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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

Tuesday June 30, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Your Voices Have Been Heard

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 30, 2009 • For the record, I have brought this issue and the volume of comments to the attention of NPR's top editorial staff.

Monday June 29, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Anonymity Online: Behind the Mask

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 29, 2009 • ...you have to ease the rules a bit and accept the sometimes disheveled democratic nature of the Web.

Sunday June 21, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Harsh Interrogation Techniques or Torture?

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 21, 2009 • The Ombudsman's office received a slew of emails challenging NPR's policy of using "harsh interrogation tactics" or "enhanced interrogation techniques" to describe the treatment of terrorism suspects.

Tuesday June 16, 2009

NPR Public Editor

NPR is Not Running Monsanto Spots

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 16, 2009 • Public radio is at heart, a public service. But it's a complicated public service that doesn't operate like other media. Just yesterday, a man raved about how he listened to NPR all day long. I corrected him. Nicely. "Actually, what you listen...

NPR is Not Running Monsanto Spots

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Friday June 12, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Why Does the Media Always Focus on the Shooter?

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 12, 2009 • It happens every time there's a major shooting: the killer gets more attention than the victims. The story of Wednesday's fatal killing at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC was no different on NPR. The 88-year-old man charged with the murde...

Tuesday June 9, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Whose Life is More Newsworthy?

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 9, 2009 • Some listeners last week were concerned that NPR had done 8 stories or segments on air about the murder of Dr. George Tiller, a well-known Kansas doctor who performed abortions, and none on the murder of Army Pvt. William Long, 23.

NPR Public Editor

The Language of Abortion

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 9, 2009 • Abortion.

The Language of Abortion

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Monday June 8, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Where Blogging News Can Go Wrong

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 8, 2009 • I'm a big fan of blogs and of reading listener opinions. I plan on updating my own blog more frequently over the next few months.

Monday June 1, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Planet Money Meltdown

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 1, 2009 • TARP watchdog Elizabeth Warren walked out of NPR's New York studio after an interview for a Planet Money podcast, and gave her assistant a puzzled look.

Friday May 22, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Outrage over NPR's Handling of Outrage

by Alicia C. Shepard

May 22, 2009 • NPR regular freelancer Nathan Lee had signed off on his edited movie review of Outrage Thursday night, May 7. The next morning, he checked for the piece on NPR's

Tuesday May 19, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Heckler or Protester?

by Alicia C. Shepard

May 19, 2009 • Joseph Monagle of Manchester, N.H. heard this story on Monday's Morning Edition about President Obama's speech at University of Notre Dame. What bothered him was wh

Thursday May 14, 2009

NPR Public Editor

The Soloist and Funding Credits

by Alicia C. Shepard

May 14, 2009 • It would be reasonable for a listener to conclude that NPR likes and supports the new movie, The Soloist, about the relationship between a newspaper columnist and a gifted, homeless musician.

Wednesday May 13, 2009

NPR Public Editor

When is it Appropriate to Ask Someone's Race?

by Alicia C. Shepard

May 13, 2009 • From time to time, I think it's instructive to share audience emails and an NPR staffer's response. James Webb of Langhorne, PA, questioned why a guest on Tell Me More

Wednesday May 6, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Why Does NPR Continue to say 'Swine Flu?'

by Alicia C. Shepard

May 6, 2009 • Will you please stop refering to the novel Influenza A virus circulating throughout Mexico, the US and the world as "swine flu" instead of the correct name, "H1N1 virus."Thank you,Cyndie Bashore

Tuesday April 28, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Using the 'N' Word

by Alicia C. Shepard

April 28, 2009 • A listener was offended by a Fresh Air program in which host Terry Gross interviewed actor Id

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