Michele Norris, the NPR host who took a 15-month leave of absence while her husband worked for the Obama campaign, will return to the public radio network in February, NPR said Thursday.
But Ms. Norris will not resume hosting “All Things Considered,†the program she, Robert Siegel and Melissa Block hosted for nearly a decade. Rather, she will be a guest host for NPR and a special correspondent. Audie Cornish, who took over for Ms. Norris in January 2012, will remain a co-host of the afternoon news program.
NPR said in a news release that Ms. Norris “will produce in-depth profiles, interviews and series, and regularly guest host NPR News programs,†including “All Things Considered,†“Morning Edition†and “Talk of the Nation.†When she returns to the public radio network, she'll bring wi th her “The Race Card Project,†an initiative she started that involves people sharing six-word comments about race. The initiative will be featured on NPR's Web site and will spawn related radio segments as well. She will also continue a developing a book club for young listeners.
Ms. Norris left her position in October 2011 when her husband, Broderick Johnson, joined President Obama's re-election campaign as a senior adviser. At the time she cited both the ethical conundrum and “the impact that it will most certainly have on our family life.â€
When she left, she said it was a temporary change “until after the 2012 elections.†But Thursday's announcement makes the hosting change permanent.
Ms. Cornish was previously the host of “Weekend Edition Sunday.†Rachel Martin, wh o filled in for her on Sundays last year, will now be the permanent\ host of that program, NPR said.
