Uri Berliner, the senior business editor at NPR, has resigned following controversy over an essay he wrote criticizing the organization’s perceived liberal bias.
Berliner, who had been with NPR for 25 years, announced his resignation on X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing his inability to continue working under a new CEO whose views he found divisive and confirmatory of the issues he raised in his essay.
The essay, published on April 9 at The Free Press, accused NPR of alienating listeners by adopting a progressive worldview, which Berliner argued was eroding public trust in the network.
NPR editor (Credits: Fox News)
Following the publication, NPR suspended Berliner for five days without pay for not obtaining approval prior to publishing the essay, and he was warned that any further violation of company policy could lead to his dismissal.
The situation escalated with the recent scrutiny of Katherine Maher, NPR’s CEO, whose past social media posts critical of former President Donald Trump and supportive of Democrats came to light.
These posts included derogatory comments about Trump and expressions of support for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Berliner’s departure highlights tensions within NPR concerning editorial impartiality and leadership. His criticism of Maher’s suitability as a leader, based on her previous social media activity, reflects his concerns about the need for a unifying figure who can broaden NPR’s appeal and perspective.
National Public Radio (NPR) (Credits: Al Jazeera)
NPR has defended Maher, noting that her posts were made before she joined the journalism field and represented her personal views, protected under the First Amendment.
However, Berliner and some of his colleagues have expressed discomfort with her past expressions, suggesting they could influence the network’s editorial direction.
The controversy has also affected internal dynamics at NPR, with several journalists reportedly unwilling to work with Berliner, fearing confidentiality issues.
This incident has sparked a broader discussion on the balance between personal expression and professional responsibilities in journalism, especially in leadership roles within prominent news organizations.
