MPB Exec Resigns After 'Fresh Air' Controversy

Mississippi Public Broadcasting Executive Director Judy Lewis has resigned, Mississippi Authority for Educational Television Chairman Bob Sawyer said Wednesday in a press statement.

The statement tout's MPB's success over the last year, but offers no details on why Lewis resigned.

While serving as executive director, Lewis was involved in MPB's July 8 decision to pull the nationally syndicated show "Fresh Air," for what it deemed "inappropriate content," after comedian Louis C.K. answered questions from about wearing his shirt during sex. On July 27, the station announced it would return "Fresh Air" to its radio schedule in a new 9 p.m. time slot.

According to the Jackson Free Press, MPB fired reporter Carl Gibson in July after the station searched its mail servers, discovering that Gibson forwarded an internal e-mail to the Jackson Free Press using his work account. (Gibson freelances for the JFP and is friends with staff members.) The e-mail showed that MPB's decision to pull "Fresh Air" came less than 24 hours after its July 7 show aired with a reference to sex.

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