Work for NPR includes being the lead writer for online coverage of several Olympic Games, from London in 2012 and Rio in 2016 to Pyeongchang in 2018 – stints that also included posting numerous videos and photos to NPR's Instagram and other branded accounts. He has also previously been NPR.org's homepage editor. He established the Peabody Award-winning StoryCrops on NPR's website; his assignments also include being the lead web producer for NPR's trip to Asia's Grand Trunk Road Chappell has coordinated special digital features for Morning Edition and Fresh Air, in addition to editing the rundown of All Things Considered. He also frequently contributes to other NPR blogs, such as The salt. At NPR, he has trained both digital and radio staff to tell compelling stories, promoting more collaboration between departments and desks. He was a key editorial member of the small team that performed one of NPR's largest website redesigns. One year later, NPR.org won its first Peabody Award, along with the National Press Foundation's Excellence in Online Journalism award. Prior to joining NPR, he was part of the Assignment Desk at CNN International, working with reporters in areas from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Chappell also edited and produced stories for CNN.com features division, before moving on to edit video and produce stories for Sports Illustrated's website. Early in his career, he wrote about movies, restaurants, and music for alternative weeklies, in addition to his first job: editing the police blotter.