WaPo: NPR Insiders Furious NPR's 'Capitulating' to Fox News and Others Opposing 'Democracy'
On Saturday, Washington Post media reporter Paul Farhi found that NPR insiders are furious at the forced resignation of Ellen Weiss, the senior vice president for news who so controversially canned Juan Williams. The liberal arrogance of NPR was on full display, that they were the future of "democracy," and Fox News was clearly the enemy of democracy and an independent press:
"We have allowed Fox News to define the debate," wrote Peter Block, a member of the board of Cincinnati Public Radio, in a posting to an e-mail group consisting of public radio managers. He added, "I do not think this kind of capitulation [by NPR] assures the future of an independent press....Democracy is on the line and NPR is one of the last bastions of its possibility."
Farhi added that NPR's ombudsman, Alicia Shepard, also pointed to Fox (less harshly) in her column, that the Williams "incident has become a partisan issue in Washington's hothouse atmosphere, with Republicans (egged on by Fox News) using it as a rallying cry to demand that NPR be 'defunded' by the federal government." Do conservatives need to be "egged on" about NPR's shameless actions?
Farhi's story, focused as it was on NPR insiders being furious, never found a place for a conservative counterpoint. Instead, readers were treated to the "effusive praise" public-radio liberals had for Weiss:
"She's the greatest," said Ira Glass, the host of "This American Life" who worked with Weiss when he started as a 19-year-old employee at NPR (Glass's program is distributed by Public Radio International, an NPR rival). "As a journalist and a manager, she's an ally for everything good in public radio. It's a shame that she's having to go out because of this one decision. It's bad for public radio and bad for everything we believe in as journalists."
Weekend anchor Guy Raz was also explicit in praising Weiss as "legendary" and "an inspiration" for her climb to the top of public radio, where she could shovel the leftist bias with such panache:
Guy Raz, who hosts the weekend edition of "All Things Considered," called Weiss "the finest journalist I ever worked for. . . . She's a pretty legendary figure in the newsroom. For many people, she's an inspiration that you could start at the bottom and make it to the top if you worked hard it. It's a cliche, but she really set the standard for integrity."
Some employees interviewed Friday steered clear of criticizing NPR's upper management, but Raz said there was some anger in the newsroom. "It's a pretty natural reaction," he said. "Yeah, I think we're angry because she was such a good leader. She really knew how to lead this organization," he said.
Farhi left the impression that Weiss was unanimously popular. But NPR ombudsman Shepard reported: "The news rocked the staff, which has been divided about Weiss's leadership. Some questioned whether the punishment fit the crime. Some quietly rejoiced."
- Tim Graham's blog
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Comments
Real Americans always oppose democracy
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 11:36am.
Because they recognize the same thing our founders did: Mob rule sucks.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Since NPR is "independent"
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 11:50am.
....may they no longer depend upon public funding.
He added, "I do not think this kind of capitulation [by NPR] assures the future of an independent press....Democracy is on the line and NPR is one of the last bastions of its possibility."
Hypocrites.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Hey, my sister from another mother...
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 11:52am.
We did it again!
LOL!
Of course we did!
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:20pm.
I think maybe NB has our two computers on a really WAAN (Wide Azz Area Network) wherein certain text on our two computers (alone) are bolded. Perhaps it's some sort of mind control, who knows? But it makes us focus on exactly the same line in each piece.
Just a theory.
Either that or we both share the same crazy view of the world.
The fact that these subsidized prima donnas are bemoaning their independence is, as you say, a howler.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
It's funny how it usually
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:28pm.
It's funny how it usually happens within minutes!
I think you're right about the WAAN. LOL
I know it's not mind control, because we're too stubborn.
So these folks think that NPR
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 11:51am.
So these folks think that NPR did absolutely the right thing by firing Williams???
They think, in an "independent press" in a country of free speech, that they were perfectly justified in firing Williams for consorting with those of opposing views?
Well, they don't really discuss that.
Did you notice that they never actually address the reason for Williams' firing and whether it was justified?
It's all about who should make the decision, and whose business it isn't.
Classic deflection maneuver.
And this:
Democracy is on the line and NPR is one of the last bastions of its possibility."
is, as they say, the howler of the piece.
Not about in house leadership
Submitted by bravefacari on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 11:58am.
It's not about her in house leadership skills, and I'm sorry some folks at NPR feel she was ousted by Fox News, which is ridiculous. (When you point your finger, there are four pointed right back at ya!)
It was about her very poorly (and publicly) handling of the whole affair with Mr. Williams and the idea that they are intolerant of "other views" in their organization. Anyone else involved in that process of discussing and supporting Mr. Williams firing, needs the boot.
In order to live up to their name, they have some fundamental changes to make over there. I really love some of their programming, but I have been incredibly disappointed in them with regard to this matter.
Oh and yes, please, Nina next!
Holy Cow!
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:13pm.
Poke a stick into the anthill and watch them scurry. Time to get the RAID.
"Democracy is on the line and NPR is one of the last bastions of its possibility" Have you ever seen such arrogance? Time to defund NPR - now!
As for that failed Weiss: "It's a cliche, but she really set the standard for integrity" The problem is, none of these elitist snobs have an honest bone in them. If she really wanted to show integrity, she would have met with Juan Williams, rather than fire him over the phone.
"We have allowed Fox News to define the debate" And Fox News won the debate without public money proping them up. For all the millions thrown at NPR, I would think they would win all the debates. 2nd place simply isn't good enough for me. Defund NPR now -- they're proven losers in the open exchange of ideas!
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
let's set NPR/PBS free
Submitted by pak152 on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:12pm.
now is the time for liberal/progressives to put up or shut up. if NPR/PBS is so great let's have an IPO for it.
would love to see how it would be valued by Goldman Sachs and how many would buy the stock
Headline above is incorrect.
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:22pm.
Headline above is incorrect. Should read,
WaPo: NPR Insiders Furious NPR's ' Capitulating ' to " FOX NEWS " and Others Opposing ' DEMAGOGUERY '.
Barack_Must_Go.....
NPR and ThisnThat
Submitted by NVRAT on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:22pm.
Good statement ThisnThat, take the food from the ant hill and watch it go to waste.
It's a trite metaphor...
Submitted by KyWriter on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:24pm.
...(babies and bathwater) but we need to be careful in defunding public radio and television. Many programs, like Antiques Roadshow, are instructive and entertaining. But the metaphor is apt when it comes to their news (propaganda) department: it reminds me of what's floating around in the water after bathing a baby. "Wow, look at that lump; it's bound to be Nina Totenberg!"
If "Antiques Roadshow" is
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:35pm.
If "Antiques Roadshow" is entertaining and istructive enough to draw an audience, it will on its own, as will other non-political products of NPR.
If not, why should it be subsidized by everyone for a few?
"Antiques Roadshow"
Submitted by Agnostic on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 12:43pm.
I think some of these shows are screaming for an on-line network pickup.
I'm certain there are...
Submitted by KyWriter on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 1:09pm.
...programs that would be picked up in a heartbeat, but how many networks would commit to something like Ken Burns's The Civil War? One of the noteworthy aspects of that program is that it effectively refuted the politically-correct liberal currency that all Confederates were slave-holding racists. The problem with a government-sponsored entity like Public Broadcasting is that it does not have a governing architecture based on strict non-partisanship. PBS and NPR had institutionalized their liberal bent long before Obama came to power and the flakes on their various boards interepreted Obama's (narrow) victory just as he did: as a mandate to exorcise the last conservative or non-compliant liberals from their midst. Admittedly, it would be difficult to clean up the mess that is public broadcasting, but I suspect the drop in support from the average viewer has already sent a message, maybe even more dramatic than the threat of losing government support.
What is obvious about commercial broadcasting is the necessity of profit from a series for it to remain viable. That means an appeal to the lowest common denominator and often results in banality. Public broadcasting should be a vehicle for illuminating both the unmatched variety in the geographical and cultural regions of America and, at the same time, the universal threads that run through this country. It should extol what is truly meant by American exceptionalism.
If our elected lawmakers determine that the current experiment in public broadcasting has failed, then so be it. The liberal propaganda machine that is PBS and NPR now is undeniable, but if it could be saved, and something identifiable with the basic values of this country replace it, then I'd be willing to give it a second chance.
KyWriter
Submitted by Agnostic on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 1:27pm.
I agree with much of what you have written but know in my heart that the natural tendancy (not all but a large majority) for artistic talent to be liberal is going to win out in any broadcasting company that is not set up expressly to be conservative. Don't watch FOX News so have no idea where they really end up but they would potentially be the only exception unless they truly are trying to be conservative.
Can you imagine an on line Civil War show with links to reinactments, collectors and specific sites to do further reading on a particular episodes. Some Civil War buffs would be lost for days.
The Civil War
Submitted by KyWriter on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 2:11pm.
Actually, what I was referring to in that example was more its length than its philosophical bent. The program lasted eleven hours! Would a commercial network make that kind of investment? There are examples of mini-series on commercial television, and some have been good, but none have risen to the example of that program. In fact, it had its liberal threads as well, but when given the opportunity to examine both points of view, as in the historical perspective of Shelby Foote and the standard liberal dreck of Barbara Fields, what was remembered was the awesomeness of the experience as Foote described, not the inept rant of Fields.
You are quite correct in that liberals have dominated artistic venues for some time. The standard liberal meme is that conservatives are racist, ignorant, poorly or uneducated altogether and basically incapable of understanding or using a word with more than two syllables. However, I think that is changing. The Tea Party influence in bringing two Southern conservative blacks to Congress and a Sikh woman governor to a Southern state effectively demolishes the idea that if you are not liberal you are too dumb to be capable of discriminate thought. This is the greatest fear of liberals: that intelligent people can be conservative, because it undermines their twisted concept of freedom.
So how to we push these leftist idealogues out of the positions of power they have? By being ourselves, by continuing to bring practicality to the table to puncture the thin liberal balloons they have used to own the media, and to continue to refute the apologists for the pre-eiminence of this country in world affairs. I actually think liberalism is dying in America and what we are watching is the paroxysms of its death throes.
Hit the Nail on the Head
Submitted by IrateNate on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 11:41am.
"This is the greatest fear of liberals: that intelligent people can be conservative, because it undermines their twisted concept of freedom."
I believe that, in that single sentence, you have captured the essence of the liberal's hatred and anger.
Question
Submitted by Unsane on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 8:23pm.
While I find The Civil War to be an outstanding series, I find it interesting to note that you point to it and ask how many networks would commit to a project like it. You are aware that the series aired 20 years ago? When will public television commit itself to doing something like that a bit more frequently than once a generation?
Public television and Saturday Night Live have one very annoying thing in common: the tendency to rest on their laurels and self-congratulate themselves as being American icons while in reality they haven't done a damn thing worthwhile in decades. I will never forget watching a condensed version of Cosmos in November 2000 on public television. It was repeatedly interrupted by a pledge drive, all the while those making the case for giving to public television were pointing to great programs like Cosmos - a series that aired in 1980!!!!
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
You're correct...
Submitted by KyWriter on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 9:19pm.
...that The Civil War first aired in 1990, but filming began in 1985. Productions taking this long and this expensive would never be considered by network TV. Nor would it be rerun. The Civil War has been rebroadcast and will air again in April. But since that time, Ken Burns has produced twenty other such productions on iconic American experiences such as World War II, baseball, Thomas Jefferson, jazz, and the recently acclaimed The National Parks.
This is the type of programming I would like to see salvaged from the wreck of where PBS is tending. The "news" aspect of public broadcasting is what has ruined the entire effort and needs to be purged entirely. What should have been a commitment to unbiased journalism has been hijacked by leftists, socialists and pseudo-communists. Can public broadcasting be saved, given this kind of baggage? I really don't know, but I think it is worth a try. I would miss Austin City Limits if it were to fold entirely.
Burns, et al
Submitted by Unsane on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 10:15pm.
The only Ken Burns program I have cared for is The Civil War. Other than his works on baseball and jazz, I haven't heard of any others. Those other two didn't do it for me.
But as to your second paragraph: I cannot see why or how PBS could or would fold due to taking them off the government gravy train. What I would like to see is for PBS to become virtually entirely reliant on donations ("from VIEWERS LIKE YOU! THANK YOU!"). For other sources of funding, I don't see why PBS can't negotiate some arrangements from its successful enterprises where, for instance, it can skim 5% (or whatever) from sales of Ken Burns DVD sets or Sesame Street merchandise, which will go into the PBS fund.
I'm not anti-PBS. I'm just anti-government-funding-of-PBS. PBS has had great potential over the years, as you describe. Cosmos made me drool at the age of nine, when I first saw it, and it still does. But I think a large part of the Leftist infestation of PBS has to do with the government money. Take it away, make PBS more beholden to the viewing public, watch a positive change.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Why we need to de-fund public broadcasting
Submitted by Unsane on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 8:17pm.
I don't know about you, but anytime I put it on KLRU (or is/was that KLRN?), they are doing pledge drives and auctions. In which they weave their awesome programming in order to con the would be donor to fund their crappy programming.
Let's stop right here and right now. If the government were to stop funding public television/radio, there are people out there who would be more than willing to fund it. Also, it can make quite a bit of coin selling DVD sets of shows like The Civil War or Cosmos (for example). I seriously doubt public television/radio would curl up and die without the goverment tit.
You know what else what happen? (This scares the hell out of the Left.) If public broadcasting it solely beholden to the hard earned charity dollars of its donors, it will be safe to say that the public television and radio stations will actually have to be responsive to their audiences.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Sell PBS and NPR
Submitted by nkviking75 on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 1:08pm.
"She's the greatest," said Ira Glass, the host of "This American Life" who worked with Weiss when he started as a 19-year-old employee at NPR (Glass's program is distributed by Public Radio International, an NPR rival).
Note the part in parentheses. NPR has competitors in the private sector. That suggests that Public Broadcasting can succeed in the private sector. Let's put NPR and PBS up for sale. Let Sesame Street's toy sales and other successful programs bankroll the networks. There is no need for taxpayer money. (Of course, many public stations are owned by state and local government entities, so there'll still be some tax money involved.)
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Don’t relax; there are more battles to win
Submitted by zachlind on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 2:05pm.
In the middle to late 80’s I listened to NPR often. They occasionally produced stories that were entertaining, interesting and unbiased. But, for the most part they were the dedicated cheerleaders for the Russian supported communist Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Rarely did a week go by that there was not a NPR story or two broadcasting and glorifying the struggles and “generosity” of Daniel Ortega, the Sandinistas “leader”.
NPR is what it is and always has been, a far-left, progressive media organ; supported by the elected political left with tax money and upper crust liberal misfits ravaged with personal guilt and a resume not reflecting any real hard work in their disappointing lives.
Bottom line, we won this round, they lost. And that is good.
Leave it to the left...
Submitted by MacWell on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 5:47pm.
Ya gotta love the left, they're so charitable, with (OPM). You remember OPM from the Danny DaVito movie, ( other people's money ). In the movie, he made himself quite rich using OPM. I can already hear the cries of "Save the Whales", "Save the Dolphins", "Save the earth", save something, anything, so I can feel good about myself, says the likes of Barbara Strisand and her ilk. They always want taxpayer money to fund their cause duJuer. Our government has no business saving anything with the exception of itself. Everyone's talking about cutting now a days, I think a good start would be the thousands of tiny causes we the people pay for. If Babs doesn't feel that it's important enough to put HER money into, then I shouldn't have to put mine. Save this babs!
I know!
Submitted by MacWell on Sat, 01/08/2011 - 5:54pm.
I know that had nothing to do with NPR, but, in a way, NPR is just like "save the Whales". If NPR cannot thrive in the market place, then they should not survive. By the way?, I think many of the shows on PBS would sell just fine, there are some good experienced (childrens) people there, with many talents, NPR?, I think if they changed their programming and had both sides of the issues by many different, credible people, ( much like FNC does ), I think they could compete. If they're going to remain a far left liberal, marxist, slanted view of everything, then , like "Air America", they will find out that Americans do not hold the same radical views as they do. Defund Now!In a sentence!
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 2:12pm.
I don't want to borrow money from China and indebt my grandchildren so that NPR or PBS can be aired anymore.
amen to that brother
Submitted by BackWaterTech on Mon, 01/10/2011 - 6:04pm.
It is time to hold our government acountable for its spending. this robbing peter to pay paul must end.
If NPR/PBS is a burden that can't sustain its self, it needs to be scrapped.
If i can't afford a second car, i dont have the second car. simple as that.
everyone that pays for satalite tv or cable tv pays a stipend to PBS anyway. let it live off its dvd sales and the donations and tithes it brings in. no more tax payer money.
besides, the Socialists will need all the taxes they can get to keep Obbamacare and the brownshirts in FEMA to protect them paid. . .
npr is not pbs
Submitted by michiganruth on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 2:40pm.
I think we need to remember that NPR is not the same entity as PBS, even though they're both under the CPB. (acronym soup!) I do it too.
PBS does indeed have many great shows, including VERY patriotic and religious Memorial Day and Christmas concert telecasts. NPR on the other hand, far as I can tell, runs nothing but liberal spin 24/7.
I'm sure the staff at NPR is genuinely upset that this chick was let go. they probably sincerely believe that what they are doing over there is objective, straight-down-the-center journalism. I mean, these are people who have to have it explained to them why "teabagger" is offensive! and they truly don't understand why we all seem to be too stupid to be grateful for the wonders The Obama has given us.
btw, where's Rev. Al and Jesse and the other Professionally Offended? NPR fired the only black on-air personality they had. why isn't there an uproar about that?
Semantics
Submitted by Unsane on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 7:14pm.
Doesn't really matter to me. Defund both by pulling the plug on the CPB. The CPB, if it so great and performs a service people demand, can do so, no problem, off of donations by private citizens and private entities.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)