A senior editor at a prominent U.S. public broadcaster recently stepped down, sparking discussions about journalism standards. The individual, Uri Berliner from National Public Radio, announced his resignation following the publication of an essay that claimed NPR was overly focused on race and identity, and lacking in viewpoint variety.
“I am departing from the esteemed NPR, where I have dedicated 25 years of my career. I do not endorse the idea of defunding NPR. I value the professionalism of my fellow team members and wish for NPR’s continued growth and commitment to impactful journalism,” Berliner expressed in a published resignation letter.
However, due to the divisive opinions of the new CEO, who has contributed to the issues at NPR I addressed in my Free Press essay, I find it challenging to maintain my work in such a newsroom environment.
NPR has not yet provided a statement regarding the situation. Berliner’s resignation followed a five-day unpaid suspension by NPR, which was in reaction to his article criticizing the network.
In the piece published in The Free Press, Berliner expressed concerns that NPR had eroded public trust by adopting a progressive perspective in its coverage of significant news stories, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and accusations of Trump-Russia collusion.
In a written piece, Berliner pointed out the underlying, unspoken agreement regarding the types of stories that should be covered and the manner in which they should be presented. He described this process as smooth and continuous, with numerous reports focusing on alleged incidents of racism, transphobia, climate change warnings, negative portrayals of Israel, and the detrimental impact of Republican policies. It almost seemed like a production line.
Berliner also referred to voter registration data, which he claimed indicated that there were 87 Democrats and no Republicans working at the news outlet’s Washington, DC headquarters.
This revelation sparked a response from NPR employees, including the newly appointed CEO, Katherine Maher, whose personal views became a topic of discussion when conservative individuals brought up her old tweets expressing progressive opinions.
“Discussing the alignment of our actions with our mission is an essential aspect of our work, as it involves asking tough questions,” Maher expressed in a staff memo, which was also shared publicly.
“Challenging the commitment of our team members to our mission solely based on their identity is deeply disrespectful, painful, and demeaning.”
