National Public Radio (NPR) is facing a strong backlash from right-wing figures, including former President Donald Trump and Fox News, after NPR senior business editor Uri Berliner critiqued the organization in a scathing piece for Bari Weiss’ Free Press. Berliner’s allegations of bias and claims that NPR has embraced a progressive worldview have been seized upon by the right-wing media universe, with calls to strip the newsroom of its government funding. Trump, in particular, has called NPR a “LIBERAL DISINFORMATION MACHINE” and demanded that no government funds be allocated to the outlet.
Despite the backlash from the right, Berliner emphasized that defunding NPR is not the answer, and he rejects the label of being a “liberal disinformation machine.” While Berliner did criticize NPR’s coverage of certain stories and its lack of viewpoint diversity, he did not go as far as the interpretations made by Trump and other right-wing figures. However, his essay has validated some complaints from the right about NPR and the press in general, such as coverage of “Russiagate,” the Covid-19 lab-leak theory, and the Hunter Biden story. Berliner argued that NPR had lost America’s trust by embracing a progressive worldview and telling listeners how to think.
Berliner’s piece failed to address the impact of Trump’s war on the media on public trust, a factor that may have contributed to conservatives consuming NPR content in fewer numbers. When questioned about this omission, Berliner declined to comment. The essay has been seen as a gift to the right, fueling their anti-media sentiments even further. Despite NPR management strongly disagreeing with Berliner’s assessment of the organization and its journalism, they have remained relatively silent in response to the attacks on the outlet. Questions about how staff will collaborate with Berliner, given his criticisms of colleagues in his essay, remain unanswered.
NPR’s response to the situation has been muted, with Editor-In-Chief Edith Chapin pushing back against Berliner’s characterization of the outlet in a memo to staff. While NPR management has distanced themselves from Berliner’s critique, the editor remains employed by NPR despite concerns from colleagues about his trustworthiness. The lack of a clear response from NPR and Berliner’s refusal to address concerns from colleagues have left the organization in a difficult position as it navigates the fallout from the right-wing backlash. Ultimately, Berliner’s essay has sparked a contentious debate about media bias, public trust, and the role of NPR in the evolving media landscape.
