A veteran NPR editor has raised concerns about the direction of the publicly-funded broadcaster, suggesting that it has shifted towards promoting progressive ideals rather than maintaining a neutral stance.
Uri Berliner, a business editor and reporter at NPR, criticized the broadcaster for disregarding the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, suggesting that this decision may have been influenced by a desire to prevent Donald Trump from being re-elected.
NPR Editor Uri Berliner Reveals Publication's Left-Wing Bias
Berliner wrote a detailed essay on Bari Weiss' online news site, The Free Press. In the essay, he expressed his concerns about the direction of the public radio broadcaster, describing it as catering to a specific audience and becoming openly polemical.
In an essay for The Free Press, Berliner points out that the publication's approach shifted when Donald Trump became a prominent figure in politics, becoming more assertive and critical.
Berliner has revealed that NPR deliberately withheld information from its audience during the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
According to him, NPR editors were prompt in addressing the allegations that Donald Trump was a Russian asset, but were less eager to report on their subsequent debunking.
According to Berliner, NPR has consistently discredited the COVID-19 lab leak theory and declined to cover the Hunter Biden laptop, maintaining a consistent stance.
Berliner recounts the final days of the previous NPR era, noting that it maintained a left-leaning perspective.
However, he also acknowledges that it managed to reflect the broader American landscape, attracting an audience that identified as 26 percent conservative, 23 percent moderate, and 37 percent liberal.
Berliner recounts the final days of the previous NPR era, noting that it maintained a left-leaning perspective.
He also acknowledges that it managed to reflect the broader American landscape, attracting an audience that identified as 26 percent conservative, 23 percent moderate, and 37 percent liberal.
However, in 2023, the majority of listeners, about 67 percent, identified themselves as very or somewhat liberal. Meanwhile, 21 percent considered themselves "middle of the road" and only 11 percent described themselves as very or somewhat conservative.
Additionally, Berliner highlights the impact of Trump's 2016 candidacy on NPR's approach to political coverage.
According to Berliner, NPR's initial coverage, which was characterized by its tough and direct approach to a president known for his belligerence and disregard for the truth, gradually shifted towards a more aggressive stance aimed at undermining or even ousting Trump from office.
NPR Accused of Refusing to Cover Hunter Biden Laptop Story
NPR, according to Berliner, developed a strong interest in the rumors surrounding Trump's alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election. They extensively covered Representative Adam Schiff's efforts to challenge Trump in this regard.
Schiff, the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, has been interviewed by NPR numerous times, according to Berliner's count, regarding Trump and Russia. According to Berliner, Schiff frequently hinted at supposed evidence of collusion, and his talking points eventually became a recurring theme in NPR news reports.
Nevertheless, after special counsel Robert Mueller's report concluded that there was no credible evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia, "Russiagate quietly faded from our programming," Berliner notes.
Berliner criticizes NPR for disregarding the New York Post's article about Hunter Biden's laptop and its controversial contents in October 2020, during the lead-up to the presidential election.
The journalist references NPR's former managing editor for news, Terence Samuels, who justified the decision by stating: "We don't want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories, and we don't want to waste the listeners' and readers' time on stories that are just pure distractions."
According to Berliner's report, it has been confirmed that the laptop indeed belonged to Hunter Biden. The information found on the device raised concerns about potential influence peddling involving the president's son.
However, Berliner remembers a colleague mentioning that it was fortunate they weren't covering the laptop story, as it could potentially benefit Trump.
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