Factual inaccuracies
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Fifty NPR staff members penned a letter urging the CEO and editor-in-chief to publicly denounce the “factual inaccuracies” in a former editor’s essay criticizing the perceived liberal bias at the organization.
Expectations
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The letter requested leadership to enhance transparency regarding employee conduct expectations and ensure uniform adherence to set standards.
Stronger support
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“We’re writing to urge stronger support for staff who have had their journalistic expertise called into question by one of their own in a public forum,” the letter stated.
Transparency
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Continuing on, We also urge more transparency regarding the consequences of making unauthorized public comments that seek to change NPR’s editorial direction.”
Standards
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“[T]here are still unanswered questions about how NPR staff are expected to conduct themselves,” it added. “What and who are our standards for? Are we all being held to the same scrutiny? And will we all be going forward?”
Policy changes
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“Staff, many from marginalized backgrounds, have pushed for internal policy changes through mechanisms like the DEI accountability committee, sharing of affinity group guidelines, and an ad-hoc content review group,” the letter said.
Suspension
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Additionally, it urged clarification on the influence of the former editor’s suspension and resignation on NPR’s “editorial direction” and the guidelines for handling future breaches of the code of conduct.
Hurtful and demeaning
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Although the CEO described the essay as “hurtful and demeaning,” the employees contended that it did not elicit a response as robust as internal diversity and policy initiatives.
Protect employees
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They urged leadership to publicly stand by and protect employees whose work was undermined, and to explicitly address any inaccuracies in the essay.
Integrity
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“I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism,” Berliner wrote. “But I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cited in my Free Press essay.”
