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.
Three cheers for Uri Berliner!!!
(1) courage; (2) honesty; (3) integrity
I’ll contribute to a GoFundMe to keep his salary going until another network realizes he is not gold-plated elemental sulfur!
He has now resigned. He says:
I am resigning from NPR, a great American institution where I have worked for 25 years. . . . I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I site in my Free Press essay.
https://twitter.com/uberliner/status/1780610524411048183
*cite
wonder if most Democrats realize they are 1930’s European Fascists at this point?
why do the republicans continue to fund a Government that hates them?
” . . . NPR had no intention to change its one-sided editorial staff or its coverage.” (JT)
Step One: “I am the CEO of NPR. I believe that the purpose of journalism is to spread Woke propaganda, to censor dissent, and to compel others to pay for that propaganda.”
The other steps come easier.
This editor’s idea of bias and lack of diversity is NPR’s unwillingness to air MAGA lies. So ya he should get the boot.
Yeah, moron, no diversity of opinion in a democracy.
Lies are not opinions. NPR has a responsibility to decline to air false information just because morons believe it.
“morons”
First you dehumanize a person. Then you can justify any atrocity.
And they aired Adam Schiff’s lies.
And you believed it.
But they promote Adam Shciff’s lies, COVID lies, and wont cover the Hunter Biden laptop news. In your little world, the only thing you would allow is leftist Democrat lies.
What particular MAGA lies did he air or want to air that cost him his job? I’m waiting.
So many people on this site hate when a migrant commits a crime. Even though migrants commit crime at a much lower rate than native born. So here is where you 2nd amendment rights come in. This guy loved his 2nd amendment rights until he killed someone. Where is the hue and cry for this murdered victim? Oh wait, she black, no problem here.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/16/us/ohio-uber-driver-murder-charge/index.html
Moron. Off Topic.
This is a very sad case. That you would try to exploit it says a lot more about you than it does about anyone else.
We are stuck with the native born. We could do something amount migrants. So ……….
JT loves his free speech except when he doesn’t. Surprised? I kind of am. I thought JT was ok until he jumped on the trump band wagon. For a while I defended his trump support because he seemed to be doing it in fairness. No more. JT has drank the kool aid and is a trump cultist. How can I tell. Here is a story about an elected politician putting a fork in free speech. Does JT say anything? Nope. How about all the trump sycophants on this site? Nope. They yell about democrats taking away free speech when right under their nose the AG of Texas is attempting a shutting down of a site that reports the truth. Sad. So sad.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/04/judge-halts-texas-probe-into-media-matters-reporting-on-x/
We must face it. There is never any contrition amongst the immoral.
Thinkitthrough—–excellent comment
I wonder how the same editor would fare at Turley’s Fox News, the company that still has Mark Fuhrman as a listed contributor.
Enigmainblack….Youse is crazy
Juan Williams appears most nights. Democratic strategist Jessica Tarlow is co-host of the daily show The Five. Marie Harf and Leslie Marshall among other Democratic Party strategists appears
regularly.
Fox News has their share of “Democratic Party strategists” who allow nthemselves to be shouted down and talked over. They may make mild criticisms of Republicans but never condemn the network.
I am conservative, so I don’t often agree with Juan Williams. But I do find him to be credible. Of all the liberal talking heads he’s the best. He makes good arguments, and he makes some effort to back up his arguments with facts. He’s not like “Morning Joe”, he doesn’t just spin propaganda. Morning Joe – is not worth listening to. He get paid 10 million a year trash Trump nightly; every night you his editors wind him up and out comes all this hatred of Trump.
Pretty well.
WHo at Fox News gets to complain about Fox News and stay employed?
Enigmainblack, we all know that Simpson didn’t commit the murders right? Enigmatic is someone who is difficult to understand. You are not difficult to understand nor are you unique in any way. Yours is the same old race baiting rhetoric that we have heard from Sharpton and Farrakhan for years. Explaining who you are is not difficult in any way. Simpson and Fuhrman had one thing in common. They both broke the law for their own purposes. It seems that if you are able to forgive the indiscretions of one that you might forgive the indiscretions of the other. No chance of that.
Total objectivity is humanly impossible, but I find Fax News as the only one trying to achieve it.
Fox does not try to be objective. But it does try to reflect more than one side. Fox also has a few truly libertarian hosts.
enigma…….when Mark F. becomes one-fourth the racist that white hater Joy Reid is, we’ll talk.
Joy is a racist homophobe. She hates whitey and them gays too.
Cindy, before we talk, here’s a reminder of Fuhrman at his racist best, and his misogyny was arguably worse than his racism.
https://medium.com/illumination-curated/the-mark-fuhrman-tapes-and-the-oj-simpson-trial-677631265a90?sk=15aac5f1548f345a3b6618f0dcdeefd8
OJ should have been executed via death penalty
Still here, Cindy? Did you read Fuhrman’s comments and still wish to compare him to anyone?
What is wrong with Mark Fuhrman???
There are numerous liberal commentators at Fox. I am not aware of any of them being fired for criticism of Fox.
NPR is possibly the farthest falling off the left edge of the world biased, and they are attacking – and I beleive firing a Liberal voice for criticizing the TOTAL lack of balance.
While NOR leans farthest to the left – we are seeing other left wing outlets – both unable to tolerate the views of anyone not on the far left – look at the Rona McDaniels debacle. Or the Tom Cotton editorial. Remarkable the Times ultimate ran almost the same editorial – only from the left regarding protestors on the right with not even a hiccup.
Without a doubt Fox leans right. But a significant portion of Fox’s shows allow both guests, contributors, and even cohosts that are decidedly liberal.
Turley is a regular paid contributor to Fox, Jessica Tarlow, Former Rep. Ford, Juan Williams, and many others fox cohosts reflect democrat positions.
They are typically regarded critically – but they ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
We do not get stories of Gutfeld, or Piro or the Fox staff demanding that Ford be fired for being to democrat.
I think Fox needs even more balance. But they are still head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the media – and it is reflected in their ratings.
Fox has more Democrat viewers than CNN. I beleive Fox has more democrat viewers than the rest of the MSM combined.
Fox is not perfect – but they are certainly NOT nearly as bad as NPR.
And my money is not being used to subsidize Fox.
Thank you. Very well said!
John Say,
Well said!
Name any of the left leaning strategists or panelists that are allowed to criticize Fox. When Fox settled with Dominion (after dozens of terrible quotes form Tucker, Hannity, and others were revealed) did anybody criticize Fox? I only hope the Smartmatic lawsuit goes to trial or enough information is released to make clear (again) the lies Fox opinion shows promote for ratings. There are Fox shows I try to watch from time to time. I’ve never heard anyone on air criticize the network.
It is absolutely True that Fox has liberal commentators. But that distinction is not comparison to what is going on at NPR. NPR is not going to follow the format that Fox News practically created for the majority of other news organizations to follow because of its early success. Fox News got sued for defamation and lost nearly a billion dollars because it had no integrity. It chose the easiest route to profitable outcomes until it blew up on their face. Passing off false claims as facts may be profitable and gain more readers or viewers. NPR chose not to go that route even lightly and integrity over “fairness.” The views it refused air would have made them no different than any other news organization willing to sacrifice their integrity and style of reporting to appease a few viewers or readers nit satisfied with how NPR does news.
People fail to understand that Fox News fundamentally changed how news is disseminated and what constitutes as news. CNN changed its business model to complete and it too lost talented reporters and commenters.
NPR is choosing integrity over popular demand.
Jonathan: Sorry to interrupt your stream of consciousness about NPR but there is breaking news. DJT’s Media stock is in free fall! Down another 18% yesterday–now at $23.32. It has plunged almost 70% since the initial offering. And DJT claimed Trump Media would be a “media powerhouse”. Go figure! Time for the MAGA crowd on this blog to show their true mettle. Time to double down to help prop up the stock before it becomes a “penny” stock!
And, yes, on the first day of trial DJT fell asleep. This was reported by the NY Times reporter Maggie Haberman on CNN. Haberman says DJT gave her a cold state because he didn’t like Haberman revealing his Monday morning siesta. Now Don “Corlione” often refers to Pres. Biden as “Sleepy Joe”. DJT can’t say that anymore with a straight face!
Dude is campaigning and going through a BS trial–i mean come on dude, the indictment doesn’t specify the underlying crime.
DJT’s Media stock is in free fall! Down another 18% yesterday–now at $23.32. It has plunged almost 70% since the initial offering.
Could you possibly be a bigger idiot? BUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Could you possibly be a bigger idiot?
Yeah, he could be YOU.
Still worth almost $4B – up more than a billion since January.
Regardless, stock prices are volatile. Particularly new IPO’s
Probably the most significant factor effecting DJT stock is the US supreme court.
If the court strongly defends Free Speech at SM outlets – DJT stock prices will go DOWN.
If on the other hand their First amendment Social media decisions are weak – the price will go up.
So If you really want to screw Trump – you should hope that SCOTUS reigns in Government efforts to coerce speech on Social Media.
Regardless – WHY DO YOU CARE ?
The market will ultimately decide the actual value of DJT stock. It is STILL worth 10 times what is was prior to the IPO.
Are you so incredibly green with Envy that you have to celebrate that Trump’s networth post IPO only jumped by 50% rather than 500% ?
The price would hav to drop to about $2/share for Trump to be worth less than he was pre IPO.
Do you think that is happening ?
John Say: Why would I be “green with Envy” about anything DJT has engaged in? Really? About a guy who committed rape, committed business fraud, tried to overturn a legitimate election by way of an insurrection, cheated on his wife by engaging in sex with a porn star–and now is facing his first criminal trial? There is nothing there to be envious about!
Today we heard the oral arguments of the supreme court in the J6 1512c case.
We did not hear what Maggie Habberman told us was said.
We heard Green and Pregolar and Thomas, and Alito, and Roberts and Kavanaugh, and Barret, and Jackson, and Kagan. and Sotomayor.
We heard what is REALLY going on.
While in Manhattan – we get stories like YOURS – someone says Trump fell asleep.
We did not get to hear the judge, the lawyers, the prospective jury.
As Merchan has been doing from the start – he is deliberately trying to keep everyone in the dark about what he is up to.
As to Trump Merchan is unconstitutionally requiring him to be at the trial, and during the remainder of the day Trump must run multiple global multibillion dollar businesses and run for president. I doubt Trump is sleeping much.
Regardless, Merchan can unfortunately compel Trump to be present. He can not compel him to be awake.
I do not personally trust the “Trump was sleeping” story. I also do not care – nor do most people.
This court and this proceeding is not deserving of our respect. If Trump snores – that would be appropriate.
There is a 50:50 chance that Trump is going to blow off the trial and go to Barron’s graduation.
I think he should. That will cause a HUGE bind for Merchan. A father defying a Kangaroo court to go to their sons graduation is a move that will gain the sympathy and respect of altest 80% of this country – and Particularly WOMEN.
This trial is inappropriately about Trump’s marital fidelity – that is a legitimate interest of voters. It is NOT a legitimate interest of the courts.
Going to Barron’s graduation is about being a good father. Trump leaves something to be desired in fidelity as a spouse. He has had a reputation for infidelity through most of the 20th century.
But despite that he HAS been a good father, and his kids have turned out pretty well.
None of his kids are writing about Daddy showering with them as pre-teens. None of his kids have million dollar a year substance abuse problems. None of his kids are sleeping with their borthers wives. Trump has been PRESENT in the lives of all of his kids through all his marriages. Joe’s relationship with his kids is not all that great and he did everything short of disown one of his grandchildren.
Trump should go to Barron’s gradulation and DARE Merchan to do anything about it.
Regardless the decision as to whether Trump shows up at this trial – is Trump’s not Merchan’s.
The decision whether Trump testifies is Trump’s not Merchan’s.
I beleive Bragg today tried to have Trump held in contempt for retweeting someone else’s criticism of Daniels, Cohen and Merchan’s daughter. I hope Merchan is stupid enough to hold Trump in contempt.
Curious that all of a sudden Trump wants to go to Barron’s graduation when he didn’t go to the high school graduations of Don, Jr, Eric, Tiffany or Ivanka?
It is well reported that Joe’s “work day” is from 10am to 30m with an hour for lunch, and that he often oversleeps and does not show up until 11am.
You are never going to win a comparison of Stamina and energy between Biden and Trump.
RFK Jr. maybe – But Trump runs rings arround Biden.
You do know Trump’s work day started at 11 am. That’s why being dressed and in court at 9am is too much for him.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42610275
Trump is giving most everyone at this kangaroo court a cold stare – they deserve it.
Regardless, you do not seem to grasp the most important thing about this trial is NOT what goes on in the court room, but how people react to the trial.
YOU are betting that if you can railroad Trump and label him as a convicted felon for the next 6 months you might be able to win the election.
And that might be true.
But overwhelmingly people do perceive this as a biased farce.
Is anyone charging Biden for the illegal campaign contribution that was the government HUSHING the Hunter Biden laptop story ?
Regardless, the reality is that this trial is NOT a trial – it is the election playing out in a different areana – because Democrats can not win any other way.
The question – presuming you manage a conviction will be how weak do people perceive Biden and democrats when they have to resort to lawfare because they have no campaign.
Even Putin is pointing out that HE does not pull the garbage that the US is engaged in.
This is also why it is so important for Democrats to avoid allowing the public to hear the trial directly.
People know corruption and unfairness when they see it.
One of the things that “might be true” is that Trump is a felon. You should keep on your radar there may be a new charge of perjury coming related to getting his CFO to perjure himself (which he’s currently serving time for) in a civil fraud case. Trump is fighting release of documents the state of New York is seeking to investigate that claim.
Over half the Jury pool said they were too biased to fairly sit in judgement on this Jury and were dismissed.
\Each of those 50+ people are the ones who SHOULD have been seated on the jury.
Far better jurrors that KNOW they most overcome their own prejudgement of the case – than those who are LYING.
The noteable attribute of everyone of these political witch trials in the past 8 years has been that on EVERY jury numerous left wing nuts who clearly prejudged the case lied to get onto the jury.
Derschowitz noted that Merchan has allowed the WRONG questions.
The right questions are “who have you talked to, and what did you say” and anyone who says they said nothing – should be dismissed.
No one has not talked to others about this case – and in the unlikely event someone did – they do not belong on a jury.
Regardless Jury selection is a stacked Deck. Trump has approx the same number of pre-emptories as Bragg. Trump has to stop Bragg from filling the Jury with left wing nuts – in a jurisdiction that voters 10:1 against Trump. While Bragg only has to prevent one honest juror from getting on the jury.
But this is being conducted so badly – that Trump still might get an aquital or a hung jury and that would be a HUGE loss for the left.
OT
AH, JUSTICE IN AMERICA
All the normal, sane, and rational people raised their hands and went home when asked if they could NOT be impartial in the communist “show trial” of President Donald J. Trump.
All the base, abject, covetous, and desperately jealous weirdos, freaks, and anti-American, anti-Trump communists in New York couldn’t wait to get on the jury, kept their hands down, and lied their a—- off for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to “stick it to the man,” actual Americans, and America.
says the sick, lame, lazy and crazy George. You are no American. You live off of Americans who pay for your mental “disability” as you spend all day spewing your holier than thou crap. Better if you were cut off and made to support yourself and see how long you would last without taxpayer funded welfare. Hypocrite
And to Uri Berliner –
You describe yourself as, “I’m Sarah Lawrence–educated, was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother, I drive a Subaru, and Spotify says my listening habits are most similar to people in Berkeley. I fit the NPR mold. I’ll cop to that.”
So how much of NPR’s current status is due to YOU and Liberals like you??? You vote for the stupid Democrats, and I guess you never noticed the harm that was being done to black communities, or to blue collar America. I bet you voted for Hillary, and Obama twice, and you never bothered to poke your head up to see what was coming about as a result of your politics. I commend you for speaking out, but it appears that you have finally caught on to what Deplorables and Bitter Clingers have been saying for decades. Trump has been calling the Legacy Media, “Fake News for nearly 10 years.” And how in the world did all you super-educated people fall for “gender-affirming” care for children??? And if you are not for it, what in the world are you doing in a party that supports it?
So, why don’t you go ahead and recognize your part in the mess, and walk away from the Democrat Party. Just do it. Become a Republican, and then there would be one Republican at NPR. Vote for Trump, too.
Floyd said: “Just do it. Become a Republican, and then there would be one Republican at NPR. ”
Good points about Berliner not acknowledging what he was a part of, and what direction it was trending. OTOH, I’d make you a small wager that if he did become a registered Republican, or (even more the horror) an avowed libertarian, and didn’t keep it a secret, that Maher twit (substitute an alternate vowel at your discretion) and her wokistas would find some excuse to bounce his butt out the door, tout de suite…
Thank you for always being the voice of reason in a time when anyone not toeing the current progressive line can find themselves shut out, defamed, called a bigot or racist, or worse. I’m a fiction author who was recently advised to change a main character’s biracial background so publishers wouldn’t worry if they decided to publish my book about me being accused of cultural appropriation because I am White.
Marni Graff,
“I’m a fiction author who was recently advised to change a main character’s biracial background so publishers wouldn’t worry if they decided to publish my book about me being accused of cultural appropriation because I am White.”
That is crazy!
I would of thought they would of wanted “diversity” in you character.
Have they made other suggestions of other “diversity” in your writing?
That’s a show-stopper. Thanks for sharing!
NPR is illegal and unconstitutional.
The Communications Act of 1934 and the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 are illegal and unconstitutional.
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.
Democrats view their version of compromise as you give up your beliefs and adopt the Democrat’s beliefs. Kind of reminds me of how the USSR defined peace as the time when there would be no opposition to Soviet (read Russian) policies in the world.
Not one cent