NPR CEO Katherine Maher emphasizes the importance of viewpoint diversity, standing firm against accusations of liberal bias.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher was mostly unapologetic during a rare public response to longtime editor Uri Berliner's accusations that the government-funded organization lacks "viewpoint diversity" and leans towards a liberal audience.

Maher defended the integrity of the newsroom and reporting on Saturday at the Texas Tribune Festival, stating that his team strives to serve the American public in the best possible way from a nonpartisan perspective.

Earlier this year, Berliner shocked the media industry by exposing liberal bias at NPR. Despite being suspended and eventually resigning due to the criticism, Berliner wrote a scathing critique of NPR in the Free Press. In his article, he criticized NPR's coverage of Russiagate, the COVID lab leak theory, Hunter Biden's scandalous laptop, embrace of the theory of systemic racism, and its downplaying of antisemitism following Oct. 7.

During a discussion about the future of public media at a Trib Fest conversation, Maher stated that he does not consider himself a journalist and relies on NPR editors and newsroom leaders to guide coverage.

She stated that her duty is to oversee the overall view, while their responsibility is to maintain the accuracy.

"Maher stated, "We aim to serve the American public well and provide coverage that resonates with people from diverse backgrounds.""

Maher believes that NPR should be "mindful of its role as a non-biased media outlet."

Berliner's criticism was perceived as an attack on the individual journalists who work diligently to report the news accurately and with integrity, in a nonpartisan manner, by his former colleagues at NPR.

Berliner's criticisms failed to resonate when she scrutinized the specific incidents Maher had publicly criticized, but she acknowledges that it sparked a broader discussion about NPR.

Regardless of whether you label it selective review or cherry-picking, the purpose was to support a thesis, which was successful in doing so. The validity of the criticism is irrelevant, as the thesis gained traction and tapped into a sentiment.

Maher stated that he would like to separate the distinction between his own agenda-driven critique and a broader discussion about public media receiving federal funding, which is a recurring topic in political discourse in this country.

Berliner's remarks highlight the need for NPR to prioritize internal reflection in response to perceived criticism, in order to maintain its mission and serve a diverse audience. Maher emphasized that NPR receives criticism from various sources, including some listeners who believe the organization is overly supportive of former President Trump.

Maher stated, "It's crucial for us to inquire about our own practices, editorial decisions, and programming choices that make NPR no longer feel like a resource for some individuals. We should ask, 'If NPR was once a valuable resource for you, what changed?' The answers we received were insightful."

NPR has been criticized for being "too repetitive" on certain stories, as headlines are frequently repeated across various programs, which can make listeners feel like NPR is "skewing the news."

Berliner's bombshell was raised by Maher, who noted that it occurred just two weeks into her tenure. Despite the fact that everything the longtime editor objected to had occurred before her time running NPR, Maher acknowledged that it was her responsibility to address the issue.

Maher stated that when one joins an organization, they take on the responsibility for everything that precedes it. This is acceptable. It is my duty to handle criticism in the manner necessary to address it.

Maher was questioned by Sullivan regarding a set of her earlier social media posts that gained popularity after Berliner's comments. Prior to her employment at NPR, Maher publicly supported Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden's presidential campaigns while frequently sharing far-left ideologies and criticizing Donald Trump on social media.

Maher stated that upon assuming her role, she remained committed to the same standards that all NPR staff must follow and her primary focus is to maintain the organization's mission to serve the public.

"Those are past positions," she said.

"Maher stated that he was not a journalist before and currently works in a journalism organization. He believes that it is fair to have some level of criticism around it. However, he questioned whether the level of critique he received was disproportionate."

She feels that her past tweets were unfairly criticized, as her predecessor, John Lansing, who oversaw the Obama-era Broadcasting Board of Governors, did not receive the same level of partisan accusations.

She stated that she had never worked for the government or a partisan organization, and that she was a private individual with her own personal beliefs.

Maher stated that her entire life was scrutinized, and her family was harassed and threatened. Due to her uncertainty about her current address becoming public knowledge upon voter registration, she is unsure if she will participate in the November presidential election, as she fears that people still have a grudge against her.

"Changing my morning routine due to security questions was not a fun experience, she said, as it was quite unattractive."

After Maher and Sullivan concluded their interview, Planet Chronicle Digital questioned NPR's executive director about Berliner's assertion that voter registration records in 2021 revealed a significant difference between Democrats and Republicans in the NPR newsroom. According to Berliner, he discovered 87 registered Democrats and no Republicans.

Maher emphasized the importance of context when discussing the numbers, as there are approximately 600 people working in the newsroom and the statistics provided by Berliner only represent a small fraction of those who self-reported their political affiliation. Additionally, Washington, D.C., prohibits hiring or screening candidates based on political affiliation, so hiring managers would never inquire about a candidate's political leanings.

Having diverse viewpoints in the newsroom is crucial, as it reflects the totality of the lived experience. We aim to achieve this by expanding our newsroom beyond D.C.

NPR has been investing in "collaborative newsrooms" nationwide to amplify the perspectives of journalists based in regions such as Appalachia, the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, Texas, and other rural areas, as stated by Maher.

She stated that it was an excellent approach to begin diversifying our perspectives by inviting individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

"Maher emphasized the importance of hiring reporters with expertise and experience in their beats, rather than basing hiring decisions on political ideology. He also highlighted the need to ensure that the work produced by these reporters is inclusive and balanced, with diverse sourcing."

This report was contributed to by Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Hannah Lambert from Planet Chronicle Digital.