Uri Berliner is a senior business editor at NPR. In his 25 years with NPR, his work has been recognized with a Peabody Award, a Gerald Loeb Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a Society of Professional Journalists New America Award, among others.
Today, we published in The Free Press his firsthand account of the transformation he has witnessed at National Public Radio. Or, as Uri puts it, how it went from an organization that had an “open-minded, curious culture” with a “liberal bent” to one that is “knee-jerk, activist, scolding,” and “rigidly progressive.”
Uri describes a newsroom that aimed less to cover Donald Trump but instead veered towards efforts to topple him; a newsroom that reported the Russia collusion story without enough skepticism or fairness, and then later largely ignored the fact that the Mueller report found no credible evidence of collusion; a newsroom that purposefully ignored the Hunter Biden laptop story—in fact, one of his fellow NPR journalists approved of ignoring the laptop story because “covering it could help Trump.” A newsroom that put political ideology before journalism in its coverage of Covid-19. And, he describes a newsroom where race and identity became paramount in every aspect of the workplace and diversity became its north star.
In other words, NPR is not considering all things anymore.
On today’s episode: How did NPR lose its way? Why did it change? And why does this lone journalist feel obligated to speak out?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I listened to this Podcast because I have been an avid supporter of NPR for most of my adult life. To this day, Jim Lehrer, Judy Woodruff, David Brooks and so many others for their consistent, non biased reporting. And Hats off to Uri for having the guts to share his opinion…especially since it cost him his job!!! I have to agree, I am hearing more and more one-sided news being reported on NPR. I already gave up my subscription to the NYTimes for that reason, and was really hopeful about NPR. The good news, however, is that URI’s piece is making me listen with even more discriminating ears than I already was.
I listened to Uri Berliner interview today. When he described the NPR environment in woke-mode; it sounded as if he were describing my my co-workers, colleagues and directors. The Messianic mission to “rescue” society is more important than professional standards, rules and procedures. He sounds genuine and balanced. When people do what Berliner did - the substack essay (that I have not yet read); I suggest imagining and preparing for the worst possible outcome. I am curious how many journalists at NPR remained professional rather than become extremely biased. I am glad he wrote and spoke. Thank you Mr. Berliner.