NEW YORK, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- National Public Radio personality Tavis Smiley will leave his popular show in mid-December, the New York Post reported Tuesday.
The host of "Tavis Smiley" is the first African-American to have his own show on NPR.
While the program was popular, the New York Post said, "NPR apparently didn't do enough to grow Smiley's show through a comprehensive advertising/marketing campaign." In a memo to station managers, Smiley said, "NPR's own research has confirmed that NPR has simply failed to meaningfully reach out to a broad spectrum of Americans who would benefit from public radio."
Smiley, who plans to sign off December 16, said he is grateful for the three-year opportunity "to bring a broader range of viewpoints on life in America to the public airwaves."
He will continue to produce and host his late night television show on PBS
