(Credit: NPR)

NPR has some updates for its ombudsman position. First, NPR extended the contract of the current ombuds; second, NPR changed the title of the role.

Elizabeth Jensen will continue in the role through Jan. 2020, keeping her in the role for a total of five years, an NPR press release stated. “Jensen was appointed in January 2015; she will continue to serve through January 2020 as the public’s representative to NPR’s newsroom, responsible for bringing transparency to matters of journalism and journalism ethics,” NPR’s press release said.

NPR’s release also announced the title change from ombudsman to public editor. While Jensen’s job will remain the same, now her title is “general neutral.”

“In 2000, NPR became the first U.S. broadcast news organization to create an Ombudsman position, now Public Editor,” NPR’s announcement explained. “The role will not change with the new title. The new title is gender neutral and reflects the role’s responsibility as the public’s representative to the NPR newsroom.”

iMediaEthics has written to NPR and Jensen.