NPR question

[PatboyX]

Diane Ream (sp?) was on talking to Terry Gross (another NPR personality) about Terry's new book.
i have often heard NPR called "too liberal" but i was wondering how people on this board felt about it.
Diane told a story about how the president, once he learned who she was (introduced as "from npr") the smile left his face and he urged her to talk to press secretary if she wanted to talk to him.
now, i dont think this reflects poorly on the president because i doubt that he is sitting around listening to her show. (i dont know many people who even know who she is)
but it certainly suggests that NPR means something to a lot of people.

how do you guys see this?

 

[Caminetto]

I listen to NPR quite often, but certainly not exclusively. I think it is the most unbiased news source.
IMHO, NPR has an extremely slight liberal slant, but it is very hard to completely eliminate all bias from reporting. I also find that far to many of those on the right have a tendency to see any news not favorable to them as biased.

I heard an interview with Chris Matthews and he basically stated that it is increasingly common for politicians to ignore or act rude to reporters who ask tough questions or refuse to let their "spin" go unquestioned.

 

[Gravity]

I don't think they should receive public funds AT ALL! I also think the NEA should be unfunded. I don't understand the need for them to recieve my tax dollars!

If I had a choice between NPR and rush, NPR would be finished!!

 

[43st]

I think NPR is intelligent news. I appreciate their ability to discuss both sides of an issue, more often than not. People get confused when they turn on NPR and hear a opinion piece. These usually aren't even on the "news" sections but you'd be hard pressed to tell a casual listener that.

I'm not sure what you mean by misusing funds though?

 

[Hossenfeffer]

It's hard for me to say if NPR is truly misusung funds, given that I'm not privy to what happens behind the scenes. It's naive, imho, to assume that every dollar they are given is put to its best use, but I do have faith that they try, and I do have faith that should a better way be found to spend the money, it'll get done.

NPR has some truly spectacular programming. I would agree with a previous poster who considers NPR "intelligent news".

Picking Rush over NPR makes zero sense to me. If you're into Rush, I'm sure his show can be entertaining, but you won't get near the information you'll get from NPR. The quality, character, and content of the two are simply on two different levels.

As for the NEA, I'm sure I have a bit of bias since I'm an actor, but I do see projects get put on that can be literally life-changing for an audience. Some of these simply wouldn't get done without aid from the NEA. Just like (I assume) many others, however, I do furrow my brow hearing about the latest "art" done under an NEA grant, at least when I may not agree about the "validity" of the art. I'm a big proponent of music/arts in education (and life). The catharthis it can provide can prove educational, enlightening, and even medicinal.

 

[lozina]

Well, the poster who expressed his zealous devotion to Rush is merely reflecting his extreme bias.

 

[Genx87]

I listen to them and there is a liberal tendency. But I dont think it is anything like the major news networks of NBC,CBS, and ABC. And overall they dont seem that bad to me.

 

[burnedout]

NPR at least attempts to present both sides of a story. For example, while the Salon piece on Bush's time in Alabama was very one sided, NPR's reporting on the matter was not. To the contrary, NPR presented both sides of the story along with a third person taking the middle ground. I usually listen to NPR via KUT about 2-3 hours per week.

Anyway, to answer the original question, Bush probably considers certain media outlets unfriendly. NPR may be among those. Part of this administration's problem has been media relations, which I would grade as poor.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Since my tax dollars support that liberal drivel from NPR, I think Rush Limbaugh should also receive federal assistance. But better yet, NPR should be privatized just like the National Endowment of the (Liberal, God-hating) Arts.

I applaud NPR for playing classical music and other varieties of music too sophisticated for the average listener. But I can't stand their bias and CBS-like lies.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Since my tax dollars support that liberal drivel from NPR, I think Rush Limbaugh should also receive federal assistance.

At least free Methadone

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Since my tax dollars support that liberal drivel from NPR, I think Rush Limbaugh should also receive federal assistance. But better yet, NPR should be privatized just like the National Endowment of the (Liberal, God-hating) Arts.

I applaud NPR for playing classical music and other varieties of music too sophisticated for the average listener. But I can't stand their bias and CBS-like lies.

I'd really be interested in hearing what you consider "liberal drivel". I find the NPR news to be well-informed, intelligent and ready at the drop of the hat to admit where they make an error. "CBS-like lies"? Ha, come on. Again, it's simply not fair to compare Rush to NPR. Rush is (imho) a loudmouth op-ed piece, where NPR strives for (or makes a much stronger effort to strive for) objectivity.

The overall programming will depend on which station you listen to (what programs the station can afford to subscribe to). My local NPR station, KUOW, doesn't play much in the way of classical. Through public funding and donation, they're able to get great programs such as:

All Things Considered
Morning Edition
The Diana Rehm Show
Left, Right and Center
Marketplace
Weekday
This American Life
Says you
Wait Wait Don't tell me
On the Media
and others...

 

[Infohawk]

NPR is not liberal and here's why. What people could consider liberal is the subject matter. They cover all sorts of topics from a spectrum of American life. Because they're public and the goal is to serve as many people as many. So they don't pander to the tastes of the majority only. Now many people consider it liberal to talk about minority issues or gay issues or whatever, but the point of NPR is to give a voice to these communities. So it's not liberal, it's inclusive.

And what's really huge is that they give an equal voice to both sides. Look at O'Reilly. he screams people down. NPR doesn't do that. On all the shows they get someone from each side which almost makes it boring at times.

 

[Todd33]

Go search NPR at F.A.I.R, NPR is not liberal. NPR is as balanced as it gets. Cable news is corrupt, it's about ad revenue and not news. NPR does not answer to entertainment divisions or stock holders.

 

[lozina]

Any of you ever listen to: http://www.rbnlive.net/listen.html ?

 

[smashp]

Originally posted by: Todd33
Go search NPR at F.A.I.R, NPR is not liberal. NPR is as balanced as it gets. Cable news is corrupt, it's about ad revenue and not news. NPR does not answer to entertainment divisions or stock holders.

correct.

The Honest News is on NPR and I would Also say the NewsHour. Much more in-depth and without the corporate media truncated talking points.

 

[PatboyX]

by "misuse" i meant those who didnt think they should be funded.
personally, i really dig npr. especially tavis smiley and diane ream.
i remember reading that when a study was done, turns out more conservative people listen than not.
and yesterday as i turned on the radio i was listening to an opinion piece about a republican and (although he was being very fair about both sides took a few jabs at the liberals) his experience staying with his democratic friend during the RNC.

 

[PatboyX]

Originally posted by: Gravity
I don't think they should receive public funds AT ALL! I also think the NEA should be unfunded. I don't understand the need for them to recieve my tax dollars!

If I had a choice between NPR and rush, NPR would be finished!!

i completely forgot about this when i posted.
nea?
the national education association?

im a little lost with the connection. but, working in a school district, id love to hear about it!

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
NPR is not liberal and here's why. What people could consider liberal is the subject matter. They cover all sorts of topics from a spectrum of American life. Because they're public and the goal is to serve as many people as many. So they don't pander to the tastes of the majority only. Now many people consider it liberal to talk about minority issues or gay issues or whatever, but the point of NPR is to give a voice to these communities. So it's not liberal, it's inclusive.

And what's really huge is that they give an equal voice to both sides. Look at O'Reilly. he screams people down. NPR doesn't do that. On all the shows they get someone from each side which almost makes it boring at times.

Inclusive is correct. I listen to NPR regularly & what I appreciate most is their willingness to pick up topics or current events which are not reported in the mainstream media and discuss both sides of the issues. I may not agree with the opinions of some of their guests but I get to hear the arguments for their positions. It is nice to have an understanding of viewpoints which differ from mine. (Wasn't that called - know thy enemy? )

 

[piasabird]

I think this is a stupid POLL. The thing is there are a lot of programs on NPR that are not news related. They have a large following at NPR for a wide variety of programs that are intertainment based like music programs and those Comedy/Music programs on Saturday/Sunday. However, I pretty much ignore the news they have. As news goes they have a slightly liberal slant, but it is usually pretty thorough. The problem is network news is not very Truth centered and Truth Centered. It seems most networks selectively pick news segments to support whatever agenda they have. I do not beleive anything I see on Network News unless it is discussed on both Liberal and Conservative sources. Network news and liberal sitcom shows most often just bore me and make me sick.

The main Basis that the government is suppose to allow a License for networks is based on their activities to relay the news and they are not meeting this commitment in my mind.

 

[heartsurgeon]

NPR= National Proletariat Radio

almost (but not quite) as leftist as the BBC

NPR is not moderate or middle of the road, it is far left leaning.

the only "moderate" or "neutral" show on tv is cspan, and Brian Lamb's Booknotes, or hisd show whatever it is called....

if anyone can tell me Brian Lamb's political orientation I'd be amazed...I can't tell if the guy is liberal, moderate or conservative...he plays it completely non-partisan...

i have great respect for him and cspan.

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon
NPR= National Proletariat Radio

almost (but not quite) as leftist as the BBC

NPR is not moderate or middle of the road, it is far left leaning.

As far left leaning as Fox News? Inconceivable!

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon
NPR= National Proletariat Radio

almost (but not quite) as leftist as the BBC

NPR is not moderate or middle of the road, it is far left leaning.

I hear you have access to a lot of sharp intstruments. Your brain in not one of them.

And yet, finally, we agree. NPR is about as leftist as the BBC. :roll:

 

[CaptnKirk]

NEA, is the National Endowment for the Arts

The Conservatives have been trying to kill that program for years, as they have the
audacity to provide funding to the Museums and Cultural Centers that dare to show a nude picture, statue, or any otther thing that the Conservatives choose to deem as Obscene by their narrow
minded standards - as in they really want to run your life and tell you how to think.

Lets ban some books and teach Creationism while we're at it too.
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The main Basis that the government is suppose to allow a License for networks is based on their activities to relay the news and they are not meeting this commitment in my mind.

P-Bird: Ever hear of Community Service ? That's what NPR is based on.
there are areas where the culture is not limited to petroleum waste leeching
into the basements of peoples homes and causing health hazards.

 

[chess9]

"Go search NPR at F.A.I.R, NPR is not liberal. NPR is as balanced as it gets. Cable news is corrupt, it's about ad revenue and not news. NPR does not answer to entertainment divisions or stock holders."

Excellent points.

-Robert

 

[heartsurgeon]

NPR is as balanced as it gets

HAHAHAHHAHA
you made a funny! i laughed!!

cspan is "balanced"

everything else has a bias.
yes Fox is "right" leaning..
and yes, NPR is left leaning.

now if your a communist, NPR looks moderate.....
so i guess it depends on where youstand as to whether or not something is left or right,

but again, i defy anyone to tell me the political leanings of anyone that hosts a show on cspan...you can't.

cspan is the ONLY bias free show on tv.