NPR Leader Kevin Klose Dies After Doubling Network Audience in Decade
Kevin Klose, the longtime NPR leader credited with transforming public radio into a national powerhouse, has died, according to NPR reporting and historical accounts of his tenure.
His leadership defined what many describe as NPR’s “golden era,” but it also reshaped how public media operates in the digital age.
Klose served as NPR president from 1998 to 2008, overseeing a period when the network’s weekly audience doubled to roughly 26 million listeners, according to Columbia Journalism Review and NPR data.
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He pushed aggressive expansion, opening new bureaus, growing newsroom staffing, and investing early in digital platforms and podcasts.
That growth helped NPR evolve from a traditional radio network into a multi-platform news organization, though it also created tensions with local stations over funding and control.
According to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Klose was seen as a “visionary” who helped modernize public radio.
His death comes as NPR continues navigating funding pressures and a rapidly changing media landscape.
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