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Editor’s note: This essay first appeared on the author’s blog. Res ipsa locituur.
This weekend, I wrote a column about the ongoing controversy at NPR and the bias detailed in a recent shocking essay by esteemed editor Uli Berliner. The company has long been criticized for partisan reporting, including publishing debunked articles. In response, NPR CEO Katherine Maher appeared to acknowledge that the publicly supported media company has no intention of further balancing its reporting and editorial staff.
Berliner detailed the complete exclusion of Republicans from the NPR Washington bureau’s editorial staff and various examples of graphic bias supporting Democratic rhetoric and arguments.
Mr. Maher provided virtually no response on these specific points. Instead, she accused the company of political bias against Mr. Berliner’s colleagues, attacking him as “extremely disrespectful, hurtful and humiliating.”
NPR boss scolds editor for bombshell comment: Questioning our integrity is ‘extremely rude’
in friday memoMaher told Stuff that Berliner attacked “the quality of our editorial process and the integrity of our journalists” as well as “our people based on who we are.”
In dismissing accusations of bias, Professor Maher adopted a twist common in law schools, where Republicans and conservatives have been largely purged. When faced with a lack of ideological diversity, teachers assume everyone is biased simply because they continue to effectively exclude Republicans, liberals, and conservatives. They often express disbelief.
Many also argue that there are more important forms of diversity than ideological or political viewpoints. As a result, today’s faculty spans primarily from the left to the far left in terms of diversity.
NPR editor’s bombshell essay causes ‘chaos’ on liberal exit: Report
Mr. Maher expressed a similar view, suggesting (incorrectly) that Mr. Berliner was somehow opposed to a diverse workplace.
“It is very short-sighted to claim that America’s diversity is reducible to a particular set of beliefs, and it is faulty to infer that identity determines an individual’s ideology or political leanings. “Each of our colleagues is here because we are talented and accomplished.” We are professionals who are passionate about what we do. Working together makes us stronger and we have the utmost respect for each other. We serve our mission best when we look and sound like the country we serve. ”
Maher’s reaction was not surprising. She was a controversial hire at NPR. Many expected NPR to find a CEO who could steer the company away from its partisan and activist tendencies. That outlook could bring moderates and conservatives back to NPR’s audience. But Maher was also part of that trend.
Juan Williams responds to editor’s accusations of NPR bias: ‘A lone cadre of people who think they’re right’
Shannon Saylor, New York Post Reconstructed Maher’s deleted social media posts This includes a 2018 declaration that “Donald Trump is a racist” and various race-based commentaries. This included statements that seemed to condone looting.
She also reportedly said, “White silence is complicity.” She described her own “hysterical white woman voice.” She added, “I was taught to do it. I did it. It’s a disturbing realization. To knowingly, on my own knowledge, put another person in immediate physical harm. I don’t remember using it, but it’s not impossible.” That’s the whiteness. ”
NPR turned to ‘eternal muse’ Adam Schiff during Russia attack to ‘damage’ Trump, says editor
She added, “I’m from New England and there were no slaves in my area, so that’s what I was taught, so I grew up feeling superior (oh, how white I am).” said.
In his latest message, Maher addressed the unique (and controversial) status of state-sponsored media. She said, “We recognize that this work is a public trust established by Congress over 50 years ago with the creation of the public broadcasting system. To maintain that trust, we “There is ongoing and rigorous accountability.”
However, she made it clear that both she and NPR have no intention of changing or altering the company’s policies. Despite her declining readership (she now has about 70 percent of self-described liberals), Maher said she has no problem as editor excluding Republicans or providing biased reporting. stated clearly.
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Reducing the size and diversity of the readership can be good for editors and reporters if the government supports the budget. You can then play to smaller audiences without sacrificing coverage or accuracy.
The question, as I discussed in this weekend’s column, is why the public should fund this one media rather than its competitors. NPR’s view of news is much the same as MSNBC or CNN. That’s within editorial judgment, and NPR, like many news organizations today, has the right to bias its coverage to the left or right. Personally, I wish there was a little more balance as I am a fan of several shows. However, the media market has changed in response to consumer demands for more voices in reporting.
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But unlike other media, NPR is funded by taxpayers. While dismissing his concerns about excluding conservatives and dissenting voices, Mr. Maher suggested that NPR still fulfills the “public trust” with its largely one-sided reporting.
In the end, the real issue is not NPR’s bias, but the fundamental question of why we should subsidize news organizations. NPR has long held the odd position of being America’s de facto national media (along with the Voice of America). The recent controversy should allow for a meaningful discussion about the necessity and dangers of state media.
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