NPR suspends an editor for criticizing his employer’s “unquestionably liberal” outlook

A seasoned editor at National Public Radio has been suspended after he penned an outside column condemning his company for, in his perspective, leftist journalism that shows little tolerance for opposing viewpoints.

According to a story published on Tuesday by NPR’s media reporter David Folkenflik, Uri Berliner, a senior editor on the business desk, was placed on leave without pay for five days. According to his post, Berliner was informed that he had disregarded the company’s policy requiring approval for any work done for outside news organizations.

Berliner said he was not going to appeal the suspension to NPR. The firm will not comment on specific employment concerns, according to an NPR representative.

He completed his piece for The Free Press last week. Berliner said that while NPR has always had a liberal slant, its culture has been open-minded and inquisitive throughout the most of his 25-year employment.

But that has changed in the last several years, the author wrote. “Today’s NPR listeners and online readers discover something new: the condensed perspective of a relatively tiny portion of the American people.”

His remarks quickly gained popularity with outside conservative activists who have criticized NPR in a similar manner. He especially blasted his company for covering the COVID-19 epidemic, allegations against the president’s son, Hunter Biden, and former president Donald Trump.

NPR’s chief editor, Edith Chapin, said after the article was published that she is happy to support NPR’s work and vehemently disagrees with Berliner’s findings.

Co-host of “Morning Edition” Steve Inskeep, one of his NPR colleagues, said in a post on Substack Tuesday that Berliner’s piece in The Free Press was riddled with misconceptions and inaccuracies.

“Uri’s article is helpful as an example of what to avoid if his ‘larger point’ is that journalists should seek wider perspectives and not just write stories that confirm their prior opinions,” Inskeep said.