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{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = NPR
| logo = [[File:National Public Radio logo.svg.png|Logo of NPR|201px]]
| type = [[Public broadcasting|Public radio network]]
| branding =
| established = {{start date and age|1970|2|26}}
| test_card =
| test_of_transmission =
| airdate = April 1971
| country = United States
| available = Global
| founder =
| slogan =
| motto =
| market_share =
| license_area =
| headquarters = 1111 North Capitol St, NE, [[Washington, D.C.]]
| broadcast_area = Nationwide
| area =
| erp =
| owner = [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting|CPB]]
| parent =
| key_people = [[Jarl Mohn]] {{small|(CEO)}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1970|2|26|dly=df}}
| launch_date =
| dissolved =
| endowment = US$258 million
| revenue = US$159 million
| net_income = US$18.9 million
| former_names = [[Association of Public Radio Stations]]<br />[[National Educational Radio Network]]
| digital =
| analog =
| affiliation = [[WRN Broadcast|World Radio Network]]
| affiliates =
| groups =
| former_affiliations =
| website = {{URL|npr.org}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''National Public Radio''' (usually shortened to '''NPR''', stylized as '''npr''') is an American privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national [[Radio syndication|syndicator]] to a network of 900 [[public radio]] [[List of NPR stations|stations]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/about/nprworks.html |title=How NPR Works: NPR's Mission Statement |publisher=NPR |accessdate=June 12, 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901113039/http://www.npr.org/about/nprworks.html |archivedate=September 1, 2010}}</ref>

NPR produces and distributes news and cultural programming. Individual public radio stations are not required to broadcast all NPR programs that are produced. Most public radio stations broadcast a mixture of NPR programs, content from rival providers [[American Public Media]], [[Public Radio International]], [[Public Radio Exchange]] and [[WNYC Studios]] and locally produced programs. NPR's flagships are two [[drive time]] news broadcasts, ''[[Morning Edition]]'' and the afternoon ''[[All Things Considered]]''; both are carried by most NPR member stations, and are two of the [[List of most-listened-to radio programs|most popular radio programs]] in the country.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nationalpublicmedia.com/npr/programs/all-things-considered/ | title=All Things Considered | quote=Heard by 13.3 million people on 814 radio stations each week, All Things Considered is one of the most popular programs in America. | publisher=National Public Media | accessdate=October 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Jack W. |title=Listener supported: the culture and history of public radio |year=2005 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |quote=Conceived as "alternatives," ''Morning Edition'' and ''All Things Considered'' are the second and third most listened-to radio programs in the ... |page=175 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=KIwTKWj04wEC&pg=PA175 |isbn=0-275-98352-8}}</ref>

NPR manages the [[Public Radio Satellite System]], which distributes NPR programs and other programming from independent producers and networks such as American Public Media and Public Radio International. Its content is also available on-demand via the web, mobile, and podcasts.

==Name==
The organization's legal name is ''National Public Radio'' and its [[trademark]]ed brand is ''NPR''; it is known by both names.<ref name="Name">Dana Davis Rehm, [http://www.npr.org/sections/inside/2010/07/12/128475395/npr-what-s-in-a-name NPR: What's In A Name?], NPR (July 12, 2012).</ref> In June 2010, the organization announced that it was "making a conscious effort to consistently refer to ourselves as NPR on-air and online" because NPR is the common name for the organization and the tag line "This ... is NPR" has been used by its radio hosts for many years.<ref name="Name"/> However, ''National Public Radio'' remains the legal name of the group, as it has been for more than 45 years.<ref name="Name"/>

==History==

===1970s===
[[File:NPR 1970s logo.jpg|thumb|130px|1970s logo]]

National Public Radio replaced the [[National Educational Radio Network]] on February 26, 1970, following congressional passage of the [[Public Broadcasting Act of 1967]].<ref name="JARVIK">{{cite book |last=Jarvik |first=Laurence Ariel |date=1997 |title=PBS, behind the screen |location=Rocklin, CA |publisher=Forum |page= |isbn=0761506683 |accessdate= }}</ref> This act was signed into law by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], and established the [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]], which also created the [[PBS|Public Broadcasting Service]] in addition to NPR. A CPB organizing committee under John Witherspoon first created a Board of Directors chaired by [[Bernard Mayes]].

The board then hired [[Don Quayle|Donald Quayle]] to be the first president of NPR with 30 employees and 90 charter member stations, and studios in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.npr.org/about/aboutnpr/history.html#history |title= History |publisher=NPR |accessdate= February 24, 2011}}</ref>

NPR aired its first broadcast in April 1971, covering [[United States Senate]] hearings on the [[Vietnam War]]. A month later, the afternoon drive-time newscast ''[[All Things Considered]]'' began, on May 3, 1971, first hosted by [[Robert Conley (reporter)|Robert Conley]]. NPR was primarily a production and distribution organization until 1977, when it merged with the [[Association of Public Radio Stations]].

===1980s===
NPR suffered an almost fatal setback in 1983 when efforts to expand services created a deficit of nearly US$7 million. After a congressional investigation and the resignation of NPR's president, [[Frank Mankiewicz]], the Corporation for Public Broadcasting agreed to lend the network money in order to stave off bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.current.org/pbpb/documents/GAOonNPR84.html | title=GAO statement on NPR financial crisis, 1984 | publisher=Public Broadcasting PolicyBase at [[Current.org]] | year=1984 | accessdate=June 12, 2007}}</ref> In exchange, NPR agreed to a new arrangement whereby the annual CPB stipend that it had previously received directly would be divided among local stations instead; in turn, those stations would support NPR productions on a subscription basis. NPR also agreed to turn its satellite service into a cooperative venture (the [[Public Radio Satellite System]]), making it possible for non-NPR shows to get national distribution. It took NPR approximately three years to pay off the debt.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.current.org/history/timeline/timeline-1980s.shtml#1986 | title= History of public broadcasting in the United States | publisher=[[Current.org]] | accessdate=June 12, 2007}}</ref>

[[File:NPRLogoOld.png|thumb|150px|1990s logo]]

===1990s===
[[Delano Lewis]], the president of [[C&P Telephone]], left that position to become NPR's CEO and president in January 1994.<ref name="lewis1994">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/about/press/980403.del.html |title=Delano Lewis Resigns |date= April 3, 1998|publisher=NPR |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}</ref> Lewis resigned in August 1998.<ref name="lewis1994" /><ref name="klose1998" /> In November 1998, NPR's board of directors hired [[Kevin Klose]], the director of the [[International Broadcasting Bureau]], as its president and chief executive officer.<ref name="klose1998">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/about/press/981111.klose.html |title=NPR Announces New President and CEO |publisher=NPR |date=November 11, 1998 |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}</ref>

===2000s===
{{rquote|right|[[September 11 attacks|September 11th]] made it apparent in a very urgent way that we need another facility that could keep NPR going if something devastating happens in Washington.|Jay Kernis, NPR's senior VP for programming<ref name="nprwest2002" />}}

NPR spent nearly $13 million to acquire and equip a [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] {{convert|25000|sqft|adj=on}} production facility, '''NPR West''', which opened in [[Culver City, California|Culver City]], [[Los Angeles County, California]], in November 2002. With room for up to 90 employees, it was established to expand its production capabilities, improve its coverage of the [[western United States]], and create a backup production facility capable of keeping NPR on the air in the event of a catastrophe in Washington, D.C.<ref name="nprwest2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/about/press/021016.nprwest.html |title=NPR Establishes Major Production Center in California NPR West Opens November 2, Expanding Network's Presence and Reach |publisher=NPR |date=November 2, 2002 |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}</ref>

In November 2003, NPR received US$235 million from the estate of the late [[Joan B. Kroc]], the widow of [[Ray Kroc]], founder of [[McDonald's Corporation]]. This was the largest monetary gift ever to a cultural institution.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |title=Billions and Billions Served, Hundreds of Millions Donated  |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04EFD81439F934A35752C1A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |quote= National Public Radio announced yesterday that it had received a bequest worth at least $200 million from the widow of the longtime chairman of the McDonald's restaurant chain. The gift is the largest in the 33-year history of NPR, the nonprofit broadcasting corporation – and about twice the size of NPR's annual operating budget. It is believed to be among the largest ever pledged to an American cultural institution.  |work=New York Times |date=November 7, 2003 |accessdate=July 28, 2008 | first1=Jacques | last1=Steinberg}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url= http://www.npr.org/about/press/031106.kroc.html | title=NPR Receives a Record Bequest of More Than $200 Million | publisher=National Public Radio | date=November 6, 2003 | accessdate=October 2, 2006}}</ref>

In 2004 NPR's budget increased by over 50% to US$153 million due to the Kroc gift. US$34 million of the money was deposited in its [[Financial endowment|endowment]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.current.org/npr/npr0409krocgift.shtml | title=Kroc gift lets NPR expand news, lower fees | date=May 24, 2004 | accessdate=October 2, 2006 | last=Janssen | first=Mike | work=[[Current.org]] }}</ref> The endowment fund before the gift totaled $35 million. NPR will use the interest from the bequest to expand its news staff and reduce some member stations' fees.<ref name=nyt/> The 2005 budget was about US$120 million.

In August 2005, NPR entered podcasting with a directory of over 170 programs created by NPR and member stations.  By November of that year, users downloaded NPR and other public radio podcasts 5 million times. Ten years later, by March 2015, users downloaded podcasts produced only by NPR 94 million times,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/thisisnpr/2015/08/31/435603490/npr-podcasts-turn-10|title=NPR Podcasts Turn 10!|publisher=}}</ref> and NPR podcasts like Fresh Air and TED Radio Hour routinely made the [[iTunes]] Top Podcasts list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/us/charts/podcasts/|title=iTunesCharts.net: US Podcasts|publisher=}}</ref>

[[Ken Stern]] became chief executive in September 2006, reportedly as the "hand-picked successor" of CEO Kevin Klose, who gave up the job but remained as NPR's president; Stern had worked with Klose at [[Radio Free Europe]].<ref name="washpost2008" />

On December 10, 2008, NPR announced that it would reduce its workforce by 7% and cancel the news programs ''[[Day to Day]]'' and ''[[News & Notes]]''.<ref name="NPRTCSPla">
{{Cite news
  | last = Carney | first= Steve
  | title = National Public Radio to cut shows, personnel
  | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]]
  | date = December 10, 2008
  | accessdate = December 11, 2008
  | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2008/12/national-public.html }}
</ref> The organization indicated this was in response to a rapid drop in corporate [[underwriting spot|underwriting]] in the wake of the [[economic crisis of 2008]].<ref name="NPRTCSPla" />

In the fall of 2008, NPR programming reached a record 27.5 million people weekly, according to Arbitron ratings figures. NPR stations reach 32.7 million listeners overall.<ref name=audiencefigures>{{cite web |url= http://www.npr.org/about/press/2009/032409.AudienceRecord.html |title=NPR reaches new audience high | work= Press release |publisher=NPR |date=March 24, 2009  |accessdate=August 24, 2010}}</ref>

In March 2008, the NPR Board announced that Stern would be stepping down from his role as Chief Executive Officer, following conflict with NPR's Board of Directors "over the direction of the organization" (including issues NPR's member station managers had had with NPR's expansion into [[new media]] "at the expense of serving" the stations that financially support NPR).<ref name="washpost2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030603473.html|title=NPR Leader out After Board Clash|first=Paul|last=Farhi|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=March 6, 2008}}</ref>

As of 2009, corporate sponsorship made up 26% of the NPR budget.<ref name="npr" />

===2010s===
[[File:National Public Radio headquarters.jpg|thumb|right|upright|NPR's former headquarters at 635 [[Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Massachusetts Avenue]] NW in Washington, D.C. (demolished in 2013)]]
[[File:2015 Supreme Court Editathon 18.JPG|thumb|upright|The new NPR sign at 1111 North Capital St, NE.]]

In October 2010, NPR accepted a $1.8 million grant from the [[Open Society Institute]]. The grant is meant to begin a project called Impact of Government that was intended to add at least 100 journalists at NPR member radio stations in all 50 states by 2013.<ref name=NYTSoros>{{cite news
| title = The Situation Room
| network = [[CNN]]
| airdate = October 22, 2010
| url = http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1010/22/sitroom.02.html
}}</ref> The OSI has made previous donations, but does not take on air credit for its gifts.<ref name="Chiu">{{cite web |url=http://philanthropy.com/article/Secret-Tape-Explores/126802/ |title=Secret Recording Explores Relationship Between Billionaire Soros and NPR |last1=Chiu |first1=Lisa |date=March 17, 2011 |website=philanthropy.com |publisher=[[The Chronicle of Philanthropy]] |access-date=13 May 2015}}</ref>

In April 2013, NPR moved from its home of 19 years (635 [[Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Massachusetts Avenue]] NW) to new offices and production facilities at 1111 North Capitol Street NE in a building adapted from the former [[Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company Warehouse and Repair Facility|C&P Telephone Warehouse and Repair Facility]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.npr.org/about/press/2013/020113.NewNPRHeadquarters.html |title=New NPR Headquarters Nears Completion | website=NPR.org |publisher=NPR |date=February 1, 2013 |accessdate=April 9, 2013}}</ref> The new headquarters—at the corner of North Capitol Street NE and L Street NW—is in the burgeoning [[NoMa]] neighborhood of Washington.<ref>Clinton Yates, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/local/wp/2013/06/05/npr-moves-to-noma-d-c-s-simcity-of-gentrification/ NPR Moves to NoMa, D.C.'s SimCity of Gentrification], ''The Washington Post'' (June 5, 2013).</ref> The first show scheduled to be broadcast from the new studios was ''[[Weekend Edition|Weekend Edition Saturday]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/2013/04/06/176419123/saying-goodbye-to-the-old-npr-headquarters |title=Saying Goodbye To The Old NPR Headquarters |last1=Simon |first1=Scott |last2= |first2= |date=6 April 2013 |website=[[Weekend Edition]] |publisher=NPR |access-date=13 May 2015}}</ref> ''[[Morning Edition]]'' was the last show to move to the new location.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.npr.org/about/press/2013/042213.NPRMovesHQ.html | title = NPR Moves to New Headquarters - Morning Edition Airs First Broadcast from New Building Today | publisher = NPR | date = April 22, 2013 | accessdate = May 14, 2013}}</ref> In June 2013 NPR canceled the weekday call-in show ''[[Talk of the Nation]]''.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=196242323 "A Fond Farewell to ''Talk of the Nation''{{-"}}]. ''Tell Me More''. NPR. June 27, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.</ref>

In September 2013, certain of NPR's 840 full- and part-time employees were offered a [[voluntary redundancy|voluntary buyout]] plan, with the goal of reducing staff by 10 percent and returning NPR to a balanced budget by the 2015 [[fiscal year]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://observer.com/2013/09/npr-offers-buyouts-to-reduce-employee-count-by-10-percent/| title= NPR to Offer Voluntary Buyouts in Bid to Balance Budget|date= September 13, 2013|work= The Observer| accessdate= September 15, 2013}}</ref>

==Governance==
NPR is a membership organization. Member stations are required to be [[non-commercial]] or [[non-commercial educational]] radio stations; have at least five full-time professional employees; operate for at least 18 hours per day; and not be designed solely to further a [[religious broadcasting]] philosophy or be used for classroom [[distance learning]] programming. Each member station receives one vote at the annual NPR board meetings—exercised by its designated Authorized Station Representative ("A-Rep").

To oversee the day-to-day operations and prepare its budget, members elect a Board of Directors. This board is composed of ten A-Reps, five members of the general public, and the chair of the NPR Foundation. Terms are for three years and are [[Staggered board of directors|staggered]] such that some stand for election every year.<ref>[http://www.current.org/pbpb/documents/NPRbylaws99.html NPR Bylaws]; Public Broadcasting Policy Base; January 20, 1999</ref>

{{As of|2015|3}}, the Board of Directors of NPR included the following members:<ref name="NPR Board">{{cite web
|url=http://www.npr.org/about-npr/182676957/npr-board-of-directors
|title=NPR Board of Directors
|publisher=NPR
|accessdate=2015-03-06}}</ref>

;NPR Member Station Managers
* Mike Crane, Director, [[Wisconsin Public Radio]]
* Betsy Gardella, President and CEO, [[New Hampshire Public Radio]]
* Kit Jensen, Chief Operating Officer [[WVIZ/PBS]] & 90.3 [[WCPN]] ideastream, Chair of the Board
* Roger LaMay, General Manager, [[WXPN]]
* Caryn Mathes, President and General Manager, [[KUOW-FM|KUOW]]
* Greg Petrowich, Executive Director, [[WSIU (FM)|WSIU Public Broadcasting]]
* Florence Rogers, President and General Manager, [[Nevada Public Radio]]
* Mike Savage, General Manager, [[WBAA]]
* Kerry Swanson, Station Manager, [[Northwest Public Radio]]
* Connie Walker, General Manager, [[WUNC (FM)|WUNC]]

;President of NPR
* [[Jarl Mohn]], President and CEO

;Chair of the NPR Foundation
* Howard Wollner, Senior Vice President, Retired, [[Starbucks Coffee Company]]

;Public Members of the Board
* Fabiola Arredondo, Managing Partner, [[Siempre Holdings]]
* Chris Boskin, Media Company Consultant
* Patricia Diaz Dennis, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Retired, [[AT&T]]
* Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Retired, [[Capital Research and Management Company]]
* John S. Wotowicz, Managing Partner of [[Concentric Capital]], Vice Chair of the Board

The original purposes of NPR, as ratified by the Board of Directors, are the following:
* Provide an identifiable daily product which is consistent and reflects the highest standards of broadcast journalism.
* Provide extended coverage of public events, issues and ideas, and to acquire and produce special public affairs programs.
* Acquire and produce cultural programs which can be scheduled individually by stations.
* Provide access to the intellectual and cultural resources of cities, universities and rural districts through a system of cooperative program development with member public radio stations.
* Develop and distribute programs for specific groups ([[adult education]], instruction, modular units for local productions) which may meet needs of individual regions or groups, but may not have general national relevance.
* Establish liaison with foreign broadcasters for a program exchange service.
* Produce materials specifically intended to develop the art and technical potential of radio<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.current.org/pbpb/documents/NPRpurposes.html|title=National Public Radio Purposes|work=Public Broadcasting PolicyBase at [[Current.org]] |last=Siemering|first=William|date=November 29, 1999|accessdate=October 2, 2006}}</ref>

;NPR Ombudsman/Public Editor
* [http://www.npr.org/people/384352444/elizabeth-jensen Elizabeth Jensen]
The Ombudsman/Public Editor responds to significant listener queries, comments and criticisms.<ref name="Elizabeth_Jensen home page">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/people/384352444/elizabeth-jensen|title=Elizabeth Jensen|publisher=}}</ref> The position reports to the President and CEO [[Jarl Mohn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/new-ombudsman-to-start-jan-26/|title=New Ombudsman To Start Jan. 26|publisher=wnyc.org}}</ref>
Elizabeth Jensen was appointed to a three-year term in January 2015.<ref name="Elizabeth_Jensen home page"/>

==Funding==
In 2010, NPR revenues totaled $180 million, with the bulk of revenues coming from programming fees, [[Grant (money)|grants]] from [[foundation (charity)|foundations]] or business entities, contributions and [[Sponsor (commercial)|sponsorships]].<ref name="npr" /> According to the 2009 financial statement, about 50% of NPR revenues come from the fees it charges member stations for programming and distribution charges.<ref name="npr" /> Typically, NPR member stations receive funds through on-air [[pledge drive]]s, corporate underwriting, state and local governments, educational institutions, and the federally funded [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]] (CPB). In 2009, member stations derived 6% of their revenue from federal, state and local government funding, 10% of their revenue from [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting|CPB]] grants, and 14% of their revenue from universities.<ref name="npr">{{cite web| url= http://www.npr.org/about/aboutnpr/publicradiofinances.html |title=Public Radio Finances |publisher=NPR |accessdate=October 22, 2010}}</ref><ref name="NPR Responds">{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/02/npr_responds.asp|title=NPR Responds|accessdate = January 14, 2010}}</ref> While NPR does not receive any direct federal funding, it does receive a small number of competitive grants from CPB and federal agencies like the Department of Education and the Department of Commerce. This funding amounts to approximately 2% of NPR's overall revenues.<ref name="npr" />

During the 1970s and early 1980s, the majority of NPR funding came from the federal government. Steps were taken during the 1980s to completely wean NPR from government support, but [[#History|the 1983 funding crisis]] forced the network to make immediate changes. According to [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting|CPB]], in 2009 11.3% of the aggregate revenues of all public radio broadcasting stations were funded from federal sources, principally through CPB;<ref name="CPB2009">{{cite web |url= http://www.cpb.org/stations/reports/revenue/2009PublicBroadcastingRevenue.pdf |title=Table 2 Public Broadcasting Revenue by Public Television and Radio System and Source of Revenue, Fiscal Year 2008–2009 |work= Public Broadcasting Revenue Fiscal Year 2009 |publisher=Corporation for Public Broadcasting |accessdate=August 5, 2011}}</ref> in 2012 10.9% of the revenues for Public Radio came from federal sources.<ref name="CPB2012">{{cite web |url= http://www.cpb.org/stations/reports/revenue/2012PublicBroadcastingRevenue.pdf  |title=Table 2 Public Broadcasting Revenue by Public Television and Radio System and Source of Revenue, Fiscal Year 2011–2012 |work= Public Broadcasting Revenue Fiscal Year 2012 |publisher=Corporation for Public Broadcasting |accessdate=February 25, 2014}}</ref>

In 2011, NPR announced the roll-out of their own online [[advertising network]], which allows member stations to run geographically [[targeted advertising|targeted advertisement]] spots from national sponsors that may otherwise be unavailable to their local area, opening additional revenue streams to the broadcaster.<ref>Ungerleider, Neal. [http://www.fastcompany.com/1746742/npr-launching-centralized-online-ad-network-bolster-revenue-member-stations ''NPR Launching Centralized Online Ad Network to Bolster Revenue at Member Stations'']. [[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]. 12 April 2011</ref>

2013 saw the launch of ''Center Stage'', a mix of [[native advertising]] and [[banner ad]] featured prominently on the NPR homepage, above-the-fold. The launch partner for ''Center Stage'' was [[Squarespace]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Taintor, David|title=NPR's New Ad Unit Falls Somewhere Between Banners and Native|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/nprs-new-ad-unit-falls-somewhere-between-banners-and-native-151928|publisher=[[Adweek]]|date=16 August 2013}}</ref>

In 2014, NPR CEO Jarl Mohn said the network would begin to increase revenue by having brands NPR views as more relevant to the audience underwrite NPR programs and requesting higher rates from them.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hart|first1=Peter|title=New NPR Boss: 'We're Going to Be Talking About Brands That Matter a Little Bit More'|url=http://fair.org/blog/2014/09/08/new-npr-boss-were-going-to-be-talking-about-brands-that-matter-a-little-bit-more/|website=fair.org|publisher=[[Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting|FAIR]]|date=8 September 2014}}</ref>

===Underwriting spots vs. commercials===
In contrast with [[commercial broadcasting]], NPR's radio broadcasts do not carry traditional commercials, but has advertising in the form of brief statements from major sponsors which may include corporate [[Advertising slogan|slogans]], descriptions of products and services, contact information such as website addresses and [[telephone number]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=NPR Underwriting Credit Guidelines|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/NPR%20Underwriting%20Credit%20Guidelines.pdf|website=npr.org|publisher=NRP|accessdate=June 2, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602125811/http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/NPR%20Underwriting%20Credit%20Guidelines.pdf|archivedate=June 2, 2014|page=1|date=November 24, 2008}}</ref> These statements are called [[underwriting spot]]s and, unlike commercials, are governed by specific FCC restrictions in addition to [[False advertising|truth in advertising]] laws; they cannot advocate a product or "promote the goods and services" of for-profit entities.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Public and Broadcasting|url=http://www.fcc.gov/guides/public-and-broadcasting-july-2008#UNDERWRITING|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=March 3, 2013|year=2008}}</ref> These restrictions apply only to radio broadcasts and not NPR's other digital platforms. When questioned on the subject of how corporate underwriting revenues and foundation grants were holding up during the recession, in a speech broadcast on [[C-SPAN]] before the [[National Press Club (United States)|National Press Club]] on March 2, 2009, then President and CEO [[Vivian Schiller]] stated: "underwriting is down, it's down for everybody; this is the area that is most down for us, in sponsorship, underwriting, advertising, call it whatever you want; just like it is for all of media."<ref>{{cite web|authorlink1=[[C-SPAN]]|title=Public Broadcasting and Commercial Media|url=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/284368-1&start=3180|publisher=[[C-SPAN]]|accessdate=June 2, 2014|date=March 2, 2009}}</ref> Hosts of the NPR program ''[[Planet Money]]'' stated the audience is indeed a product being sold to advertisers in the same way as commercial stations, saying: "they are not advertisers exactly but, they have a lot of the same characteristics; let's just say that."<ref>{{cite web|authorlink1=Planet Money|title=The Friday Podcast: Economists On Federal Funding For NPR|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/03/28/134863998/the-friday-podcast-economists-on-federal-funding-for-npr|publisher=NPR (''Planet Money'')|accessdate=June 3, 2014|date=March 25, 2011}}</ref>

==Audience==
A Harris telephone survey conducted in 2005 found that NPR was the most trusted news source in the United States.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/survey-says-noncom-news-most-trusted/108687 |title=Survey Says: Noncom News Most Trusted| work=Broadcasting & Cable | date=November 10, 2005 | accessdate=October 2, 2006 | last=Eggerton | first=John}}</ref>

According to 2009, NPR statistics, about 20.9 million listeners tune into NPR each week.<ref>{{cite news|last=Farhi|first=Paul|title=Good News for NPR: Its Most Listeners Ever|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR2009032302972.html|accessdate=March 7, 2013|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 24, 2009}}</ref> According to 2015 figures, 87% of the NPR terrestrial public radio audience and 67% of the NPR podcast audience is white.<ref>Tracie Powell, [http://www.cjr.org/analysis/are_podcasts_the_new_path_to_diversifying_public_radio.php Are podcasts the new path to diversifying public radio?] ''Columbia Journalism Review'' (May 22, 2015).</ref> According to the 2012 [[Pew Research Center]] 2012 News Consumption Survey, NPR listeners tend to be highly educated, with 54% of regular listeners being college graduates and 21% having some college.<ref name="Pew">[http://www.people-press.org/2012/09/27/section-4-demographics-and-political-views-of-news-audiences/ Section 4: Demographics and Political Views of News Audiences], [[Pew Research Center]] (September 27, 2012).</ref> NPR's audience is almost exactly average in terms of the sex of listeners (49% male, 51% female).<ref name="Pew"/> NPR listeners have higher incomes than average (the 2012 Pew study showed that 43% earn over $75,000, 27% earn between $30,000 and $75,000).<ref name="Pew"/> The Pew survey found that the NPR audience tends Democratic (17% Republican, 37% independent, 43% Democratic) and liberal (21% conservative, 39% moderate, 36% liberal).<ref name="Pew"/>

NPR stations generally do not subscribe to the [[Arbitron]] rating service and are not included in published ratings and rankings such as ''[[Radio & Records]]''. However, NPR station listenership is measured by Arbitron in both Diary and PPM (people meter) markets. NPR stations are frequently not included in "summary level" diary data used by most advertising agencies for media planning. Data on NPR listening can be accessed using "respondent level" diary data. Additionally, all radio stations (public and commercial) are treated equally within the PPM data sets making NPR station listenership data much more widely available to the media planning community. According to Arbitron's National Broadcast Audience Estimate report for September 29, 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/archive.php?thingId=125885971 |title=Audience Estimates |publisher=NPR |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}</ref> NPR's signature morning news program, ''Morning Edition'', is the network's most popular program, drawing 12.9 million listeners a week, with its afternoon newsmagazine, ''All Things Considered'', a close second, with 12.2 million listeners a week. Arbitron data is also provided by [[Radio Research Consortium]], a non-profit corporation which subscribes to the Arbitron service and distributes the data to NPR and other non-commercial stations and on its website.<ref name="sfcron">{{cite news | first=Ben | last=Fong-Torres | title=Radio Waves | date=March 12, 2006 | url =http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/12/PKGU9GINB71.DTL | work =San Francisco Chronicle | accessdate = April 26, 2008 }}</ref>

==Digital media==
NPR's history in [[digital media]] includes the work of an independent, for-profit company called Public Interactive, which was founded in 1999<ref name="PRINPR2008" /> and acquired by [[Public Radio International|PRI]] in June 2004, when it became a non-profit company.<ref name="nprDS2004">{{cite web|url=http://info.ds.npr.org/060204release.html |title=Public Interactive Press Area |publisher=NPR |date=June 2, 2004 |accessdate= February 16, 2012}}</ref> By July 2008, Public Interactive had "170 subscribers who collectively operate 325 public radio and television stations" and clients such as ''[[Car Talk]]'', ''[[The World (radio program)|The World]]'', and ''[[The Tavis Smiley Show]]''; by the end of that month, NPR acquired Public Interactive from PRI<ref name="PRINPR2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/about/press/2008/073108.PublicInteractive.html |title=PRI And NPR Announce Deal To Grow Public Interactive, Public Media's Leading Web Services Company |publisher=NPR |date= July 31, 2008 |accessdate= February 16, 2012}}</ref> In March 2011, NPR revealed a restructuring proposal in which Boston-based Public Interactive would become NPR Digital Services, separate from the Washington D.C.-based NPR Digital Media, which focuses on NPR-branded services.<ref name="NPRDigital2011">{{cite web|first=Karen|last= Everhart |url=http://www.current.org/web/web1105pi.html |title=Web infrastructure for pubmedia, 2011 |publisher= Current.org |date=March 7, 2011 |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}</ref> NPR Digital Services would continue offering its services to public TV stations.<ref name="NPRDigital2011" />

The technical backbone of its digital news publishing system is [[Core Publisher]], which was built on [[Drupal]], an open-source [[content management system]].<ref name="NPRDigital2011" />

[[File:Kinsey Wilson and the npr.org crew at the 69th Annual Peabody Awards.jpg|thumb|Kinsey Wilson and the npr.org crew at the 69th Annual Peabody Awards]]
NPR has been dubbed as "leveraging the Twitter generation"<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Dell|first1=Jodie|title=How NPR Is Leveraging the Twitter Generation|url=http://mashable.com/2010/09/30/npr-twitter/#ke1gzs6J6kqY|accessdate=22 January 2017|agency=Mashable|date=30 September 2010}}</ref> because of its adaptation of the popular [[microblog]]ging service as one of its primary vehicles of information. Of NPR's Twitter followers, the majority (67%) still do listen to NPR on the radio. In a survey of more than 10,000 respondents, NPR found that its [[Twitter]] followers are younger, more connected to the [[social web]], and more likely to access content through digital platforms such as its [[Peabody Award]]-winning website npr.org, as well as [[podcast]]s, [[mobile app]]s and more.<ref name="NPR Twitter Survey">{{cite news|last1=Carvin|first1=Andy|last2=Heard|first2=Meredith|title=Results Of The NPR Twitter User Survey|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/gofigure/2010/09/30/130238118/npr-twitter-survey|accessdate=22 January 2017|agency=NPR|date=30 September 2010}}</ref> NPR has more than one Twitter account including @NPR;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twitter.com/npr|title=NPR (@NPR) - Twitter|work=twitter.com}}</ref> its survey found that most respondents followed between two and five NPR accounts, including topical account, show-specific accounts and on-air staff accounts.<ref name="NPR Twitter Survey" /> In addition, NPR's [[Facebook]] page has been at the forefront of the company foray into social media. Started by college student and fan Geoff Campbell<ref>{{cite web| last = Campbell| first = Geoff| title =Mount Allison student gets Facebook ball rolling for American media organization, NPR| url=http://www.mta.ca/news/index.php?id=3518#3518| accessdate = March 2, 2011 }}</ref> in 2008, the page was quickly taken over by the organization,<ref>{{cite web| last = Campbell| first = Geoff| title =How Andy Carvin took over NPR's Facebook Page from Student/Creator Geoff Campbell | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwHvlZmr9KI| accessdate = March 2, 2011 }}</ref> and over the last two years has grown to nearly 4 million fans and is a popular example of the company's new focus on a younger audience.<ref>{{cite web| last =Tenore| first = Mallary Jean | title =Carvin: Facebook Lets NPR Empower Those Who Love Us, Listen to Those Who Don't| url=http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/104499/carvin-facebook-lets-npr-empower-those-who-love-us-listen-to-those-who-dont/| accessdate = March 2, 2011 }}</ref>

==Programming==

===Programs produced by NPR===

====News and public affairs programs====
[[File:NPR News logo.png|thumb|NPR News logo]]
NPR produces a morning and an afternoon news program, both of which also have weekend editions with different hosts. It also produces hourly news briefs around the clock. NPR formerly distributed the [[WRN Broadcast|World Radio Network]], a daily compilation of news reports from international radio news, but no longer does so.
* ''[[All Things Considered]]'', hosted by [[Robert Siegel]], [[Audie Cornish]], [[Kelly McEvers]], and [[Ari Shapiro]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5002|title=About 'All Things Considered'|publisher=}}</ref>
** ''[[Weekend All Things Considered]]'', hosted by [[Michel Martin]]
* ''[[Morning Edition]]'', hosted by [[Steve Inskeep]], [[Renée Montagne]] and David Greene
** ''[[Weekend Edition|Weekend Edition Saturday]]'', hosted by [[Scott Simon]]
** ''[[Weekend Edition|Weekend Edition Sunday]]'', hosted by [[Rachel Martin (broadcast journalist)|Rachel Martin]]
* ''[[TED (conference)|TED]] Radio Hour'', hosted by [[Guy Raz]]

====Cultural programming====
* ''[[All Songs Considered]]'', hosted by [[Bob Boilen]]
* In 1981, NPR co-produced a [[Star Wars (radio)|radio drama adaptation of ''Star Wars'']] with the [[BBC]] and [[KUSC]] as part of ''[[NPR Playhouse]]''; two sequels followed in 1983 and 1996.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Robb|first1=Brian J.|title=A Brief Guide to Star Wars|date=2012|publisher=Hachette |location=London|isbn=9781780335834|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5l-eBAAAQBAJ&lpg=PT76&dq=star%20wars%20national%20public%20radio&pg=PT76#v=onepage&q=star%20wars%20national%20public%20radio&f=false|accessdate=18 January 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref name="allthings">{{cite web|last1=John|first1=Derek|title=That Time NPR Turned 'Star Wars' Into A Radio Drama — And It Actually Worked|url=http://www.npr.org/2015/12/18/460269884/that-time-npr-turned-star-wars-into-a-radio-drama-and-it-actually-worked|website=NPR.org|publisher=''[[All Things Considered]]'', National Public Radio|accessdate=18 January 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620103128/http://www.npr.org/2015/12/18/460269884/that-time-npr-turned-star-wars-into-a-radio-drama-and-it-actually-worked|archivedate=June 20, 2016 |deadurl=no}}</ref>
* In 2000, NPR co-produced and distributed ''[[2000X]]'', a [[Hollywood Theater of the Ear]] production of science fiction radio plays, also presented as part of ''NPR Playhouse''
* ''[[Earplay]]'', a radio drama anthology (1971–1981)
* ''[[Jazz Profiles]]'', hosted by [[Nancy Wilson (singer)|Nancy Wilson]], NPR Jazz
* ''Snap Judgment'', true storytelling with a hip-hop beat, hosted by [[Glynn Washington]]
* ''[[The Thistle & Shamrock]]'', Celtic music hosted by [[Fiona Ritchie]]
* ''[[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]'', a humorous news quiz co-produced with [[Chicago Public Radio]] and hosted by [[Peter Sagal]]

===Programs distributed by NPR===

====News and public affairs====
* ''[[1A (radio)|1A]]'', public affairs roundtable program hosted by Joshua Johnson ([[WAMU]])
* ''[[American RadioWorks]]'', provider of documentaries on [[Morning Edition]] and [[All Things Considered]] hosted by [[Ray Suarez]] ([[American Public Media]])
* ''[[Fresh Air]]'', interviews with cultural news-makers hosted by [[Terry Gross]] ([[WHYY-FM|WHYY]])
* ''[[Here and Now (Boston)|Here and Now]]'', news, current affairs and culture hosted by [[Robin Young]] and [[Jeremy Hobson]] ([[WBUR]])
* ''[[Justice Talking]]'', legal issues hosted by [[Margot Adler]] ([[Annenberg Public Policy Center|University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center]])
* ''[[Latino USA]]'', Latino issues hosted by [[Maria Hinojosa]] (Futuro Media Group)
* ''[[On Point]]'', public affairs call-in program hosted by [[Tom Ashbrook]] ([[WBUR]])
* ''[[On the Media]]'', media issues hosted by [[Brooke Gladstone]] and [[Bob Garfield]] ([[WNYC]])

====Cultural programs====
* ''[[Ask Me Another (radio)|Ask Me Another]]'', a trivia quiz hosted by [[Ophira Eisenberg]] ([[WNYC]])
* ''[[The Business (radio)|The Business]]'', [[film industry]] news hosted by [[Claude Brodesser]] ([[KCRW]])
* ''[[Car Talk]]'', humorous automotive advice hosted by [[Tom Magliozzi]] and [[Ray Magliozzi]] ([[WBUR]])
* ''Engines of Our Ingenuity'', hosted by John Lienhard, ([[KUHF]])
* ''[[From the Top]]'', A program showcasing young Classical Musicians between the ages of 8–18
* ''JazzSet'', hosted by [[Dee Dee Bridgewater]] ([[WBGO]])
* [[Only A Game]], sports issues hosted by Bill Littlefield ([[WBUR]])
* ''[[Piano Jazz]]'', hosted by [[Marian McPartland]] ([[South Carolina Educational Television|South Carolina ETV Radio]])
* ''[[Says You!]]'', word game show ([[WGBH (FM)|WGBH]])
* ''[[State of the Re:Union]]'', hosted by [[Al Letson]]
* ''The Big Listen'', a broadcast about podcasts hosted by Lauren Ober ([[WAMU]])
* ''[[World Cafe]]'', a 2-hour music program featuring both recorded music and interviews and live in-studio performances, hosted by David Dye, ([[WXPN]])

===Public radio programs not affiliated with NPR===
Individual NPR stations can broadcast programming from sources that have no formal affiliation with NPR. If these programs are distributed by another distributor, a public radio station must also affiliate with that network to take that network's programming.
* ''[[A Way With Words]]'', a show about language; produced by Wayword LLC
* ''[[Ask Dr. Science]]'', nonsequitur science humor
* ''[[BBC World Service]]'', world news produced by the [[BBC]] in the [[United Kingdom]], distributed by [[Public Radio International]]
* ''[[Earth & Sky]]'', a clear voice for science, nature and people in a complex world, hosted by Deborah Byrd and Joel Block
* ''[[Echoes (radio program)|Echoes]]'', a daily program of ambient, new age, and electronic music hosted by [[John Diliberto]]
* ''[[Forum (KQED)|Forum]]'', call-in panel discussion program, wide-ranging national and local topics hosted by [[Michael Krasny (talk show host)|Michael Krasny]] ([[KQED-FM]]).
* ''[[Hearts of Space]]'', a weekly program of [[Ambient Music|Ambient]], [[Space music|Space]], and contemplative music hosted by [[Stephen Hill (broadcaster)|Stephen Hill]], San Rafael, Calif.
* ''[[Jazz from Lincoln Center]]'', [[Wynton Marsalis]], hosted by [[Ed Bradley]], [[Murray Street Productions]]
* ''[[The Merrow Report]]'', education issues hosted by [[John Merrow]], [[Learning Matters Inc.]]
* ''[[The People's Pharmacy]]'', a call-in and interview program on personal health from [[WUNC (FM)|WUNC]] in Chapel Hill, N.C.
* ''[[Philosophy Talk]]'', everyday topics examined through a philosophical lens, hosted by Stanford philosophy professors [[John Perry (philosopher)|John Perry]] and [[Kenneth Allen Taylor|Ken Taylor]], produced by [[Ben Manilla]] Productions.
* ''[[Planetary Radio]]'', [[space exploration]] radio program hosted by [[Mat Kaplan]], The [[Planetary Society]], Pasadena, Calif.
* ''[[Pulse of the Planet]]'', a daily 2-minute sound portrait of Planet Earth, hosted by Jim Metzner.
* ''[[The Radio Reader]]'', readings of recently released books
* ''[[Science Friday]],'' science issues call-in hosted by [[Ira Flatow]] and independently produced, distributed by [[Public Radio International]]
* ''[[Selected Shorts]]'', dramatic readings hosted by [[Isaiah Sheffer]], [[Symphony Space]], ([[WNYC]]) and distributed by [[Public Radio International]]
* ''[[Serial (podcast)|Serial]]'', a [[podcast]] exploring a nonfiction story over [[serial (radio and television)|multiple episodes]]. ''Serial'' is a [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] from ''This American Life''.
* ''[[The Takeaway]]'', a daily news program hosted by John Hockenberry and distributed by [[Public Radio International]]
* ''[[StarDate (radio)|StarDate]]'', short segments relating to science and astronomy from the [[University of Texas at Austin]]'s [[McDonald Observatory]] hosted by Sandy Wood.
* ''[[Sunday Baroque]]'', baroque and early music hosted by Suzanne Bona ([[WSHU-FM]])
* ''[[This American Life]]'', stories of real life hosted by [[Ira Glass]], distributed by [[Public Radio Exchange]]
* ''[[WireTap (radio program)|WireTap]]'', comedy radio program hosted by [[Jonathan Goldstein (author)|Jonathan Goldstein]] of [[CBC Radio One]] and distributed by [[Public Radio International]] in the United States.
* [http://www.witsradio.org/ ''Wits''], a sketch comedy, music, and artist interview program, hosted by [[John Moe]]

Many shows produced or distributed by Public Radio International—such as ''This American Life'', ''[[Living on Earth]]'' and ''[[Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?|Whad'Ya Know?]]'' by [[Wisconsin Public Radio]] —are broadcast on public radio stations, but are not affiliated with NPR. PRI and NPR are separate production and distribution organizations with distinct missions, and each competes with the other for programming slots on public radio stations.

Public Radio Exchange also offers a national distribution network where a significant number of public radio stations go to acquire programs from independent producers. PRX provides a catalog of thousands of radio pieces available on-demand as broadcast quality audio files and available for streaming on the PRX.org website.

Most public radio stations are NPR member stations and affiliate stations of PRI, APM, and PRX ''at the same time''. The organizations have different governance structures and missions and relationships with stations. Other popular shows, like ''[[A Prairie Home Companion]]'' and ''[[Marketplace (radio program)|Marketplace]]'', are produced by American Public Media, the national programming unit of [[Minnesota Public Radio]]. These programs were distributed by Public Radio International prior to APM's founding. ''[[Democracy Now!]]'', the flagship news program of the [[Pacifica Radio]] network, provides a feed to NPR stations, and other Pacifica programs can occasionally be heard on these stations as well.

Additionally, NPR member stations distribute a series of podcast-only programs, such as ''Planet Money'', ''On Gambling with Mike Pesca'', ''Groove Salad'', and ''Youthcast'', which are designed for younger audiences.

==Controversies==
{{Main article|NPR controversies}}

Over the course of NPR's history, controversies have arisen over several incidents and topics.

===Allegations of ideological bias===
NPR has been accused of displaying both liberal bias, as alleged in work such as a [[UCLA]] and [[University of Missouri]] study of ''Morning Edition'', and conservative bias, including criticism of alleged reliance on conservative [[think-tank]]s.<ref name="OTM_Bias">{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/133120-does-public-radio-have-a-liberal-bias-the-finale/|title=Does Public Radio Have A Liberal Bias? The Finale!|last=|first=|date=March 25, 2011|publisher=WNYC|format=Radio Transcript|archive-url=|archive-date=|work=On The Media|accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> NPR has also been accused of bias related to specific topics, including support of the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]] and coverage of [[Israel]]. The NPR ombudsman has described how NPR's coverage of the Israel-Palestinian conflict has been simultaneously criticized as biased by both sides.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/2010/06/17/127895293/listeners-hear-same-israeli-palestinian-coverage-differently Listeners Hear Same Israeli-Palestinian Coverage Differently]; NPR Ombudsman; June 18, 2010</ref> UT Austin journalism professor and author [[Robert Jensen]] has criticized NPR as taking a  pro-war stance during coverage of Iraq war protests.<ref>[http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~rjensen/freelance/attack52.htm Published Articles – 2003]; University of Texas, Robert Jensen</ref>

In 2002 and 2003, surveys and follow-up focus groups conducted by the Tarrance Group and Lake Snell Perry & Associates have indicated that, "The majority of the U.S. adult population does not believe that the news and information programming on public broadcasting is biased. The plurality of Americans indicate that there is no apparent bias one way or the other, while approximately two-in-ten detect a liberal bias and approximately one-in-ten detect a conservative bias."<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110041956/http://www.cpb.org/aboutcpb/goals/objectivity/pollsummary.html |date=January 10, 2008 |title=Public Perceptions of Public Broadcasting }}; Corporation for Public Broadcasting; December 2003</ref>

===Euphemisms===
In a controversial act, NPR banned in 2009 the use of the word "torture" in the context of the Bush administration's use of [[enhanced interrogation techniques]].<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2009/07/02/npr_2/ "The still-growing NPR "torture" controversy"] ''[[Salon.com]]'' July 2, 2009</ref> NPR's Ombudswoman [[Alicia Shepard]]'s defense of the policy was that "calling waterboarding torture is tantamount to taking sides."<ref>[http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2009/06/26/02 Torturous Wording] NPR (transcript) June 26, 2009</ref> But [[UC Berkeley School of Information|Berkeley]] Professor of Linguistics, [[Geoffrey Nunberg]] pointed out that virtually all media around the world, other than what he called the "spineless U.S. media", call these techniques torture.<ref>[http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2009/06/26/729/calling-a-spade-a-spade-use-of-the-word-torture/ "Calling a Spade a Spade: Use of the Word 'Torture'"], [[KPCC (radio station)|KPCC]] June 26, 2009</ref><ref>McQuaid, John.[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/may/12/torture-new-york-times-washington-post "The semantics of torture"] ''[[Comment is free|guardian.co.uk – Comment-is-free]]'' May 13, 2009.</ref> In an article which criticized NPR and other U.S. media for their use of euphemisms for torture, [[Glenn Greenwald]] discussed what he called the enabling "corruption of American journalism":
<blockquote>This active media complicity in concealing that our Government created a systematic torture regime, by refusing ever to say so, is one of the principal reasons it was allowed to happen for so long. The steadfast, ongoing refusal of our leading media institutions to refer to what the Bush administration did as "torture"&nbsp;– even in the face of more than 100 detainee deaths; the use of that term by a leading Bush official to describe what was done at Guantanamo; and the fact that media outlets frequently use the word "torture" to describe exactly the same methods when used by other countries – reveals much about how the modern journalist thinks.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2009/06/06/nyt_5/ "The NYT's nice, new euphemism for torture"], ''Salon.com'' June 6, 2009</ref></blockquote>

===''Live from Death Row'' commentaries===
In 1994, NPR arranged to air, on ''All Things Considered'', a series of three-minute commentaries by [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]], a journalist convicted in a controversial trial of murdering a [[Philadelphia Police Department|Philadelphia Police]] officer. They cancelled airing them after the [[Fraternal Order of Police]] and members of the U.S. Congress objected.<ref name=WaPoAbul-Jamal>{{Cite news
  | title = Judge Dismisses Inmate's Suit Against NPR
  |work=The Washington Post
  | date = August 22, 1997}}</ref>

===Juan Williams comments===
On October 20, 2010, NPR terminated Senior News Analyst [[Juan Williams]]'s independent contract<ref name=WilliamsIndep>{{cite news
 | url =http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/10/npr-news-dumps-analyst-juan-williams-over-comments-about-muslims-/1?csp=34news
 | title = Update: NPR exec says Juan Williams crossed the line before
 | last = Stanglin
 | first = Doug
 | date = October 21, 2010
 | accessdate = October 21, 2010
 |work=USA Today}}</ref> over a series of incidents culminating in remarks he made on the [[Fox News Channel]] regarding Muslims.

===Ronald Schiller comments===
In March 2011, conservative political activist and provocateur [[James O'Keefe]] sent partners Simon Templar (a [[pen name]]) and Shaughn Adeleye<ref name="nprexec">{{cite news|publisher = [[Politico (newspaper)|Politico]]|url = http://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0311/NPR_exec_tea_party_is_scary_racist.html?showall|date = March 8, 2011|title = NPR exec: tea party is 'scary,' 'racist'|first = Keach|last = Hagey}}</ref> to secretly record their discussion with [[Ronald Schiller]], NPR's outgoing senior vice president for [[fundraising]], and an associate, in which Schiller made remarks viewed as disparaging of "the current Republican party, especially the [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]", and controversial comments regarding Palestine and funding for NPR. NPR disavowed Schiller's comments. CEO Vivian Schiller, who is not related to Ronald, later resigned over the fallout from the comments and the previous firing of Juan Williams.<ref>{{cite news | author = Mark Memmott | title = NPR CEO Vivian Schiller resigns | publisher = NPR | date=March 9, 2011 | accessdate = March 9, 2011 | url = http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/03/09/134388981/npr-ceo-vivian-schiller-resigns}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
* [[BBC Radio]]
* [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
* [[List of NPR personnel]]
* [[List of NPR stations]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Gibson, George H. ''Public Broadcasting: The Role of the Federal Government, 1919–1976'' (Praeger Publishers, 1977). ISBN 9780030228315. {{oclc|3167293}}.
* McCauley, Michael P. ''NPR: The Trials and Triumphs of National Public Radio'' (Columbia University Press, 2005). ISBN 9780231121606. {{oclc|937175101}}.
* Magee, Sara. [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19376529.2013.823970 "''All Things Considered'': A Content Analysis of National Public Radio's Flagship News Magazine from 1999–2009"]. ''Journal of Radio & Audio Media'' (2013) 20#2 pp.&nbsp;236–250.

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
{{American broadcast radio}}
{{NPR}}
{{NPR Radio stations}}
{{White House James S. Brady Press Briefing Room Seating Chart}}
{{World Radio Network}}

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