MaquitorfFeb 9, 2023
Eric Blair

NPR bears great responsibility for pushing the US toward autocracy.

NPR has been unable to accurately convey, without bothsidesism, the dangers we face.

The effect is that NPR listeners are falsely reassured—they don't learn about how dangerous the moment is, how extreme conservatives have become. Because NPR doesn't state that clearly.

Related: A lot of NPR's income today comes from corporate ads.

@shoq #sotu
https://mastodon.social/@shoq/109829663312375828

Feb 8, 2023 at 3:32pmWeb
Show threadMeecheFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq As if any republicans listen to #NPR for any reason other than trying to find a new reason to be faux offended.
Show threadShoq 🌿Feb 8, 2023
@protecttruth I completely agree. I have said for years that @Foxnews cuts up social justice narratives with a chain saw, which makes their rich white viewers and sponsors happy, while @NPR uses a scalpel so they won't upset their rich liberal listeners and sponsors too much.
Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈Feb 8, 2023
@protecttruth Bad link. Dropping "elk.zone/" worked for me.
https://mastodon.social/@shoq/109829663312375828
Show threadBill SeitzFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq I think the NyTimes is worse. But maybe that's because I don't pay much attention to NPR, much like 80% of the population.
Show threadBill SeitzFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq I suspect the corporate ads are less of a factor than fear of congressional intrusion.
Show threadFirst Dread Pirate RobertsFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq NPR is only too happy to parrot the establishment message, instead of doing their own reporting.
Show threadJim colahanFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth
NPR like the background music in public areas has become mute. It’s purpose to unload popular news in the same pretentious preformed style is no longer viable.
Show threadRoy Brander🍁Feb 8, 2023

@protecttruth @shoq

The NYT/WaPo complaint is not substantiated by this morning's front pages.

Huckabee only mentioned in one opinion column, no news story. (NYT), and in one "analysis" small-headline down the page (WaPo). Biden's speech was top story, with multiple news story links.

Real shame, IMHO, is that MTG got more coverage by shouting insults than SHS got by writing and delivering a policy speech.

Show threadEddie CurrentFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq My first day on Mastodon. Still trying to figure things out. Didn't know NPR has also become GOP friendly. I dropped my WAPO subscription due to Thiessen.
Show threadShoq 🌿Feb 8, 2023

@EddieCurrent @protecttruth

Welcome. Just start following people. My follows, for example. And check out journa.host for some journalists and news sources to follow. Finally, follow some hashtags. The get an avatar and engage, engage, engade. It happens fast.

Show threadEddie CurrentMar 7, 2023
@shoq @protecttruth ok, I'm off to a slow start. I've never been on twitter, and I spend most of my time on math problems. I joined Mathstodon.
Show threadEddie CurrentAug 10, 2023
@shoq @protecttruth
Ok. I have been able to follow you by selecting follow on the three vertical dots. Don't know how to direct myself to the journalist site. I am slowly picking up things, but my other interests dominate...
Oh, and I don't have the same screen as you.
No, box with a plus to follow. No idea on how to follow a hashtag...
Show threadPlutoCFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq Years ago, NPR, PBS, the National Endowment for the Arts, etc. were all liberal leaning until Congressional Republicans shut off funding. Then, the Kochs et al started funding and moved their people into management roles. All successful coups require control of news and information and communications. Similar for TV.
Show threadB MillerFeb 8, 2023
@PlutoC
This. Exactly.
I miss Bill Moyers.
Show threadPlutoCFeb 9, 2023
@Bmiller Yes! Bill Moyers.
Show threadJennifer SlackFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq Once I was an avid supporter of NPR, but grew weary of serious treatment of right wing nonsense. It has probably been 15 years since I could listen without frustration. Gave up entirely when 1A became a feature.
Show threadAverage JoeFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq Yes, NPR, NYT, WaPo...all of elite liberal media is this way.
Show threadSeo AlonzoFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq Yes we have Bush/Cheney to thank. They pushed illogical “both side” political reporting leading to the awful state of media today. NPR buckled under their bully tactics. I used to love NPR but haven’t listened since Bush years.
Show threadRicardo HarvinFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq NPR: Now Publicly Regressive (Racist)
Show threadSteve GriffinFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq I remember as a kid that PBS never had ads. Now it has nothing but ads. I can't tell the difference between npr ads and superb owl ads in anything but quality. Message is identical.
Show threadSir Rochard 'Dock' BunsonFeb 8, 2023

@protecttruth @shoq

I had to stop listening at some point during the Trump presidency. Their ability to both-sides an issue is unparalleled.

Show threadSystem IV, Building KFeb 8, 2023
@SrRochardBunson @protecttruth @shoq It’s quicksand. To engage is to further it, to sink into it.
Show threadScottinSoCal 🇺🇦 🕊 🏳‍🌈Feb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq
NPR has been a hostage of the GQP for decades - starting back before Reagan. They scream about the "liberal slant" of NPR (reality has a well known liberal bias) and threaten to cut funding.
Is it any wonder there's a little Stockholm Syndrome going on?
Show threadThomas McKennaFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq
It is a shocking abdication of responsibility and it has been going on for years. Their obsessive effort not to offend anyone out of fear of losing their public funding has turned them to happy-talking mush. I remember when NPR was the must-listen radio station for insightful morning and evening news. I haven't been able to listen for more than a decade.
Show threadJohn BreenFeb 8, 2023
@Tmmck @protecttruth @shoq But "Wait wait, don't tell me" is really good... I think you identify the dynamics well, just hope ElMo does not figure out he could buy NPR...
Show threadSteven MolnarFeb 8, 2023
@Tmmck @protecttruth @shoq It's not an abdication of responsibility at all: they were taken over by the Republican party 20 years ago, and that's where their responsibilities lie. Consider Kenneth Tomlinson, for example.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Tomlinson
Kenneth Tomlinson - Wikipedia

Show threadThomas McKennaFeb 9, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq @MolnarSteven
I think that the primary responsibility of a PUBLIC radio station is to educate voters, which NPR has been largely failing at for years, even decades. In their attempts not to offend right-wing Republicans—who don’t believe in Anything public—they have allowed themselves to be editorially neutered. They used to be an important source of news. I wish they had fought harder to stay vital and relevant, not just to stay alive.
Show threadShoq 🌿Feb 9, 2023

@Tmmck @protecttruth @MolnarSteven

I have nothing significant to add.

Show threadSteven MolnarFeb 9, 2023
@Tmmck @protecttruth @shoq My point is that they are not just trying to avoid offending Republicans, but that they have been largely captured by the Republican party. The basic asymmetry is that the Republicans thirst for power, and have no interest in fairness, so they use the levers of government (including NPR) to enhance their control, which the Democrats, whatever their faults, balk at doing.
Show threadThomas McKennaFeb 9, 2023
@MolnarSteven @shoq @protecttruth
True enough. Can’t argue with that. Would only add that it was their misguided attempt to please the Republicans that allowed them to be captured.
Show threadBelafonFeb 9, 2023
@Tmmck @protecttruth @shoq @MolnarSteven Eventually, everyone has to earn a paycheck. Who's paying for them?
Show threadJDFeb 8, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq Steve Inskeep is awful. I stopped listening to Morning Edition at the beginning of the Trump administration. NPR ( Nice Polite Republicans).
Show threadAboveAllFeb 9, 2023
@protecttruth I gave up on NPR years ago when a bunch of conservatives were appointed to the board. All of the major media won't risk any negative news affecting corporate sponsors so the real news suffers greatly.
Show threadDan HicksFeb 9, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq @cepaea
The summary was 4:40, looks like it ran twice (first as part of the news summary), and doesn't mention SHS. There's a 2:53 story about Kevin McCarthy, but that also doesn't mention SHS and is more focused on how he's perceived in Kern County. https://www.npr.org/2023/02/08/1155335666/bidens-state-of-the-union-address-focused-on-middle-and-working-class-voters
Show threadQuinn A.Feb 9, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq my wake-up call on NPR was after 9-11 and then the lead up to the Iraq war. They, as were most media outlets, were completely complicit in basically supporting war. No tough questions. I’ll admit to still listening to NPR, but the majority is for programs other than their basic news shows.
Show threadskuaFeb 9, 2023

@protecttruth @shoq
Reagan-type conservatives in Australia and Britain identified the national broadcasters, the ABC and the BBC, as functioning to obstruct conservative agendas.
Their subsequent actions against those institutions have definitely had a negative effect.
AIUI both research most stories rather than presenting the media releases from media officers of the powerful, call out misconduct and corruption and don't do savvy, horserace, both-siding

Won't compare against Murdoch's kennel.

Show threadHelderwebFeb 9, 2023

@protecttruth @shoq

Click here to see what I am commenting on....

I am not a fan of NPR. I am a fan of #cspanwj & I have the same comments as far as cspan goes. I have watched/listened to #CSPAN since it started. Their tilt toward corporate friendly (Republican) programming is evident. They broadcast live trump hate rallies, have Federalist guests on too much and let callers repeat any Covid disinfo unchecked.
Cspan is owned by cable corporations and their control is evident. The answer is $

Show threadBelafonFeb 9, 2023
@shoq @protecttruth Good news isn't free or cheap.
Show threadkapowazFeb 9, 2023
@protecttruth similar to how the BBC News org bears a share of the blame for events in the UK (Brexit, Tories in general) because they try to represent both sides equally, even when one side is absolutely full of shit (which naturally they fail to call out)
Show threadEmFeb 9, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq I thought it was in my head, so thank you for saying this. Like the NYT they use the excuse of being impartial to be anything but.
Show thread🐚 Undo Influence 🐚Feb 9, 2023

@protecttruth @shoq

They've been like this for decades, too. It didn't start with the last President.

Show threadAndy Teaszer FellaFeb 10, 2023
@protecttruth @shoq “almost as bad” is an indictment