NPR: Statist media?

The history of NPR and why Twitter labeled them "US state-affiliated media"

The history of public broadcasting

National Public Radio (NPR) was established by Congress in 1967 through the Public Broadcasting Act.

This act established a government-funded private non-profit called the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to support public radio and broadcasting for “instructional, educational, and cultural purposes.”

The first broadcast of NPR didn’t happen until 1971 and aired hearings on the Vietnam War.

In 1983, during attempts to wean NPR from government funding, they almost died due to bankruptcy and the CPB bailed them out.

Since then they’ve been about 10- 12% funded from US taxpayer dollars.

They also receive funding from memberships and it’s estimated that 25% of their funding comes from corporate sponsorship.

Twitter and “state-affiliated media”

On April 4th, 2023, Twitter users began to notice something on NPR’s profile.

UnWokable @UnWokablePod

.@elonmusk is based

In August of 2020, Twitter made an announcement that they would begin to add a “state-affiliated” label to certain accounts that they deemed affiliated with state governments. Most of us saw this appear on Russian accounts or account that report on Russia issues. However, they did state they would include the following countries: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Now it gets interesting.

The above linked announcement is still up as of today (April 5th, 2023) and it specifically mentions NPR as not being labeled due to talks with Twitter’s Trust and Safety Council.

If you’re not aware, the previous Trust & Safety Council was dissolved in December of 2022 due to their failure to enforce policies around child exploitation material as well as far left bias concerns. NPR even released this hit piece about the dissolution.

So, Twitter’s now defunct Trust & Safety council invented the state-affiliated label and purposely left out NPR.

This morning, NPR released a statement about the added flag to their account.

Ian Miles Cheong @stillgray

NPR released a statement to being flagged as state-affiliated media on Twitter.

Apparently they don’t like the label despite being at least partially funded by the US government. Boo-hoo.

Propaganda

When people see “state-affiliated” they think government propaganda.

It’s no surprise that the first accounts to be labeled were Russian accounts and journalists reporting on Russian news.

So, is NPR US government propaganda?

Let’s take a look.

Even a quick glance of NPR’s Twitter shows 90% coverage on Trump. Trump is currently being indicted, so we can give them the benefit of the doubt there.

Let’s try some other topics, though.

Ukraine

NPR @NPR

Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the Black Sea peninsula to mark the ninth anniversary of its annexation from Ukraine. Russia's move in 2014 was denounced as illegal by most of the world.

n.prPutin visits Crimea to mark the anniversary of its annexation from UkraineRussian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the Black Sea peninsula to mark the ninth anniversary of its annexation from Ukraine. Russia’s move in 2014 was denounced as illegal by most of the world.

NPR @NPR

Ukraine is conscripting thousands of new soldiers as the war with Russia now enters its second year. The pressure to train civilians quickly and then send them to the front is tremendous as Ukraine faces an enemy with four times the population.

n.prForeign volunteers race to train new Ukrainian troops to be sent to the frontFormer service members and combat medics from other countries are in Ukraine to train civilians. They typically have just days with new conscripts before they are sent to the front.

Okay, fine. Clearly an anti-Russia slant, but that’s most US news.

What about this one that just dropped today?

NPR @NPR

Its exact location is a military secret — but this spa-like retreat, built largely with Western donations, provides Ukrainian troops with counseling, meditation, speleotherapy and more.

n.prA rehab center revives traumatized Ukrainian troops before their return to battleBuilt largely with Western donations, the spa-like retreat provides soldiers with counseling, aromatherapy and more. But most soldiers are there for no more than a week.

What the heck? Do US solders get this type of treatment? Spa days? Aromotherapy? Clearly pro-Ukraine war propaganda.

COVID

Most of my left wing friends and family listen to NPR. It’s no surprise that NPR pushed the establishment COVID narrative.

Even today they posted this. Omicron boosters? It’s April of 2023.

NPR @NPR

The FDA appears poised to make available the COVID-19 vaccines that target omicron as a second booster for people with weak immune systems and those ages 65 and older.

n.prFDA will let some adults get a second boost of the bivalent COVID-19 shotOlder adults and others at high risk will soon be able to get a second shot of the COVID-19 booster that targets omicron.

Racism

NPR pushes “anti-racism” rhetoric.

Anti White Watch ☀️ @AntiWhiteWatch1

The incessant #antiwhite hate pushed by @NPR is sickening: @NPRfreshair promoted pseudo academic Arline Geronimus' thesis in "Weathering" that 'poc' suffered more than #EthnicEuropeans due to 'racism'. Strangely she omits data on Asians which undermines her narrative🧵 @MarkDice

NPR @NPR

In her new book ‘Weathering,’ public health professor Arline Geronimus explains how marginalized people suffer nearly constant stress from living with poverty and discrimination — leading to increasingly serious health problems over time. https://t.co/aQEhhbJ4By

So, what do you think?

Conclusion

In my view, NPR is US-state affiliated and deserves the label. They are partially government funded, they were protected from the “state-affiliated” label by biased actors, and they post US government propaganda.

I still have some questions, though.

Why did Twitter establish the “state-affiliated” label in 2020 just prior to the election and at the height of the COVID pandemic? 🤔

Why was NPR originally left out by the now defunct “Trust and Safety” team at Twitter?

Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts.

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