Bias Perceptions Causing Angst At NPR

NPR (National Public Radio) has introduced a new layer of editing called the Backstop, which has sparked both curiosity and concern among its employees. Let’s delve into the details:

The Backstop: The NY Times reports a new initiative consists of six senior editors who will review all of NPR’s journalism before it is released. Essentially, they act as a final checkpoint to ensure the highest standards of quality and accuracy. However, not everyone within NPR is thrilled about this development.

Anonymity and Funding: Michel Martin, a prominent host of NPR’s “Morning Edition,” raised an important question during an editorial meeting: Who is funding this new editing layer? The identity of the anonymous funder remains undisclosed, leading to speculation and unease among staff members. Edith Chapin, NPR’s chief content officer, declined to provide specifics but assured the editorial staff that it wouldn’t be surprising to them.

Context: NPR faced accusations of having a liberal bias in its coverage, particularly after an essay by Uri Berliner (then a senior editor at NPR) was published in The Free Press. Berliner argued that progressive politics had influenced NPR’s journalism. While many staff members refuted his claims, conservative critics seized upon them, prompting Republican members of Congress to request NPR’s chief executive to testify on bias allegations.

Employee Reactions: The announcement of the Backstop triggered mixed reactions. Some employees view it as an unnecessary bottleneck that could slow down NPR’s reporting process. Others worry that it might be perceived as a defensive response to Berliner’s essay, a premise Edith Chapin has rejected.

Additional Changes: Alongside the Backstop, NPR is implementing other changes, including periodic staff reviews of its ethics handbook, an expanded standards and practices team, off-the-record editorial briefings with newsmakers, and a content analysis of its journalism.