Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Rare Praises for NPR

I was going to write about yesterday's deceitful and stupid report on the CIA by Pamela Hess of the AP (Media Bloodhound and Left I on the News often expose the AP for being the lazy rebroadcaster of US government propaganda that it is) or Juan Forero's (the reporter who couldn't read straight) pro bono work this morning for the owners of Venezuelan plantations (farms in Forero-speak) or Inskeep's coffee-clutch against the public health insurance option with the PR man for Wellpoint the parent company of a foundation that just happens to be one of NPR's biggest annual donors (hint: it's the California Endowment).



But heck, it's summer and let's give credit where credit is due. First to Robert Siegel (there I said it!) who, on Monday's ATC, presented the Alito remarks about empathy as a counter to the attacks on Sotomayor's remarks about empathy. Siegel was interviewing the twittering Chuck Grassley of Iowa and confronted him with the Alito statements AND even asked a few follow-ups when Grassley tried to squirm out of making a complete ninny of himself. It was delicious.

More importantly, this morning Peter Kenyon actually covered the story of the 25 IDF soldiers who have documented the systematic war crimes of Operation Cast Lead. NPR actually sent a reporter on the ground in Gaza and talked to a Gazan who lost his parents to Israeli shooters in a case similiar to one related by an Israeli soldier. Several commenters on the web site of the story thanked NPR for reporting this - one who summed it up well as a commendable "baby step."

7 comments:

geoff said...

Hey, for Nussbaum, it's the best reporting that money can buy.

It's fair of you to point out, though, that NPR ain't all bad all the time. Siegel did show a stirring of query there, didn't he? As for the Breaking the Silence...the silence is sometimes louder than a tepid report, so we get a tepid report on BBC too.

beeg!peenk!fuuzzy!buunny! said...

Wooo, score one for Professor Emeritus Rootypoop! Hmmm, doesn't feel like my opinion has budged even a titch- he'll be back to playing fetch in no time.

Anonymous said...

National Public Radio - Director, Investment Operations, Compliance
& Treasury


THE POSITION As NPR focuses on the financial future of the organization, there is a need for a strong, committed financial and investment leader who will be responsible for the coordination, oversight and compliance of the investment operations and cash management operations of NPR.

NPR’s investments currently include a $225 Million endowment fund, and $80 Million reserve fund.

Anonymous said...

National Public Radio - Manager, Financial and Tax Reporting

The Manager, Financial and Tax Reporting is responsible for NPR, NPR Foundation, and the consolidated entity's financial and tax reporting, currently with assets totaling $400 - $500 Million.

Anonymous said...

How many big banks (BofAmerica)and other large corporations do you suppose NPR is invested in?

They claim BofA is "not an underwriter" for NPR (though they ARE an underwriter for many NPR member stations), but that says nothing at all about whether NPR has stock in BofA.

NPR has been the head cheerleader for the massive bank bailout from its very inception.

You just gotta wonder why that is.

My guess is that their bank "investments" took a big hit in the recent meltdown and they are using the public airwaves to give them a boost.

Can you say "illegal"?

James said...

It's right of you to give praise when praise is due ... especially since, given NPR's rapid drift to the right, the opportunity so seldom arises ...

Anonymous said...

James:

"It's right of you to give praise when praise is due ... especially since, given NPR's rapid drift to the right, the opportunity so seldom arises ..."

NPR is usually damned by the exceptions that manage to seep through.

edk