The news of Ari Shapiro leaving National Public Radio (NPR) has taken viewers by surprise. He has been with the broadcast for over 25 years and has hosted All Things Considered (ATC) for a decade now.
But since the announcement came amid the ongoing federal funding cuts to the public broadcasters, viewers are wondering if that’s what caused his departure. Shapiro has now opened up on why he’s decided to move on from NPR.
All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro on why he’ll leave NPR soon
Ari Shapiro joined at NPR as an intern back in 2021 and earned his way up to gain prominent positions within the broadcast. Apart from that, he’s also been hosting the ATC since 2015, marking his 10th anniversary this year. He’s widely known for his unique voice charismatic persona.
In a heartfelt Substack post, Shapiro stated that the decision had “nothing to do” with the recent challenges concerning the funding for public broadcasters. “My decision to move on has nothing to do with the challenges facing public radio, the news media, or the country,” the anchor wrote. “Those are real and profound, and I plan to continue engaging with them in meaningful ways. But they aren’t informing this transition.”
In the post, he also talked about his short-term plan after leaving NPR. “I’ll hit the road for a few weeks on tour with my favorite ‘little orchestra’ Pink Martini,” he shared.
Edith Chapin, NPR Senior Vice President, Editor in Chief, and acting Chief Content Officer, also shared a note to newsroom staff. It reads, “This fall, Ari will mark 10 years as an ATC host, a truly remarkable achievement.”
Chapin further wrote, “Several months ago, Ari came to us to say that the milestone was an amazing capstone to his career here, and it felt like the right time for him to try something new.” The note continues, “Ari will be leaving NPR at the end of September. His final show will be September 26, and we’ll toast him in the newsroom after the show wraps.”
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on ComingSoon.
