An editor for National Public Radio, Uri Berliner, resigned Wednesday following the uproar caused by his essay criticizing the news outlet’s liberal leanings. Berliner, who served as a senior business editor, wrote for The Free Press, claiming that NPR lacks viewpoint diversity and has a strong liberal bias.
The essay sparked backlash from conservatives, with some calling for NPR to be defunded despite the organization receiving minimal federal funding. Berliner’s resignation came after NPR suspended him for five days without pay for not seeking approval before appearing in outside media.
In his resignation statement, Berliner expressed his respect for his colleagues and NPR’s journalism but cited an inability to work in a newsroom where he felt disparaged by the new CEO. He highlighted the lack of political diversity among NPR’s staff and criticized the outlet’s coverage of certain stories.
High-profile figures like former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk supported Berliner’s essay, condemning NPR as a liberal disinformation machine. However, NPR’s chief news executive and CEO defended the organization’s commitment to editorial independence and serving all Americans.
While some journalists at NPR pushed back against Berliner’s claims, the controversy surrounding his resignation has reignited the debate over media bias and the role of public broadcasting in today’s polarized political landscape.