, but these are really the best journalists in the country, if not the world,” Evans said of NPR.
He will replace current Editor-in-Chief Edith Chapin, who announced earlier this year that she will depart the public radio brand.
Evans will remain based in Washington, D.C. in his new role with NPR. He will begin his new role on Monday, September 15th.
His elevation at the public radio outlet comes as the network enters a new era of uncertainty following a decision by Congress to cut federal funding to the broadcaster. On September 30th, all federal funding for NPR will cease. More than $1 billion in funding earmarked for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting — and in turn to public media outlets like NPR and PBS — was cut by Congress.
Estimates show that the funding being slashed has led to an influx of donations to the public media brands. The Contributor Development Partnership, which analyzes media fundraising efforts, estimates that 120,000 donors have pledged at least $20 million in funding in the past four months, when it became increasingly clear that the funding cuts would be enacted by Congress.
Overall, donations to NPR and PBS are an estimated $70 million higher at this stage than they were in the same time frame during 2024. Despite the rise in donations, NPR CEO Katherine Maher has shared that the network has a “long way to go in terms of achieving sustainability,” after the funding cuts.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
