NPR Public Editor The Public Editor is the public's representative to NPR, serving as an independent source regarding NPR's programming.

NPR Public Editor

WITH POYNTER'S KELLY MCBRIDE

Monday January 24, 2011

Opinion

NPR Public Editor

Is The Word "Gringo" Offensive Or Just Distracting?

by Alicia C. Shepard

January 24, 2011 • NPR ran a first-person commentary by a young Latina who expressed relief that the gunman who shot Rep. Giffords was a "gringo." Is "gringo" acceptable?

Tuesday January 18, 2011

Opinion

NPR Public Editor

How NPR's Giffords Mistake Hurt The Families

by Alicia C. Shepard

January 18, 2011 • NPR's ' Rep. Giffords is Dead' mistake deeply shook her family. People ask if reporters think about consequences. Here are some consequences to her family.

How NPR's Giffords Mistake Hurt The Families

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Tuesday January 11, 2011

NPR Public Editor

NPR's Giffords Mistake: Re-Learning the Lesson of Checking Sources

by Alicia C. Shepard

January 11, 2011 • It's not uncommon for news organizations to make mistakes in fast-breaking stories. But NPR made a serious one in falsely reporting that Rep. Giffords had died. Here's how it happened and what NPR has learned.

Friday January 7, 2011

Opinion

NPR Public Editor

NPR'S Costly Mistake

by Alicia C. Shepard

January 7, 2011 • NPR has paid a high price for the botched public firing of Juan Williams last October which caused a media firestorm of criticism from all fronts. The latest casualty is NPR's top editor.

Thursday December 30, 2010

NPR Public Editor

NPR Apologizes for WikiLeaks Mistake; Nina Totenberg and Teena Marie

by Alicia C. Shepard

December 30, 2010 • NPR and other news organizations have continually incorrectly talked about "thousands" of secret cables recently released by WikiLeaks. That number is wrong.And it's wrong that Nina Totenberg doesn't like Christmas. Read on:

Tuesday December 21, 2010

Audio Gallery: Behind The Scenes At Talk Of The Nation

Neal Conan during a Talk of the Nation show. Wayne Huang/NPR hide caption

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Wayne Huang/NPR

NPR Public Editor

Audio Gallery: Behind The Scenes At Talk Of The Nation

by Alicia C. Shepard

December 21, 2010 • Take a peek behind the scenes at NPR's only "live" show: Talk of the Nation. This audio slide show describes how the two-hour show is put together and what challenges it faces each day.

Friday December 17, 2010

NPR Public Editor

How Do You Cover The Odious?

by Alicia C. Shepard

December 17, 2010 • How should the media cover a group such as the Westboro Baptist Church, known for disrupting military funerals with its anti-gay venom? Especially when they chose to picket Elizabeth Edwards' funeral.

Tuesday December 7, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Corrections: Basic Journalistic Hygiene

by Alicia C. Shepard

December 7, 2010 • More and more people get their news online. But how easy is it for them to report an error. There's a new Alliance that is pushing for a standard for online corrections.

Friday December 3, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Vivian and Ron Schiller Are Not Related

by Alicia C. Shepard

December 3, 2010 • Are two top NPR corporate executives with the same last name related?

Tuesday November 23, 2010

Nathaniel Horton prepares to deliver books throughout the building. The mailroom has received as many as 200 books in one day. Wayne Huang/NPR hide caption

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Wayne Huang/NPR