NPR Names Thomas Evans as Editor in Chief

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 9:53am CT

Thomas Evans

NPR appoints Thomas Evans as Editor in Chief and Marta McLellan Ross as Chief of Staff. Evans will oversee NPR's global newsroom, shaping editorial standards and coverage across broadcast, digital, and emerging platforms. He most recently served as Managing Editor, Editorial Review, where he led an Editorial Enhancements program that tightened newsroom workflows and added an independent "backstop" review process for every NPR story.

Evans joined NPR in 2024 after nearly eight years with CNN, where he was Vice President and London Bureau Chief, overseeing operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Earlier in his career, he worked extensively as a field producer in war zones and ran CNN's bureaus in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

"NPR's mission is as important today as it ever has been," Evans said. "Its value is built on the finest journalists in the nation, and I am proud to have been asked to lead this newsroom at this crucial time as we continue to serve our listeners and the pursuit of truth."

McLellan Ross, who has led NPR's Policy and Representation team since 2021, will now serve as Chief of Staff. In that role, she will work with NPR's CEO and senior leadership to drive strategy, strengthen collaboration, and support long-term goals. She has been a key advocate for public media and press freedom with lawmakers at the federal, state, and local levels.

Her career includes more than a decade in legislative and public service roles, including Director of Legislative Affairs at the Defense Logistics Agency and Acting Director of Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. She also served as a senior policy advisor to two U.S. Senators and has expertise in East Asian security policy, including a Council on Foreign Relations Hitachi Fellowship. A Harry S. Truman Scholar, she has been recognized for her commitment to public service.

"NPR and public radio play a vital role in American public life," McLellan Ross said. "I look forward to supporting the organization in transforming its service to the public and connecting more people to its trusted work."