NPR CEO: Williams' Feelings About Muslims Should Be Between Him and 'His Psychiatrist'

Proving that everyone care be careless when making public remarks, NPR chief executive officer Vivian Schiller said today that that whatever feelings Juan Williams has about Muslims should be between him and "his psychiatrist or his publicist."

NPR issued a statement saying Williams' remarks "were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR."

"Juan has been a valuable contributor to NPR and public radio for many years and we did not make this decision lightly or without regret," NPR spokeswoman Dana Davis Rehm said in an e-mailed statement.

Later this afternoon, NPR released this statement by Schiller: "I spoke hastily and I apologize to Juan and others for my thoughtless remark."

Here is NPR's first statement concerning the dismissal:

"A critical distinction has been lost in this debate. NPR News analysts have a distinctive role and set of responsibilities. This is a very different role than that of a commentator or columnist. News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts, and that's what’s happened in this situation. As you all well know, we offer views of all kinds on your air every day, but those views are expressed by those we interview — not our reporters and analysts.

"Second, this isn't the first time we have had serious concerns about some of Juan's public comments. Despite many conversations and warnings over the years, Juan has continued to violate this principal.

"Third, these specific comments (and others made in the past), are inconsistent with NPR’s ethics code, which applies to all journalists (including contracted analysts): 'In appearing on TV or other media. ... NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist. They should not participate in shows ... that encourage punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis.”

"More fundamentally, 'In appearing on TV or other media including electronic Web-based forums, NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist.'

"Unfortunately, Juan’s comments on Fox violated our standards as well as our values and offended many in doing so."