National Public Radio (NPR) will no longer be active on Twitter after the social platform ‘undermined’ the news source’s ‘credibility’ when it branded it a ‘government-funded’ outlet.
NPR’s 52 Twitter accounts have gone silent after the social platform added the black label tag of ‘state-affiliated media’ to the brand’s official account – a tag that is often only seen associated with propaganda outlets in Russia and China.
It has since been changed to ‘government-funded media.’ BBC and PBS have also been given the same tag. Earlier this month, Elon Musk branded The New York Times ‘propaganda’ and removed its blue checkmark.
NPR noted in the article that the company only receives less than one percent of its $300million budget through federally-funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
In its final tweets, the company plugged its other social platforms, including Facebook, where it posted a link, titled: ‘NPR quits Twitter after being falsely labeled as “state-affiliated media.”‘
‘We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public’s understanding of our editorial independence,’ the company wrote in a statement.
NPR CEO John Lansing (pictured) has stalled all 52 official NPR Twitter accounts a week after the social platform branded it ‘state-affiliated media’
It has since been changed to ‘government-funded media.’ BBC and PBS also have the same tag
‘We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public’s understanding of our editorial independence,’ the company wrote in a statement
‘We are turning away from Twitter but not our audiences and communities.’
NPR is boarding up its Twitter pages to protect its credibility, according to NPR President and CEO John Lansing.
‘I would never have our content go anywhere that would risk our credibility,’ he said in the article. ‘At this point, I have lost my faith in the decision-making at Twitter. I would need some time to understand whether Twitter can be trusted again.’
Last week, Lansing bashed Twitter on its own site, writing: ‘NPR stands for freedom of speech [and] holding the powerful accountable…We were disturbed to see last night that Twitter has labeled NPR as “state-affiliated media,” a description that, per Twitter’s own guidelines, does not apply to NPR.
‘NPR and our Member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide,’ he continued. ‘It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy.’
![Last week, Lansing bashed Twitter on its own site, writing: 'NPR stands for freedom of speech [and] holding the powerful accountable...We were disturbed to see last night that Twitter has labeled NPR as "state-affiliated media," a description that, per Twitter's own guidelines, does not apply to NPR'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/12/15/69748581-11965037-image-a-64_1681311132649.jpg)
Last week, Lansing bashed Twitter on its own site, writing: ‘NPR stands for freedom of speech [and] holding the powerful accountable…We were disturbed to see last night that Twitter has labeled NPR as “state-affiliated media,” a description that, per Twitter’s own guidelines, does not apply to NPR’
As for NPR’s journalists, Lansing is allowing them to decide if they want to continue to promote their work on Twitter, but said in an email to employees that it would be a ‘disserve to the serious work you all do here to continue to share it on a platform that is associating the federal charter for public media with an abandoning of editorial independence or standards.’
Several news organizations were branded ‘government-funded’ last week, but Musk has since walked back on tagging the BBC that, saying in an interview with the company on Wednesday that he would change it ‘publicly funded.’
‘We’re trying to be accurate,’ he said in the interview. ‘I actually do have a lot of respect for the BBC.’
The Tesla owner had once called the British source ‘among the least biased’ of news organizations.
Musk also said NPR’s tag would change to ‘publicly funded’ as well, but it has yet to do so.
However, NPR said on its website that it does not plan on returning to the platform until further notice.
‘The whole point isn’t whether or not we’re government funded,’ Lansing said. ‘Even if we were government funded, which we’re not, the point is the independence, because all journalism has revenue of some sort.’
In addition to the annual budget – which is largely funded through individual supports and grants – the company said its board is selected without government influence.
