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

Thursday June 24, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Did NPR Endanger An Afghan Farmer's Life?

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 24, 2010 • Sometimes journalists put sources in their stories in danger by sharing their names. A listener thought NPR did this in a recent story about American Green Berets trying to get Afghans to work against the Taliban, which is not above retaliation.

Friday June 18, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Listeners Hear Same Israeli-Palestinian Coverage Differently

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 18, 2010 • Some NPR listeners heard the same stories about Israel's raid on a humanitarian vessel headed for Gaza — but they drew very different conclusions. Israelis say they acted in self-defense; Palestinians say the Israelis attacked.

Wednesday June 9, 2010

Opinion

NPR Public Editor

Don't Take Away Helen Thomas' Front Row Nameplate

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 9, 2010 • Legendary reporter Helen Thomas made a mistake but it's not one that should define her career — nor should the White House strip her nameplate from the front-row seat she just gave up.

Tuesday June 8, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Latest NPR Evaluation of Middle East Coverage

June 8, 2010 • Latest NPR Evaluation of Middle East Coverage looks into how NPR reported on the Arab-Israeli conflict in the first quarter of 2010.

Wednesday June 2, 2010

NPR Public Editor

CIA Gets Numbers Wrong on Jewish Settlers

by Alicia C. Shepard

June 2, 2010 • NPR and other news organizations rely on the CIA World Factbook regularly. But they shouldn't for numbers on Jewish settlers living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They are outdated.

Monday May 24, 2010

NPR Public Editor

When Is It Plagiarism?

by Alicia C. Shepard

May 24, 2010 • NPR ran a story about the cliche of cell phones and horror flicks. It was similiar to a popular YouTube video, and some accused NPR of plagiarism.

Tuesday May 18, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Is It An Oil Spill In The Gulf?

by Alicia C. Shepard

May 18, 2010 • Some say the BP accident should be called an underground explosion - not an oil spill. What's the difference between concrete and cement?

Friday April 30, 2010

NPR Public Editor

NPR and the iPad: Too Close for Comfort?

by Alicia C. Shepard

April 30, 2010 • NPR quickly developed a news app for the iPad and are heavily promoting it. Some wonder about the relationship between NPR and Apple and whether Apple is a sponsor. It's not.

Monday April 26, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Reviewing And Selling Books And CDs: Conflict-of-Interest?

by Alicia C. Shepard

April 26, 2010 • NPR provides links for its audience to buy books or CDs featured on-air or online and gets a portion of the revenues. This troubles some listeners.

Thursday April 22, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Why NPR Wanted To Overturn The Law Banning Animal Cruelty Images

by Alicia C. Shepard

April 22, 2010 • Some listeners were outraged that NPR would join a suit to strike down a federal law banning images of animal cruelty. Here's why.

Tuesday April 20, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Women's Voices Research Gets Heard

by Lori Grisham

April 20, 2010 • Our analysis of female voices heard on NPR has garnered some recent attention.

Monday April 19, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Jakob Dylan Scores Big At NPR

by Alicia C. Shepard

April 19, 2010 • NPR featured Jakob Dylan's new album right next to a promo spot paid for by Sony. Is this a case of "pay for play?"

Friday April 2, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Where are the Women?

by Alicia C. Shepard

April 2, 2010 • NPR does exceptionally well putting female reporters and hosts on the air. But when it comes to female voices from outside NPR, the network is not as diverse on air as it would like to think.

Friday March 26, 2010

NPR Public Editor

Since When Did It Become the Democrat Party?

by Alicia C. Shepard

March 26, 2010 • Republicans occassionally like to irritate Democrats by calling them members of the Democrat Party when the official name is the Democratic Party. NPR's policy is to call a party what it calls itself. But the policy isn't always followed by NPR st...

Wednesday March 24, 2010

NPR Public Editor

NPR Changes Abortion Language

by Alicia C. Shepard

March 24, 2010 • Last week, I wrote a post about how NPR identifies people who support or oppose abortion. It engendered a lively debate inside and outside NPR. Today, some top editors got together to review the 2005 policy and decided to no longer use "pro-choice...