
Several senators are bringing National Public Radio (NPR) back into the spotlight after several ongoing scandals, this time by criticizing the taxpayer-funded station for its blatant pro-left-wing political slant and massive ethical shortcomings.
The senators are expressing their disapproval following the appointment of Katherine Maher, a far-left activist, as the outlet’s new leader. Maher’s first move was to fire an editor who had publicly criticized NPR for compromising its journalism ethics in favor of left-wing ideology.
Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) expressed his deep worries about the editorial direction of National Public Radio (NPR) under its national leadership in a letter he delivered to the broadcaster in mid-April.
In their letter slamming NPR’s credibility, the Senators highlighted how Maher, a former editor, previously handled the network. The senators have brought up Maher’s past public comments critical of Trump, and they are urging the media company to prioritize fair reporting and foster an environment of intellectual diversity.
Additionally, they point out that NPR’s headquarters has a skewed culture and unbalanced coverage, as seen in recent public reports. This goes against the journalistic integrity that the public expects from NPR and its local stations. The senators contend that NPR’s national leadership has made it possible for ideological bias to be prominent on the station.
Uri Berliner, a former senior editor at NPR, has also accused the network of prioritizing far-left narratives over genuine diversity.
NPR has always had a leftward slant, but as Berliner pointed out, 37% of listeners identified as liberals, 23% as moderates, and 26% as conservatives in 2011.
He explained that the situation had changed dramatically by 2023, with 67% of listeners identifying as liberals, 21% as moderates, and 11% as conservatives.
As further evidence of NPR’s prejudice, Berliner cited the biased reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop and the death of George Floyd.
Instead of trying to influence American opinion, NPR should provide people with objective information. The senators wrote that the organization’s credibility has been compromised, and a large percentage of the audience has been alienated due to management’s choices to favor ideological narratives and internal culture adjustments.
According to Berliner, this has caused a noticeable shift in NPR’s trust rating and listener demographics, making the station seem less accessible to a diverse range of people.