A National Public Radio editor, Uri Berliner, resigned after writing an essay criticizing the organization for promoting liberal views. Berliner, a senior editor on NPR’s business desk, posted his resignation letter on Twitter after being suspended for violating company rules about outside work done without permission. He criticized NPR’s new CEO, Katherine Maher, for her divisive views and expressed his inability to work in an environment where he felt disparaged.
Berliner’s essay, published on the Free Press site, highlighted his concerns about NPR being dominated by liberals and lacking an open-minded spirit. He pointed to the coverage of Trump’s presidency as the turning point, where he felt there was a consensus on which stories to pursue and how they should be framed. Despite bringing up his concerns internally and seeing no changes, Berliner felt like a visible wrong-thinker in a place he loved.
NPR’s top editorial executive, Edith Chapin, disagreed with Berliner’s assessment of the outlet’s journalism and work processes. The issue brought attention to Maher’s past social media messages, where she had made disparaging remarks about former President Trump. Maher, who joined NPR as CEO in January, has faced criticism from conservative activists for her views. NPR maintained that Maher’s past tweets were made before joining the network and that she is not involved in decision-making.
The incident with Berliner and Maher highlights the challenges faced by news organizations and their employees in maintaining journalistic integrity while navigating internal critiques. Business executives appointed to roles overseeing news organizations find themselves under scrutiny for signs of bias, as seen with Maher’s appointment as NPR’s CEO. The issue also raises questions about the involvement of non-journalists in leadership roles within media organizations.
Berliner clarified in his resignation letter that he did not support any efforts to strip NPR of public funding. Despite his criticisms of the organization, he expressed respect for his colleagues and wished for NPR to thrive and continue producing important journalism. The resignation and condemnation of Maher’s past tweets demonstrate the complexities within news organizations, where the balance between journalistic integrity and internal critiques can lead to conflicts between employees and leadership. The incident also highlights the need for transparency and accountability in news organizations, especially when it comes to addressing concerns about bias and diversity in coverage.
