Maybe NPR should give him a show. Call it "Nightline."

Ted Koppel has joined Michel Martin, Robert Krulwich and no doubt many behind-the-scenes "Nightline" alumni as a contributor to NPR.

“I have been an unabashed fan of NPR for many years and have stolen untold excellent ideas from its programming," said Ted.  "It’s time to give something back."

An unconfirmed report says that NPR will, in fact, be compensating Koppel for his service. Press release on the jump.

In related news, Paul Harris had Anderson Cooper on his show this week and was besieged by female "Anderfans." Later on his blog, the Anderfans defended Paul against a male listener who thought Paul should have asked Anderson about his sexuality.

TED KOPPEL TO JOIN NPR AS SENIOR NEWS ANALYST

Award-Winning Journalist to Contribute to NPR Newsmagazines,

Breaking News and Special Events Coverage, NPR Podcasts and NPR.org

Washington, D.C.; January 12, 2006 – Ted Koppel, one of America’s most-honored journalists, will join NPR in June 2006 as Senior News Analyst, contributing to its news programming on broadcast radio and on all new media platforms.

Koppel will provide analysis, commentary and perspective on NPR News national programming approximately 50 times a year, including the newsmagazines Morning Edition, the #1-ranked morning show on all radio, and #2 radio program overall; All Things Considered, the #4-ranked radio program overall, and Day to Day, the new NPR midday newsmagazine.  He will also serve as an analyst during breaking news and special events coverage.

Additionally, Koppel’s work will appear on www.NPR.org and in NPR Podcasts, which recently surpassed 9 million downloads in the four months since launch and are consistently among the most-popular on iTunes.

“Ted told the Wall Street Journal that ‘The e-mail that I was leaving went out at 10:59 (and) the first offer to go elsewhere came at 11:01.’  It took us those two minutes to get his e-mail address,” said Jay Kernis, Senior Vice President for Programming, NPR. 

“Ted and NPR are a natural fit, with curiosity about the world and commitment to getting to the heart of the story,” Kernis added.  “He has not only covered every significant news event in the last four decades, but has shined a light on stories, issues and people who would otherwise be invisible.  Listeners have always counted on NPR to report the news and make sense of it.  The role of news analyst has been a tradition on NPR newsmagazines and there is no one better-qualified to uphold and grow that tradition than Ted. “