NPR hired William K. Marimow, former editor of the Baltimore Sun, to fill a new position for a second managing editor.
Marimow joins the network May 2 [2004] to oversee NPR's national news staff, newscast unit and newsroom training and coordinate news content with NPR Online. Barbara Rehm, until now NPR's sole managing editor, will oversee foreign coverage and program production.
The hiring is an early sign of how NPR will build up its news wing with Joan Kroc's $200 million bequest. NPR executives are creating a three-year plan for expanding NPR News, which they intend to implement next fiscal year, according to an internal memo.
"Barbara and her team have done remarkable work over the last four years but we have not added management resources, even as we have added new shows, new staff and new obligations during this period," said Ken Stern, executive v.p., and Bruce Drake, v.p. of news. "With Barbara and Bill working together, we can continue to reshape our newsroom to meet and exceed the demands of our listeners and member stations."
Marimow, a longtime Sun journalist, was promoted to editor in April 2000 and fired in January 2004 by Publisher Denise Palmer, who cited difficulties in their professional relationship, according to media reports. The Sun staff publicly decried his dismissal, praising his credentials and resistance of cost-cutting pressures from the Tribune Co., which owns the Sun.
Marimow was the Sun's managing editor, metro editor and associate
managing editor from 1993 to 2000. He was assistant to the publisher for the
Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News from June 1991
to March 1993. He also worked as a city editor (1989-1991),
New Jersey editor (1987-1989) and reporter (1972-1986) at the Inquirer. As a reporter, he
covered labor, City Hall, state and federal courts, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and business and the economy.
Web page posted April 12, 2004
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