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| Kevin Klose (1941-2026) |
Kevin Klose, the former president and CEO of NPR who transformed the public broadcaster into a major national news network, died Wednesday morning at age 85 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
He passed away in his sleep, according to WBUR CEO Margaret Low, a family friend and former NPR news and programming leader who confirmed the death.
Klose was widely credited with stabilizing NPR after years of financial turmoil and internal strife in the 1980s. Under his leadership, the network strengthened its journalistic reputation, expanded its audience, and elevated its standing alongside better-funded commercial networks. Known for his buoyant energy and personal engagement, Klose frequently praised reporters and editors directly and championed international news as central to NPR’s identity.
Former All Things Considered host Robert Siegel added: “There used to be a belief in some quarters that the job of president of NPR was too large to handle, except for the example of Kevin Klose.”
During his tenure, Klose shored up NPR’s leadership structure, improved compensation for hosts and staff, and encouraged creative programming to reach new audiences. Notable initiatives included the launch of Day to Day with Slate, The Tavis Smiley Show, and the regular featuring of StoryCorps segments on Morning Edition.
His leadership brought a period of relative calm and growth to the network following earlier near-bankruptcy crises, helping position NPR as a respected leader in public broadcasting.