The Q&Q For 4/12/24

This week’s quote comes to us from NPR editor Uri Berliner, a 26-year veteran of the NPR newsroom. In a piece for The Free Press, Berliner wrote:

“It’s true NPR has always had a liberal bent, but during most of my tenure here, an open-minded, curious culture prevailed. We were nerdy, but not knee-jerk, activist, or scolding. In recent years, however, that has changed. Today, those who listen to NPR or read its coverage online find something different: the distilled worldview of a very small segment of the U.S. population.” 

1. Berliner’s main point was a call for viewpoint diversity. Of the 87 NPR employees for which Berliner could find party registrations how many were Republicans?

A) 12

B) 7

C) 5

D) 0

2. How did NPR management respond to Berliner’s critique?

A) They issued a statement apologizing for the hurt and harm they had caused and promising to do better.

B) They formed a committee to study ways of achieving a greater diversity of views at NPR.

C) They mandated view point diversity training for all employees.

D) They strongly rejected Berliner’s assessment and wrote, “We’re proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories.”

3. Berliner writes about the proliferation of identity-based affinity groups (as opposed to groups that might have been organized around coverage topics like foreign affairs, the economy, the environment, etc.). Which of these is NOT among them?

A) Marginalized Genders and Intersex People of Color.

B) Ummah (for Muslim-identifying employees).

C) Women, Gender-Expansive, and Transgender People in Technology Throughout Public Media.

D) Latinx Questioning Differently Abled Intersectional Mobilization Committee.

4. If the Latinx Questioning Differently Abled Intersectional Mobilization Committee had written a similar critique asserting that the LQDAIMC’s views were not being represented, NPR brass would have:

A) Issued a statement apologizing for the hurt and harm they had caused and promising to do better.

B) Formed a committee to study ways of achieving a greater voice for the views of the LQDAIMC community at NPR.

C) Mandated LQDAIMC sensitivity training for all employees.

D) Strongly rejected LQDABMC’s assessment and said, “We’re proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories.”

5. According to listener surveys, what percentage of NPR listeners identify themselves as liberal or very liberal?

A) 55%

B) 67%

C) 75%

D) 83%

6. If you were Uri Berliner what precautions might you take in the staff lunch room?

A) Ask a colleague to try your quiche before you take a bite yourself.

B) Sit with your back to a wall.

C) Wear one of those Palestinian scarves just to confuse people.

D) Forget the lunch room and eat at your desk.

7. The malady Berliner describes at NPR has also eroded trust at other once respected news outlets. Which of these remains beyond reproach?

A) PBS.

B) The New York Times.

C) CNN.

D) YSDA.

Answers

1: D

2: D

3: D

4: A, B & C, but definitely not D.

5: B

6: All answers are acceptable, but we recommend D.

7: D, of course.

That Berliner piece really is exceptional, and well worth reading in its entirety, because it describes perfectly what’s happening not just at NPR but also at PBS and, to a lesser extent, at the New York Times. (MSNBC and CNN don’t even pretend to be unbiased.) Similar attitudes can be found in much of corporate America and certainly among those who run the Democratic Party (but not the rank and file).

I’m off to help a friend with a prairie burn tomorrow. More blazing, red hot opinion writing back here come Monday. Have a good weekend.