NPR CEO Names Isabel Lara Chief Communications Officer

NPR President and CEO John Lansing has promoted Isabel Lara to be NPR’s first Chief Communications Officer. Lara has led NPR’s media relations team and acted as the organization’s spokesperson since 2014, most recently as Executive Director for Media Relations. The CCO is a new senior executive role that elevates and focuses strategic oversight of NPR’s communications with all audiences, ensuring a unified and consistent voice and a strong representation of the NPR brand across channels. The existing media relations and corporate communications teams will now report up to the new role. Together, the combined team leads NPR’s press outreach, crisis communications, audience relations, talent relations, corporate messaging and stakeholder communications.

Lara is a veteran communications expert, with over 20 years of experience in the field. During her tenure at NPR, she has demonstrated communications excellence in designing and implementing proactive press strategies around key news, programming, and organizational developments that have built visibility, awareness, and audience for NPR and Member stations. She has also led NPR’s public messaging for a range of corporate issues and developments, including reputation management and strategy.

“Isabel is known across the organization for her deep commitment to NPR’s staff and mission, and her tenure at NPR is evidence of a communications expert who understands the unique needs of a media organization,” said Lansing. “She is always ready to take on a complex communications challenge and find strategic solutions that will benefit our brand and future.”

“Every day NPR and its Member stations bring millions of listeners the news they need about the world and their communities, as well as art, music and science stories that enrich and give meaning to their lives. It is a privilege to support the people who work around the clock to ensure this,” added Lara. “Transparent, accurate, and timely messaging is vital in a media organization. I am eager to continue working with our very strong and effective internal and external communications teams in this new role.”

The Communications team works closely with Member Partnership, Marketing, Policy & Representation, Development, the Office of the General Counsel, National Public Media and other teams across NPR to ensure consistent messaging and to coordinate system-wide announcements.

Before coming to NPR, Lara worked at the National Education Association, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Latino Center; as well as Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation in New York and El Universal in Caracas. She graduated cum laude with a degree in Literature from Universidad Católica Andres Bello in Caracas and has a Master’s in Media Studies from the New School in New York.

About NPR:

NPR, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is widely known for its rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling that connects with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online, and in-person. NPR strives to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and 17 international bureaus, NPR and its Member Stations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners can find NPR by tuning in to their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), and now it’s easy to listen to our stories on smart speaker devices. Ask your smart speaker to, “Play NPR,” and you’ll be tuned into your local Member station’s live stream. Your speaker can also access NPR podcasts, NPR One, NPR News Now, and the Visual Newscast is available for screened speakers. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.