NPR Has a Bias Problem
This email to NPR is from Brad Potter.
“Here’s what I just wrote about a story NPR ran Tuesday. The transcript follows.”
“On May 16th’s piece about firearm straw purchases, Kai introduces the story with the lead, “New York City’s Got a Gun Problem.” And you wonder why many listners accuse NPR of having a liberal bias? A more balanced lead would have been something like, “New York City’s Got a Murder Problem” or “New York City’s Got a Crime Problem.” When you cover stories on traffic deaths, do you lead with “New York City’s Got an Automobile Problem?” You also quote the mayor as saying guns bought in straw purchases from neighboring states have accounted for more than 500 NYC crimes in less than a decade. Let’s say it was over a full decade to make the math easier. That would be 50 crimes per year in a city of more than 10 million people. Most mayors would be bragging about such a tiny percentage. Your inflammatory lead and, in fact, your story selection, are not-too-subtle editorializing on what is supposed to be a straight journalism broadcast. Please label opinion pieces as such and just give me the straight news. Thanks!”