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Thursday July 30, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Ombudsversation on Marching in a Gay Pride Parade

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 30, 2009 • NPR journalists face ethical challenges everyday. Please join me in watching a video discussion on whether NPR journalists should march in gay pride parades.

Tuesday July 28, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Double Standard?

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 28, 2009 • After the news media cooperated in a news blackout to protect a New York Times reporter, questions arose on how the media will behave if they are asked to not report the kidnapping of a soldier, contractor or executive in a foreign setting.

Monday July 27, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Where Did My Comment Go?

by Chantal de la Rionda

July 27, 2009 • Don't see a comment you posted a few weeks ago? No worries, technical glitches caused by NPR.org's re-launch are being worked out and missing comments will be restored shortly.

Wednesday July 22, 2009

NPR Public Editor

No, Laurie, NPR Is Not on Vacation!

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 22, 2009 • Laurie Handshu of Nashville wrote asking if everyone in NPR's news department was on vacation this week. "Your Tom Watson interview aired Tuesday. The British Open event finished Sunday. Daniel Shorr remembered Walter Cronkite on Tuesday. Mr. ...

Tuesday July 21, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Burma or Myanmar: Which Is It?

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 21, 2009 • Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls it Burma. But when her words are reported on NPR, the network refers to the country in Southeast Asia as Myanmar. A listener doesn't like it. "In clips included as part of every NPR newscast I have heard...

Monday July 20, 2009

NPR Public Editor

If Walter Cronkite Said It Was a Story; It Was

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 20, 2009 • As everyone knows former CBS newsman Walter Cronkite died on Friday. He really was a legend who could change the course of history through his news judgment. Here's yet one more example that I learned while reporting my book, Woodward and Bernstei...

Friday July 17, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Is NPR Ignoring the Single-Payer Health Care Proposal?

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 17, 2009 • Update: Scott Horsley reports on single payer health care for the July 24th broadcast of All Things Considered. The dilemma is a classic for all news organizations covering government or elections. The news media doesn't cover a proposal or po...

Wednesday July 15, 2009

NPR Public Editor

Why NPR Isn't Doing Live Coverage of Sotomayor Hearings

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 15, 2009 • A listener asks why NPR isn't doing live broadcasts of the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. It was offered to NPR's 800-plus member stations — which is how most everyone hears NPR — but there wasn't enoug...

Tuesday July 14, 2009

NPR Public Editor

ESPN Hires an Ombudsman

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 14, 2009 • In a world where there are fewer and fewer ombudsmen, good to see that ESPN has hired its third to replace Le Anne Schreiber, a former New York Times sports editor-turned-author. ACS ESPN Hires an Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer, one of television's most ...

NPR Public Editor

NPR Audience Political Perceptions

by Alicia C. Shepard

July 14, 2009 • The Ombudsman's office gets deluged with emails, comments, phone calls, and the perception here — among a staffer, an intern and me — is that the majority of them are critical of NPR for being too "mainstream" or for being too conservative. But...