For immediate release
April 3, 1998


NPR President and CEO Del Lewis Resigns
His Future To Include Teaching, Lecturing and a Book

Washington, DC – Delano E. Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Public Radio® (NPR®) today announced his resignation, effective August 1st, 1998. Lewis is leaving his post to pursue other interests, including teaching, lecturing and writing a book about his experiences.

Lewis joined NPR as President and CEO in January, 1994, with his vision to make NPR "the leading provider of high quality news, information and cultural programming worldwide." During his tenure, he focused on three areas: top-quality programming, financial strength and customer service.

During Lewis' tenure, NPR expanded its award-winning news programming by setting a 4 p.m. EST start for All Things Considered® and a 5 a.m. start for Morning Edition®, garnering appreciation from both listeners and member stations. Last year, Lewis hired veteran newsman Jeffrey Dvorkin, formerly of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, to lead the news and information division into the next century. Building upon NPR's stellar and highly-acclaimed cultural programming, Lewis provided leadership within the public radio system that led to new weekend programming. Earlier this week, NPR expanded its reach across the globe with the launch of NPR Worldwide's European channel, providing public radio programming 24 hours a day.

Under Lewis, NPR has successfully secured both public and private funding. Following his success with the federal funding crisis of 1995, Lewis headed development of legislative strategy designed to support public radio in the future. He has also increased the involvement of the NPR Foundation in raising funds for NPR initiatives and the NPR Endowment.

Lewis has emphasized the value of NPR membership by facilitating dialogue about key membership issues, and providing outstanding customer service and support to member stations in the areas of training, technology assistance, and joint fundraising opportunities. He has also underscored his commitment to partner with member stations in gathering, producing and delivering news.

"Delano Lewis has carried out his responsibility as President and CEO magnificently," said F. Kim Hodgson, chairman of the NPR Board of Directors and general manager of WAMU-FM. "The senior management team is the best in the company's history, and is superbly organized to pursue vigorously NPR's mission. Del still has a lot of work to do for NPR, including helping the Board to reach a successful conclusion to the strategic planning process which is now underway."

Before coming to NPR, Lewis was president of C&P; Telephone Company, a subsidiary of Bell Atlantic, where he had served in various positions since 1973. Earlier in his career, he worked with former Congressional Delegate Walter Fauntroy of the District of Columbia and Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts. He also served as Country Director in Uganda for the U.S. Peace Corps, and was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Lewis serves on the Boards of Directors of Colgate-Palmolive, Black Entertainment Television, Halliburton and Guest Services, Inc. He served as chairman of the board of the Eugene and Agnes Meyer Foundation. He is an honorary member of Mainstream, a national board member of Africare, and an emeritus member of the board of the Washington Performing Arts Society.

National Public Radio, a membership organization of nearly 600 public radio stations nationwide, produces and distributes the award-winning programs All Things Considered®, Talk of the Nation®, Weekend Edition® and NPR's Performance Today®.