Vivian Schiller Resigns: 3 NPR Debacles That Forced Her Out

Strike three.

Coming off yet another fiasco, NPR's board of directors announced this morning that it has accepted Vivian Schiller's resignation as the organization's president and CEO, effective immediately.

"The board accepted her resignation with understanding, genuine regret and great respect for her leadership of NPR these past two years," NPR Board of Directors Chairman Dave Edwards said in a statement.

Despite the kind remarks, NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik tweeted that Schiller was forced out by the board:

BREAKING: The board for NPR NEWS has just ousted CEO Vivian Schiller in the wake of video sting by conservative activist of a top exec.less than a minute ago via webDavid Folkenflik
davidfolkenflik

So how did we get to this point?

Here's a breakdown of the three biggest news stories that Schiller and NPR probably would rather forget from the past six months.

1. The Juan Williams firing
Williams was fired from NPR in October after telling Bill O'Reilly that he gets "worried" and "nervous" when he sees people "identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims" boarding an airplane. The commentator rebounded with a lucrative contract from Fox News, while NPR faced heavy criticism for the move and Schiller's detractors called for her resignation.

2. Incorrectly reporting Gabrielle Giffords' death
In the aftermath of the Tucson shootings, NPR led a handful of news outlets that falsely reported Rep. Giffords' passing. The news of Giffords' death, which was incorrectly confirmed by a congressional source and someone from the Pima County Sheriff's Department, even reached Giffords' family, including husband Mark Kelly.

3. Ron Schiller and the Muslim Brotherhood
Just this week, footage of Ron Schiller -- no relation to Vivian -- surfaced showing the soon-to-be-departing NPR executive labeling the tea party as "seriously racist" and, perhaps even more damaging to his employer, explaining that NPR "would be better off in the long run without federal funding." Schiller thought he was speaking with two Muslim philanthropists and potential donors, but it turns out that he's actually the latest sting for right-wing activist James O'Keefe.

Not exactly what NPR needs as it battles conservatives to retain government cash.

Here's video:

For more Surge Desk coverage, visit:
NPR Caught in James O'Keefe Sting; So What's the Fallout? [VIDEO]

Follow Surge Desk on Twitter.