Is NPR Biased?

A few weeks ago, an NPR podcast called On the Media came out with a very intriguing podcast about whether or not they themselves were left-leaning.  NPR prides itself on being impartial in their delivery of news.  On the podcast, NPR challenged some self-identifying conservative listeners to keep a journal for a week of the moments when they felt NPR was biased.  Also, they brought on an expert to analyze them using statistics and make an objective determination.  (In the end, the expert refused to draw a conclusion one way or the other.)

I really enjoyed listening to the diaries of the conservative listeners.  I am one who feels that NPR is left-leaning, but not so far that I can't enjoy listening or get a lot of useful information from it.  As one conservative listener stated, they aren't outright demeaning to the right, it's more in the way they phrase things, the questions they ask, and the perspective of the stories they run.

An example from the listener was an interview of someone who was in favor of tax cuts.  The host asked the question, "Can we afford it?"  The listener said that the question showed her bias against tax cuts.  I would take it one step further and suggest that the question represents an inherent disagreement between the right and the left.  Those on the left view tax cuts as spending with cuts requiring justification; those on the right view money as belonging to the people with taxation itself requiring justification.  No justification is needed to allow the people to keep their money.

Here's another example of a slight bias on NPR's part.  When President Obama first said, "You didn't build that," a gaffe to be sure, it was nowhere in sight on NPR's website.  Perhaps they reported it on the radio, but I didn't hear it.  When they finally did report it several days later, the story was more about how the GOP was making a big deal out of nothing more than a poor phrasing taken out of context: "Romney Targets Obama On 'You Didn't Build That.'"  Notice how the focus is on Romney, not Obama.  It draws attention away from the message Obama actually sent and sets him up as a victim of the relentless hammering of the Romney campaign.  There was no mention of the possibility of the comments hurting Obama in the election other than to question if the public have the mental capacity to see beyond the hype caused by conservatives, specifically the Romney campaign.  I disagree about the importance of Obama's comment.  I believe the statement, indeed the entire context of what he was saying represents a radically opposing viewpoint to my most basic view of government.  Obama views government as a kind benefactor who bestows Americans with all the tools they need to be successful.  I view government as belonging to the people, an entity who has nothing without the resources contributed by hard-working Americans.  Tax-paying, voting Americans themselves are the only ones who can claim credit for government services.

Fast forward to the past week when the audio recording of Mitt Romney's fundraiser was released by Mother Jones.  It was all over the headlines of NPR's website: "Romney Disparages Obama Voters in Hidden Video."  Again, the focus is solely on Romney, not the possibility that he could be a victim of comments taken out of context by an extremely liberal news source.  And then later, a story about how the Mother Jones source was not intending to "catch" Romney by setting up a camera at his fundraiser.  Ah, I see.  Actually, I fail to see how secretly setting up a camera could be done with any other intent.  (Side note: Instead of playing the "out-of-context" card, Romney has had the courage to stand by his comments, not apologizing for his viewpoint about how there is too much dependence on government programs.)

One last example.  A few weeks ago, Diane Rehm was talking about the Presidential race.  One topic that came up was racism and how it might affect voters--specifically white voters.  Would they vote against Obama simply because he is black? Diane wanted to know.  Some discussion went on with the guests for a minute or two.  Then, without batting an eye, Diane reported that according to polls black voters are expected to vote for President Obama at a rate of 95%.  No discussion followed.  To me, that number is staggering.  How can it not be suggested that racism plays a part in that dynamic?  How is it any more acceptable to vote for someone who is black because of his race than someone who is white? I wish that would have been part of her discussion, but it wasn't.

I feel it is commendable that NPR would have the courage to make this analysis of themselves.  They gave conservative listeners a chance to make their argument and be heard.  Kudos to them.  But they are still left-leaning, in my opinion.

What about you?  Do you listen to NPR?  Do you hear a political bias?

About This Blog

I am just an ordinary citizen, trying to make sense of our American politics.  As I go about my daily life, I tend to mull political issues around in my head quite frequently.  This is my attempt to put those thoughts onto paper, so to speak, in order to give myself some peace and also keep a record of my personal political views.  I am not necessarily trying to convince anyone, merely to articulate my own perspective and get pressing thoughts off my chest.  Writing also forces me to do a little more research about from where my views are coming and think things through a bit more thoroughly.

I love a good debate, so comments are welcome and even encouraged, but will be moderated.  Name-calling, personal attacks (even against politicians), sarcasm (but wit is good), and foul language will not be tolerated.  Let's keep it civil, folks.  State your opinion and the reasoning behind it without disrespecting other people's views.