NPR has been faced with a torrent of criticism over its bias and intolerance for opposing views in programming, including a stinging criticism from award-winning editor Uri Berliner. In response, NPR appears eager to fulfill that narrative and has suspended Berliner for speaking with the media. It appears that Berliner’s objections to NPR’s “absence of viewpoint diversity” is a bit too much for NPR to bear.
After Berliner wrote his piece in the Free Press, NPR CEO Katherine Maher attacked Berliner and made clear that NPR had no intention to change its one-sided editorial staff or its coverage. Others at NPR also went public with their criticism of him and falsely portrayed his criticism as opposed to actual racial and other diversity of the staff.
In his article, NPR’s David Folkenflik acknowledges that the Berliner criticism “angered many of his colleagues.”
Berliner gave Folkenflik a copy of the formal rebuke, which told Berliner that the letter was a “final warning” and Berliner would be fired if he violated NPR’s policy again. However, NPR did not cite reportedly specific appearances as violations. The letter lacks specificity on that point, but Berliner will not contest the five-day suspension.
It is clear that NPR and Maher want prior approval of any future discussions with outside media. With a whistleblower, that could present an obvious chokepoint and invite further bias.
I have criticized NPR’s editors of playing such a role in other areas. NPR announced that reporters could participate in activities that advocate for “freedom and dignity of human beings” on social media and in real life. Reporters just need approval over what are deemed freedom or dignity enhancing causes. Presumably, that does not include pro-life or gun rights rallies.
The suspension may satisfy the anger of NPR editors and reporters over Berliner’s detailed accounts of their bias. In conjunction with Maher’s attacks, it is clear that the problem is viewed as Berliner, not the underlying bias. He is one of the few remaining “old guard” journalists at NPR who want greater balance at the outlet. Even that singular voice is too much for the staff. Again, it is reminiscent of what we have seen in higher education where faculties have been purged of conservative, libertarian, or dissenting voices.
NPR obviously has a right to be slanted and bias. It does not have a right to public funding in presenting such coverage.
Sen. Harley’s OpED gets published, NYT fires editor. MSNBC hires Ronna, fires her after staff throw on-air temper tantrums. Career staffer points out biases, NPR suspends him. The next time someone insists journalists don’t take sides, laugh in their face.
Trust the Left to live down to your expectations.
Cionnath,
Best comment of the day!
NPR makes me sick. I write them and tell them they will never get a donation from me until they present opposing/conservative views. They interviewed Pencil Neck and let him rant about the way he’s been treated w/o presenting him with a single question challenging him Pathetic scum.
NPR IS WORSE THAN THE REST OF THE PACK. THEY GET PUBLIC MONEY. HOPEFULLY IF TRUMP GETS THRU ANOTHER PHONY ELECTION HE ENDS THE FUNDING. KIND OF LIKE CBC IN CANADA. WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE TANK EVEN LONGER.
Trump is gonna have a heart attack. His eyes are puffy from lack of sleep. He’s looks exhausted. He’s not 20 and he is going through hell. Something is going to break.
It is my understanding that if you get to Trump’s age without having a heart attack you are unlikely to do so.
There is pretty good evidence that Trump is one of those people who thrive on stress. I doubt this is concerning him.
Is he getting enough sleep – probably not. He is trying to run businesses, fend off political attacks run a presidential campaign all while dealing with 4 corrupt lawfare proceedings.
Yes he is probably short on sleep.
Of course at the same time he is proving why he has the stamina to be president.
Conversely Biden is routinely missing 10am appointments and stopping work at 3pm while not working at all more than half the time.
Anything is possible – but if you are betting on a major health problem – that is more likely with Biden than Trump.
Biden is already finished. The only way he could get worse if his heart refuses to beat one more time. I’m not criticizing Trump’s physical prowess. He’s been amazing. BUT, no one can take that kind of pressure for ever. He finished 4 years in the white house enduring unprecedented, continual nuclear attacks by the left. Now, more of the same. Schwarzenegger couldn’t take this much.
The amazing thing about npr isn’t that they are biased propagandists, it is that so many people seem to believe their BS.
These suckers that fall for the propaganda are educated people, yet they are morons.
npr is symptomatic of a much more nefarious circumstance in this country.
It is funny, some moron recently declared he had a high IQ, yet is one of the dumbest commenters on the good professor’s blog.
The Left is composed entirely of the stupid and the complicit. There is no in between. If you have a brain, you know its a grift. And the grift never ends.
They are pinko scumbags. or commonly known as DEMACRATS !!!!!!!!
I know all too well what definition modern leftists and crusty old crusty hippies use for ‘fascism’, and I understand perfectly what’s going on with younger generations; seriously: how long do we tolerate this? At this point in time enough people have woken up (not ‘woke’, but ‘awake’), this is literally like watching pre-school kids convincing themselves there is no monster under the bed. People that still follow and believe this caca – do you honestly think you are sane or a ‘majority’? That question might answer itself. You aren’t. Wake up or cry, or not, because every single one of the rest of us has had enough. This is all so paper thin at this point i smack my own head.
To the trolls: you will be out of work soon, pray that your employers don’t ask for their money back, I hope you read your employment agreements very carefully, because even if you are in a server room overseas, here, our national laws apply, just like any other kind of commerce. Pfft. Yawn. Go away. All you are doing is reinforcing the idea that your ideology is madness, and if we can circumvent chicanery, that will die in a few months. Pfft. Yawn. 🥱
Funny, NPR has a segment called “All things considered” – as if they consider all sides.
Cults never consider all sides. NPR is a great example of group-think cult.
Well when you go after your employer you have to be ready for the consequences, even if you are right. I think Berliner showed bravery but the employer has the last word unless you work under a contract that gives you freedom to critcize the employer. That would be a truly rare contract. The question on whether to resign or get fired depends on circumstance. I would have quietly obtained a job elsewhere, then written my critique and loudly quit. That leaves you out of unemployment but with another job waiting, so no problem. Now they can make a case for termination with cause if you don’t toe the line but that may give you some legal options if they interfere with a search for other employment opportunities or their firing for cause may be suspect. It’s great to be brave and open but it’s even greater to be brave and open and have a plan already set up for working elsewhere. After all bills have to be paid whether you’re brave or a coward , employed or unemployed.
NPR can be seen as pointing out facts and the truth. And facts and truth cannot stand with the far-right. When NPR has to pay more than 700 million dollars for lying to it viewers then they too can join the ranks of FOXNEWS.
Fishstick, if you would read Uri Berliner’s essay, he points out all the lies they spread about Russian collusion, the Hunter Biden laptop and COVID. Then rather than acknowledge their lies, they just pretended it never happened.
NPR has a ethics problem.
Yes, because the writings of Che Guevara and skin color are all that matter. You are very boring, uncreative, prosaic people, and I thank my lucky stars to live in a country where enough people can tell you that you’re full of s*** and marginalize you. You contribute absolutely northing to the wellbeing of this world or the people that live in it. That you are willing to do it everyday for money tells me that you are not well. Go blow, Gigi. Or perish in your own misery. Take your pick, because nobody is listening. We don not give a ****.
James,
Well said.
Fishentrails, Fox wanted to pay Dominion for their fraud. They took a tax deduction for the coverup of the election fraud to prove to their fellow UniParty members that they too are first and foremost UniParty members and only off programs with real reporting and analysis as a way to sustain ratings. Fox, unlike CNN, MSNBC, and other UniParty mainstream networks can easily afford to lose hundreds of millions of dollars on their frauduelent programs that nobody watches.
THIS MEANS THAT NPR IS PURPOSELY ADOPTING A FOMAT THAT IS DECIDEDLY LEFTIST AND WOKE, AND NOTHING BESIDES DEATH IS WORSE THAT DECIDEDLY LEFTIST AND WOKE.
Unfortunately there is no “EDIT COMMENT” so I cannot correct the typos. Proof Reading a necessity.
NPR is unconstitutional in that it may not be taxed for or funded by Congress, per Article 1, Section 8.
Congress may not regulate the press, broadcast, or any other industry, per Article 1, Section 8.
Congress has the power to regulate ONLY the value of money, commerce among the States (i.e. to preclude bias), and land and naval Forces, per Article 1, Section 8.
Free industries operating in the free markets of the free private sector are compelled by market forces and potentially disastrous litigation to self-regulate.
Government has no legal basis or authority to operate or assist a commercial enterprise.
The entire communist (liberal, progressive, socialist, democrat, RINO, AINO) American welfare state may not be taxed for, funded, or regulated into existence, and is unconstitutional.
Ich bin ein Berliner.
Keep speaking up for Truth, sir!
“Ich Bin Ein Konstitutioneller Amerikaner!”
What does commending someone who speaks the truth say about America?
Most of what is spoken publicly, with emphasis on the mainstream media, is false, pro-communist, and anti-American.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“We’ll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false.”
– William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
______________________________________
Those who don’t speak the truth of American fundamental law are direct and mortal enemies of the American thesis of Freedom and Self-Reliance, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, actual Americans, and America.
“What does commending someone who speaks the truth say about America?”
That we can. And, that we have people of courage and integrity who will.
It says that America is full of dastardly bleeding-heart milquetoast liberals terrified of speaking against communism (i.e. the status quo), in favor of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and for the full and immediate extirpation of anti-American communism in all its guises and iterations.
It distinctly does not say this:
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
– Declaration of Independence, 1776
In German, this phrase means “I am a doughnut”. Not very frightening.
Riffing off Kennedy.
Jelly doughnuts are better than what NPR seems to be filled with at the moment.
Prairie Rose said: “Jelly doughnuts are better than what NPR seems to be filled with at the moment.”
Krap Knish? Excrement Eclaire?
Number 6,
Witty! Very witty!
“Presumably, that does not include pro-life or gun rights rallies.”
The possibility of someone who works for NPR wanting to go to a pro-life or gun rights rally is about the funniest thing I’ve come across in quite some time.
You might not like it, but it should be made available to those who do like it. The world doesn’t revolve around you, believe it or not.
Not when I am paying for it.
It could not be clearer: NPR is so biased that they won’t admit their bias and will punish anyone who seeks to improve diversity, inclusion, and fulfilling their stated mission.
The “word salad” served up by their CEO is far-Left gibberish. Stop all contributions to NPR and boycott their major funders for sponsoring garbage.
They don’t call it ‘National Pink Radio’ for nothing. . . .
Change the letter P in NPR and you have got it and the word is Progressive!!!!!!
Ironically, the more dominant one viewpoint becomes in an institution, the stronger becomes the urge of that institution to silence any remaining discordant voices. The one voice “singing out of tune” is more offensive.