COLLEGE PARK — The University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism and NPR have entered into a multiyear partnership to host NPR’s public editor at the nationally renowned college beginning in January 2027. The incoming public editor will serve as a visiting professor on the Merrill College faculty specializing in trust, transparency and media ethics.
This transition marks the conclusion of NPR’s nearly seven-year partnership with The Poynter Institute to host the role, which began in 2020 when Poynter Senior Vice President Kelly McBride was appointed public editor. McBride announced her upcoming departure and the role’s transition to UMD in her Thursday newsletter. Moving the public editor role, which was previously internal at NPR, to Poynter established a strong model of external editorial independence that set the foundation for this next academic chapter at UMD.
“Independent public accountability is essential to maintaining trust in public media, and Kelly McBride’s rigorous evaluation and exceptional leadership over her tenure at Poynter elevated the visibility and impact of this role,” said NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher. “As we look to the future, partnering with Merrill College allows us to build on that strong foundation — combining their academic rigor with proximity to our Washington headquarters — while continuing to uphold robust external editorial accountability.”
The public editor fulfills an important role as the public’s representative to NPR in matters of journalism and journalism ethics. The public editor immerses themselves in NPR’s content to represent NPR’s audience by raising questions about NPR’s work, highlighting where NPR succeeds and falls short in its mission, and examining the editorial dilemmas faced by, and decisions made by, NPR’s journalists. The public editor addresses these issues through columns, newsletters and on-air appearances.
As a visiting professor at Merrill College, the public editor will bring a real-world, real-time perspective to students, the University of Maryland community and the public.
“We are thrilled to embark on this new partnership with NPR, one that will benefit our students, the entire Merrill College community and journalism as a whole,” Merrill College Dean Rafael Lorente said. “It is imperative that we as journalists connect with the public in order to rebuild trust and make sure that journalism successfully serves its important role in a free and democratic society. Bringing the public editor to the University of Maryland allows us to foster open conversation with news consumers.”
The college will post the position with applications open soon. Merrill College will also hire staff to support the work of the public editor.
About the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism
The University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism is one of the world’s premier journalism schools. One of only a handful of programs in the country devoted exclusively to journalism, Merrill College emphasizes immersive, hands-on learning to prepare students for success across today’s — and tomorrow’s — information ecosystem.
Students work alongside professional journalists on data-driven national investigations through the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, a 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist. They report from Washington, D.C., and Annapolis with Capital News Service, cover sports beyond the playing field at The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, report on issues vital to Maryland communities through the Local News Network, and contribute to building innovative artificial intelligence-based tools that strengthen journalism. They also pursue international reporting opportunities across the globe.
Merrill College’s distinguished faculty brings decades of experience covering Washington and producing high-impact investigations, earning a combined 11 Pulitzer Prizes and five Peabody Awards. Alumni include Pulitzer and Peabody winners, newsroom leaders, influential journalists shaping the future of the field and accomplished professionals across a wide range of industries.
About NPR
NPR's rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connect with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online and in person. NPR was founded on a mission to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and more than a dozen international bureaus, NPR and its Member organizations — the NPR Network — are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners and readers can find NPR everywhere — through their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), online at NPR.org, wherever podcasts are available and by downloading the NPR app. The NPR app brings together the best of the NPR Network from around the world and right in your community — live radio, podcasts, the latest local and national news, and more — available wherever you are and whenever you want. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads and Instagram.
For more information, contact:
Josh Land, Director of Communications
joshland@umd.edu