Kevin Klose, Former NPR President Who Doubled Audience, Dies at 85
Kevin Klose, who ran NPR from 1998 to 2008 and more than doubled its audience and budget, died at age 85. He secured a $200 million donation in 2003 that helped NPR expand its news coverage and weather financial crises.
Kevin Klose, the veteran journalist who transformed NPR into a reporting powerhouse, has died at age 85. He served as NPR's president and CEO from 1998 to 2008.
Klose joined NPR with no fundraising experience but quickly proved his worth. He more than doubled the network's audience, budget, and endowment over his decade in charge.
His biggest achievement came in 2003 when he helped secure a $200 million bequest from philanthropist Joan B. Kroc. The massive donation allowed NPR to create new reporting positions, expand foreign coverage, and build an endowment that protected the network during tough financial times.
'Kevin Klose was unrepentantly idealistic about the role of public media in a democracy,' said current NPR President Katherine Maher in a statement. 'His legacy at NPR is enduring.'
Before joining NPR, Klose was a veteran journalist who understood the importance of independent news reporting. He believed public media played a crucial role in keeping democracy healthy.
Klose transformed NPR into a major news source that millions of Americans rely on daily. His work securing long-term funding helped ensure public radio could continue providing news and programming without relying solely on government money.
NPR will likely announce memorial plans and continue the expansion of news coverage that Klose helped make possible.
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