NPR Names Juana Summers as Co-Host of ‘All Things Considered’

Juana will be the new co- host of NPR's flagship newsmagazine, "All Things Considered," replacing Audie Cornish who left to host a program for CNN+.

Ms. Summers, a veteran political correspondent whose peripatetic career has taken her to news media start-ups, will start on June 27.

Nancy Barnes said, "Juana has all of the things: she is a first-rate journalist, she is a natural leader, and she has an instinct for creative stories that is second to none."

In the wake of several high-profile departures from the public radio network, Ms. Summers took over. Ms. Cornish said in January that she was leaving NPR to host a weekly show for CNN+, which was shut down after it started. In November, a co- host of Weekend Edition left to host a New York Times-produced show. Noel King, a co-host of "Morning Edition", left to host a daily show.

Many of the NPR hosts who have left in the last few months are from minority groups. The co-host of "All Things Considered" referred reporters to Isabel Lara, the network's head of communications, for comment after he said that the network was "hemorrhaging hosts from marginalized background." The hosts who were brought in to replace the ones who left have extensive public radio experience.

She said that she thinks NPR has a good track record of promoting journalists from underrepresented groups. NPR has more work to do on that front according to her.

More can be done to cultivate women, people of color and people from marginalized communities. It is the work that we all need to be doing.

The NPR shows "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition" are now available in digital formats. Ms. Barnes said that the network is trying to make itself relevant to changing American audiences by making its staff more diverse.

Ms. Barnes said that you can't do that without a diverse staff. The audience of the future are on different platforms. We need to be with younger and more diverse audiences if we want to reach them.

Ms. Summers said that she hopes to explore subjects not often associated with NPR, like politics and international coverage.

Sports stories are cultural, according to Ms. Summers. Business stories, empowerment and competition are what they are.

The public radio network wants to grow its audience. When sponsors canceled their spots on the network, NPR was at risk of layoffs.

NPR was able to navigate the PAIN without cutting staff because of the return of sponsorship revenue.

The year was difficult and we ended the year break even.