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NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

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Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#841

Post by ImPostingOnHN »

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #723
ImPostingOnHN wrote: post #524

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If a media outlet is being funded by the government then readers should know that because it could affect their coverage close, if there is evidence their coverage is actually being affected, readers should know that because that is what should inform their decision in some cases, where the funding constitutes a large portion of total funding, it may be appropriate to add a disclaimer

What kind of evidence are you looking for here? The effect of financial incentives on human behavior is well-established. Meanwhile case-specific evidence is largely unavailable. Reporters would be loathe to admit to being cowed, but are also aware that corporate executives make decisions on things like promotions and timeslots based on the bottom line, or in less well-funded entities that a loss of funding can direc…

frankly, any evidence besides zero would be good, but ideally any evidence which is convincing. It's up to the conspiracy theorist, not the audience, to come up with such evidence, whatever it may be.

an example of evidence of such a conspiracy theory would be internal emails telling a reporter to go easy on the US government because a small portion of funding comes from it, or to attack X because the US government wants them to

statistical evidence would work too if it proves the claims of bias somehow, I leave it to you to figure out some examples

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#842

Post by AmericanChopper »

ImPostingOnHN wrote: post #839
AmericanChopper wrote: post #442

Earlier quoted context omitted.

State funding of media, regardless of how it’s structured, creates an obvious conflict of interest with editorial freedom. Theoretically it’s possible for a state funded media company to exercise editorial freedom, just like it would be theoretically possible for a climate study funded by ExxonMobile to exercise academic freedom, but not without acknowledging that the conflict of interest exists. Maybe they are a hig…

put a better way, theoretically it's possible for an entity that has received a small amount of funds from the state, to be controlled by that state, just like SpaceX, which is state funded, could be controlled by that state, and just like theoretically I could give you a dollar and then control you, but any actual accusation of such or implication thereof would need actual evidence behind it, or else such conspiracy…

No evidence of bias is required to establish that a conflict of interest exists. One reason that people are interested in knowing when a conflict of interest exists, is that is generally not possible to prove what influences are motivating decision making.

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#843

Post by lamontcg »

wyager wrote: post #643
mcguire wrote: post #365

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does the federal government assert editorial control over NPR?

It doesn't matter in the slightest if they do this explicitly . NPR would be stupid to bite the hand that feeds it.

39% of NPR revenue comes directly from corporations.

Another 12% comes from foundations (the wealthy donor class).

Only 31% of their revenue comes from member stations and only 13% of that comes from CPB or government sources, which totals up to 4% coming from the government.

So corporate interests fund NPR more than 10x times as much as the government.

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#844

Post by adamrezich »

bagels wrote: post #829
maaand wrote: post #718

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you also get your news from SpaceX and Tesla?

No, but why not label them as "state affiliated space company" and "state affiliated automobile manufacturer"

because their product is not information, so any personal/political bias they may have is not reflected in their products, which are apolitical.

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#845

Post by chiefalchemist »

retrocryptid wrote: post #180
chiefalchemist wrote: post #79

I listen to NPR station in the car. Anecdotally, very little of the content is true journalism; much of it is effectively op-ed. That's not necessarily a bad thing, provived you understand what you're consuming. The state-funded tag is a bit much. But to claim NPR is a pure journalism play isn't accurate either.

What's your definition of journalism?

This is handy for me:

https://www.openculture.com/2020/01/jim-lehrers-16-rules-for...

https://www.mixdexhq.com/tv-news/here-are-jim-lehrers-10-rul...

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#846

Post by chiefalchemist »

retrocryptid wrote: post #174
throwaway743 wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By definition they're state funded, but not state ran. The implications from the optics though may result in extreme takes. Though we could assume there's at least some influence the funding has.

Exxon gets a larger percentage of its income from the federal government in subsidies, yet we seldom (if ever) apply "government funded" to that organization. What's your definition of "state funded"?

Not being snarky but...maybe we should label them as such. If it's accurate then so be it.

The irony? We'd have to rely on the media and "modern journalism" to apply the proper labels.

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#847

Post by tjnaylor »

Georgelemental wrote: post #745
bilekas wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because every penny counts. What business would turn around and say : "We don't need that 1%, you can have it back". It's state affiliated. Like Tesla. Like any company who received covid relief. Tax breaks etc. Less than 1 percentage is simply not influential. It's disingenuous to say it's owned by the government.

Either the money is important to NPR, or it is not. If and only if is important, it gives the government leverage over the organization.

Infrastructure like roads are important to NPR, or they are not.

NPR (and every other company) that relies on US roadways is giving the US govt levarage over the organization no?

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#848

Post by chiefalchemist »

ProAm wrote: post #121
chiefalchemist wrote: post #79

I listen to NPR station in the car. Anecdotally, very little of the content is true journalism; much of it is effectively op-ed. That's not necessarily a bad thing, provived you understand what you're consuming. The state-funded tag is a bit much. But to claim NPR is a pure journalism play isn't accurate either.

I dont think they claim to be pure journalism: "NPR is an independent, nonprofit media organization that was founded on a mission to create a more informed public. Every day, NPR connects with millions of Americans on the air, online, and in person to explore the news, ideas, and what it means to be human. Through its network of member stations, NPR makes local stories national, national stories local, and global sto…

I think in their statement about leaving Twitter he mentioned journalism. I was pointing out that - imho - it's mostly op-ed. Nothing wrong with op-ed but it should never be confused with journalism.

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#849

Post by chiefalchemist »

rayiner wrote: post #161
chiefalchemist wrote: post #79

I listen to NPR station in the car. Anecdotally, very little of the content is true journalism; much of it is effectively op-ed. That's not necessarily a bad thing, provived you understand what you're consuming. The state-funded tag is a bit much. But to claim NPR is a pure journalism play isn't accurate either.

My dad used to listen to NPR all the time growing up (WAMU). It was always liberal, but now it’s become this highly processed and refined sort of white sugar liberal that’s hard to stomach even for him.

NPR and The NYT have both jumped the shark. Sad really. Tho sadder is the fact that they're in denial about it.

Re: NPR quits Twitter after being labeled as 'state-affiliated media'

#850

Post by chiefalchemist »

jimbob45 wrote: post #299
chiefalchemist wrote: post #79

I listen to NPR station in the car. Anecdotally, very little of the content is true journalism; much of it is effectively op-ed. That's not necessarily a bad thing, provived you understand what you're consuming. The state-funded tag is a bit much. But to claim NPR is a pure journalism play isn't accurate either.

The problem with NPR right now is that good content and content creators get snatched up immediately by bigger organizations once they gain any traction at NPR. Joshua Johnson and his show 1A was the main case of this for me. The guy was running a top-notch show before NBC yoinked him up to the big leagues.

Makes ya wonder if they're acquiring the person for the person, or to gain control of the ideas that person is able to promote, or not.
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