Michael Oreskes Named SVP/News At NPR

Michael Oreskes

NPR has named Michael Oreskes, a top Associated Press executive and former New York Times editor who has led newsrooms in such global centers as New York, Washington and Paris, to run its news division.

Officially, Oreskes will be the network's senior vice president for news and editorial director, a slightly refashioned title. Oreskes is currently vice president and senior managing editor at the AP, where he oversees the giant international news wire's daily report.

In an interview, Oreskes described NPR as one of a handful of news outlets that have proved themselves to be indispensable to the nation and therefore must thrive despite financial challenges during rapid technological change.

"We're living through just this remarkable moment, where so much is being turned on its head," Oreskes, 60, said in an interview. "As journalists, I think we have ... both an opportunity and responsibility to help guide the really best journalistic institutions through this disruption."

Several other journalists who have known Oreskes for years characterized him as a sharp and tough executive. They noted that running a newsroom whose traditional strength is in broadcast and audio will be a significant departure for him.

In assessing NPR, Oreskes said he admired its reportorial muscle and that the network's greatest strength could be found in its ability to tell stories that listeners find compelling, accessible and absorbing.

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