Tavis Smiley opts not to renew his talk show contract with National Public Radio

Jet, Dec 20, 2004

Tavis Smiley has elected not to return for a fourth year as host of his daily radio program on National Public Radio, "The Tavis Smiley Show."

Smiley's last day on air is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 16.

The nationally known commentator, author, philanthropist and host of his own late-night TV program on PBS, "Tavis Smiley." noted: "I am grateful for the opportunity NPR gave me to bring a broader range of viewpoints on life in America to the public airwaves. It is my hope that in the future, NPR will make a greater effort to use its full resources to make this vision a reality."

"The Tavis Smiley Show" began as a collaboration between NPR and the African-American public radio consortium to bring more diverse programming to public radio. NPR sought out Smiley, who became the first Black to host his own signature talk show in NPR's history. Despite limited national marketing and promotion, the program set a record as the fastest-growing radio program in NPR history, proving popular with Blacks and non-Black audiences and expanding the network's demographic range to younger audiences.

In an e-mail sent to colleagues Smiley stated: "I wanted to contact you personally and immediately to express my gratitude to you and your staff for giving me the chance to be heard by your listeners."

Smiley added, "With your support, I have come to care even more for public radio and its social, cultural and intellectual potential. Yet, after all that we've accomplished toward our goal of seeking a broader, more diverse and younger audience for public radio, NPR's own research has confirmed that NPR has failed to meaningfully reach out to a broad spectrum of Americans who would benefit from public radio, but simply don't know it exists or what it offers. In the most multicultural, multiethnic and multiracial America ever--I believe that NPR can and must do better in the future."

Smiley will continue as host and producer of "Tavis Smiley" on PBS-TV.