A now-former editor at NPR who was suspended for five days by the taxpayer-supported media organization after exposing the CEO’s left-wing bias said he has since resigned.
“I am resigning from NPR, a great American institution where I have worked for 25 years. I don’t support calls to defend NPR. I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism. But I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cited in my Free Press essay,” Uri Berliner wrote on X.
My resignation letter to NPR CEO @krmaher pic.twitter.com/0hafVbcZAK
— Uri Berliner (@uberliner) April 17, 2024
NPR media reporter David Folkenflik reported the five-day suspension without pay began on Friday.
Berliner wrote a groundbreaking article in the Free Press, critiquing NPR’s reporting on Russiagate, the COVID lab leak theory, Hunter Biden’s laptop scandal, the adoption of the theory of systemic racism, and accused the organization of minimizing antisemitism since October 7th, Fox News noted.
Berliner also highlighted a significant contrast in registration records from 2021 between Democrats and Republicans in the NPR newsroom. He mentioned that staff members showed reluctance to assist former President Trump, among other factors, suggesting that an “open-minded spirit no longer exists” at NPR.
“It angered many of his colleagues, led NPR leaders to announce monthly internal reviews of the network’s coverage, and gave fresh ammunition to conservative and partisan Republican critics of NPR, including former President Donald Trump,” Folkenflik wrote.
Folkenflik also had a direct conversation with Berliner, during which the suspended editor expressed his belief that embattled new CEO Katherine Maher is not suited for the role. He cited a multitude of far-left social media posts made by Maher before her appointment, which were brought to light by NPR critics.
Maher, who assumed the role of NPR’s CEO and president last month, has attracted attention for her past tweets, which express support for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. Additionally, she has addressed concerns about white privilege and remarked that property damage was “not the issue” Americans should focus on during looting in May 2020.
