Updated at 7:02 p.m. Sept. 25 with information regarding Tim Eby's continued role at the station and comments from UMSL Chancellor Kristin Sobolik
Tim Eby, general manager at 漏 2024 外网天堂, was removed from his post Thursday after coming under fire alongside other station leaders over allegations of a 鈥溾�� at the station.
Tom Livingston, a two-time former vice chairman of the National Public Radio Board of Directors and chief executive officer of Livingston Associates, is now the station's interim general manager.
Eby will continue to work in a six-month consultancy role at the station in order to provide continuity and transition on pending matters, projects and operations, according to a Friday afternoon press release. Details of Eby鈥檚 severance or termination package were not released.
鈥淣ow is a time to look forward and [to] best align the work of the station with the needs of our community as well as the academic, research, service and outreach mission of the university,鈥� University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Kristin Sobolik said in the release.
The announcement regarding Livingston's temporary appointment was made to 漏 2024 外网天堂 staff in a Thursday morning email from Paul Herring, UMSL vice chancellor of advancement. 鈥淭om will begin meeting with station leaders, teams and staff members this week to listen, engage and build a foundation to move forward together,鈥� Herring wrote.
In an Aug. 7 public statement, a group of the station鈥檚 reporters and producers, all people of color, detailed racist at the station. Eby was described by the group as someone who could 鈥渕ake necessary changes to policies and practices鈥� in order to 鈥渢ransform the station into a diverse, inclusive, and equitable place to work.鈥� But, the journalists allege, he chose to maintain
Despite 漏 2024 外网天堂 having (to be shared with three other public radio stations), with the goal of diversifying the newsroom, the employees said little changed. The group said the station鈥檚 newsroom had been composed solely of white journalists until 2013.
In response, UMSL administration hired the St. Louis-based law firm Tueth Keeney to evaluate diversity, equity and inclusion practices at the station; the university holds the station's licenses. After expressing concerns about the law firm and the investigative process, a group of 21 漏 2024 外网天堂 employees sent saying they have no confidence in the firm鈥檚 external investigation.
Their objections were based, in part, on the firm鈥檚 鈥渇ailure to acknowledge and rectify鈥� an incident in which an employee who requested a witness during an investigative interview was denied. Staff members reportedly have also not been .
In addition, the group said there was no guarantee from the university that employees wouldn鈥檛 face and noted that there was 鈥溾�� messaging about the extent station leaders and staff are required to participate in the investigation.
When asked about the change in leadership, UMSL spokesman Bob Samples said it 鈥渞epresents the first step toward resetting the direction and operation of the station to more closely align to the mission and values of the university.鈥�
Eby became the manager at 漏 2024 外网天堂 in January 2009. He was previously the station manager at WOSU at The Ohio State University and station manager at WVPE in South Bend, Ind., where he worked for more than 21 years.
No other 漏 2024 外网天堂 employees have been replaced since the allegations against the station were brought forward. The external investigation by Tueth Keeney is ongoing.
Livingston and Sobolik will work together in a national search for the next general manager at 漏 2024 外网天堂, according to the Friday release.
Brian Munoz is a freelance journalist in southern Illinois.
Editor's note: This story was reported by freelance reporter Brian Munoz and edited by Ellen Sweets, who are working independently, without oversight from station managers or editors. Newsroom editors hired them to cover the story of Tim Eby's departure from 漏 2024 外网天堂 and the allegations of systemic racism at the station.
