• by Ray Schultz , April 10, 2024

NPR is defending itself against a withering attack by one of its own writers. 

Uri Berliner, a senior editor on NPR’s business desk, writes that an “open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America.”

Observers have interpreted this to mean that NPR is overly leftist and that there should be more of a diversity of views. 

Berliner published his essay, "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," on The Free Press, a website that has published critiques by journalists saying that news outlets have become reflexively liberal. 

NPR suffers from “the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner wrote.

Edith Chapin, chief news executive for NPR, rejected Berliner’s assessment in a memo to staff. 

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," Chapin wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

Chapin added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."