Happy Independence Day, NPR – by Uri Berliner

But over the past year, under the leadership of a divisive new CEO, instead of taking criticisms of its coverage to heart, NPR instead doubled down on agenda-driven journalism. So, as someone who had spent most of his career at the network, I didn t support defunding. I instead suggested that NPR could build back credibility by voluntarily giving up federal support. Obviously that didn t happen.

NPR has said President Donald Trump s push for defunding is an attack on press freedom and the First Amendment. While defunding is a harsh rebuke to NPR, it s not fatal. A relatively small portion of its budget some 5 to 10 percent depending on how you do the math comes from direct and indirect federal funding. But for small public radio stations that rely more on federal support, the repercussions could be severe. While Republicans cast the votes to defund, NPR also has itself to blame for the outcome.

It s a self-inflicted wound, a product of how NPR embraced a fringe progressivism that cost it any legitimate claim to stand as an impartial provider of news, much less one deserving of government support.

via www.thefp.com

Next I think they should stop calling themselves “public.” If they’re not publicly funded, why should they be? I suppose they could be called “The Broadcaster Formerly Known As . . . ” I would be ok with that.