Upon assuming your role at the helm of
National Public Radio (NPR), you
inherited not just the mantle of leadership but also the duty of rectifying the
organization’s tarnished reputation. Recent public reports have revealed a
biased culture and
slanted coverage at NPR’s headquarters, which is a profound
disservice to the journalistic integrity expected of NPR and your local
affiliates whose excellent reputation is tarnished by association.
We have deep concerns regarding the editorial direction under NPR’s national
leadership, which have been brought starkly to light in
the article, “I’ve Been
at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust” by
Uri Berliner. This
piece highlights a troubling deviation from NPR’s supposed mission of providing
unbiased and reliable journalism.
NPR’s local affiliates continue to serve their communities with dedication and
professionalism, providing an invaluable service for rural and remote areas
nationwide, where local public radio often serves as the primary, if not sole,
source of news. It is disappointing to see their dedication to straightforward
programming be besmirched by affiliation.
National leadership has allowed and cultivated an environment where ideological
bias not only creeps in but takes center stage. As outlined by Mr. Berliner, NPR
headquarters has increasingly pursued a narrative-driven approach rather than
evidence-based journalism, particularly he highlighted NPR’s coverage of
significant issues such as the Hunter Biden laptop story, the COVID-19 lab leak
theory, and the Trump-Russia collusion narrative.
The revelation of an internal culture shift towards a homogenized, decidedly
left-leaning editorial stance threatens – or has squelched – the integrity and
diversity of thought. As Mr. Berliner pointedly illustrates, the absence of
political and ideological diversity within the national newsroom — where
registered Democrats overwhelmingly outnumber everyone else — is not just
disappointing; it is an ethical failure.
It is not NPR’s job to tell Americans what to think but to inform them with
unbiased facts. Moreover, the internal cultural shifts and management decisions
to prioritize ideological narratives do not just undermine your organization’s
integrity; they have also alienated a significant portion of your audience. As
Mr. Berliner points out, this has had tangible effects on NPR’s trust ratings
and listener demographics, which have skewed increasingly away from any
semblance of a broad, inclusive audience.
If NPR’s goal was to become an echo chamber, mission accomplished. But as a
publicly funded entity, you are responsible for providing impartial coverage
that accurately informs all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. This
objective is decidedly difficult when nearly 100 percent of employees in
Washington, DC congregate on one side of the political aisle.
We urge you to start a course correction to address these issues. If NPR does
not want to devolve into a one-sided opinion outlet, it should take a page from
its local affiliates and embrace a culture of intellectual diversity and focus
on balanced reporting.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
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