Anyone surprised NY Times exec picked to head NPR?

Jim Romenesko at Poynter Forums posts: “NPR NAMES VIVIAN SCHILLER AS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER”

The National Public Radio Board of Directors announced today that it has named Vivian Schiller, 47, as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 5, 2009.

Ms. Schiller joins NPR from The New York Times Company where she is Senior Vice President and General Manager of NYTimes.com. She succeeds Dennis L. Haarsager, who has served as interim CEO since March.

Ms. Schiller has more than 20 years of experience in the media industry. During her tenure at The New York Times, she led the day-to-day operations of NYTimes.com, the largest newspaper website on the Internet, overseeing product, technology, marketing, classifieds, strategic planning and business development. ...

The rest of the post’s here.

Comments:

By all means give it a look if you care to, but it’s almost entirely puffery such as: Howard Stevenson, Board Chairman, said, "Vivian is a talented and proven leader with superb skills and broad experience in the media industry. Her roots in the news business, as well as her inclusive management style and operational expertise make her an ideal fit for NPR.”

What make’s Vivian Schiller “an ideal fit for NPR” is she share’s its liberal/leftist ideology. That was the essential qualification the NPR search committee had in mind. “No conservatives or independents need apply” wasn’t spoken, but it was understood.