Ex-NPR leader: ‘This has not been a positive week for free speech’

Criticism Surrounds CBS After Colbert’s Show Cancellation

Former NPR CEO Vivian Schiller expressed her disapproval of CBS’s decision to cancel Stephen Colbert’s show during an interview on Saturday.

“It certainly hasn’t been a great week for discussions on freedom of speech and power dynamics,” Schiller remarked to MSNBC.

CBS has faced backlash for this move, particularly in the context of a recent lawsuit settlement with President Trump, costing $16 million. Meanwhile, Paramount, CBS’s parent company, is navigating federal approval for its merger with Entertainment Conglomerate Skydance.

Colbert responded critically to CBS’s decision, referring to the settlement as “a big fat bribe” during his monologue, hinting at the implications for Paramount’s merger plans. Notably, Paramount’s legal team had earlier described issues CBS faced in editing an interview with former Vice President Harris as lacking “any basis in law or fact.”

Schiller acknowledged during her interview that while the reasons behind the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” are “situational,” she found the decision to be “strange.” CBS claims that financial factors are driving this choice.

“It’s also vital to recognize that Stephen Colbert hasn’t shied away from holding power accountable,” the former NPR leader noted. “He has approached this issue from a bipartisan angle for many years, and comedy alongside parody plays a crucial role in our democratic framework.”

Her remarks came following a challenging week for NPR, the organization she has guided for the last three years. Republicans have voted to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides a minor funding source for NPR’s main office and a significant portion of the income for its member stations.

Schiller mentioned earlier this week that NPR media reporters believe the loss of federal funds is inevitable and urged the network to better prepare for upcoming Congressional votes.

“Evidence-based reporting will likely lead critical news organizations to be labeled as leftist,” she commented. “There’s a fundamental incompatibility between journalism and government funding in the U.S.”

Schiller’s tenure at NPR came to an end in 2011 amid her own controversy regarding federal fundraising. At that time, Republicans threatened to cut funding for broadcasters after videos emerged showing NPR fundraisers disparaging Tea Party activists.