Juan Williams

Juan Williams (born April 10, 1954, in Colon, Pennsylvania, USA) is an American journalist. He is best known for his work at The Washington Post where during his 30 year career he worked as an editorial writer, op-ed columnist and White House correspondent. Williams reached nationwide fame after his firing from National Public Radio (NPR) after comments he made on a Fox News television show that caused his firing on October 20, 2010:

The infamous comment was made by Williams during a broadcast of the O'Reilly Factor at Fox News.

"I mean, look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they're identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

After his firing from NPR, Williams was offered a "expanded role" at Fox News. Williams had served as a commentator for the network before his firing from NPR.

Williams is anEmmy Award winner for his television documentary writing.

National Public Radio contract termination and response

Here is the official news release offered by NPR:

October 21, 2010
Contact: Anna Christopher, NPR

NPR STATEMENT REGARDING THE TERMINATION OF ITS CONTRACT WITH JUAN WILLIAMS

On Wednesday night we gave Juan Williams notice that we are terminating his contract as a Senior News Analyst for NPR News.

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. However, his remarks on The O'Reilly Factor this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.

We regret these circumstances and thank Juan Williams for his many years of service to NPR and public radio.

NPR Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vivian Schiller said Thursday: "As a reporter, as a host, as a news analyst, you do not comment on stories."

She said such restraint is a vital part of NPR's code of ethics, which states that news staffers cannot say things in other public forums that they could not say on NPR's airwaves as well.

"Certainly you have opinions — all human beings have their personal opinions," Schiller said. "But it is the ideal of journalism that we strive for objectivity so we can best present the positions of people around all parts of the debate to our public so the public can make their own decisions about these issues."

Schiller had her own verbal miscue Thursday. In an address to the Atlanta Press Club, she said perhaps Williams would have been better served confiding his thoughts to his psychiatrist or his publicist — a flip line for which she later apologized."

Media response

Most of the media did not condone Williams firing by NPR.

Political response

On the political front Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee have both suggested federal funding be withdrawn from NPR.

Personal

Williams is married to Susan Delise and the father of two children. Williams moved to Brooklyn, New York, USA, in 1958 and later graduated from Haverford College where he received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in philosophy in 1976.