NPR makes a blatantly biased statement

On NPR’s “Morning Edition” some time last week, they interviewed senator Rick Santorum.  He made a comment about evolution.  On Morning Edition they frequently read letters submitted by listeners, and the only letter they read that commented on this interview argued against Senator Santorum’s view point.  Although I agreed with the listener’s comments, that the lack of existence of a god does not relieve a “moral demand” on humanity, but come on guys, you can at least try to be balanced!

4 Responses to “NPR makes a blatantly biased statement”

---

Umm… As someone who tends to avoid the news, and doesn’t get NPR… what’s going on here? Is Senator Santorum for or against evolution? (which is a silly statement, like saying is someone for or against the theory of molecular orbitals) What about the viewer? Which way are you saying NPR’s bias lies?

Because from what I see, it seems pretty balanced. Someone presented a presumably controversial opinion, they allowed a rebuttal.

By the way, ion, welcome on board, and thanks for the recent posting!

Paradoxdruid - August 15th, 2005 at 8:10 am

---

The background story is that Senator Santorum is not for or against evolution per say, but rather believes that, were evolution true, then humanity has no moral obligation to, well, he never really says to what.

Getting to the point, the news is not a formal debate between the different sides of an issue. It is/should be a listing of events and facts. Reading one letter that refuted the Senator’s position is commentary, not news, and “Morning Edition” is a news show.

ion - August 15th, 2005 at 9:32 am

---

The “news” hasn’t been giving us news for years now, which is part of the reason I avoid it. If you want news, try the Australian news services… they tend to be better than the rest (which isn’t saying much). I used to reccomend the BBC, but its objectivity has fled in the last year or two as well. But I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that an American “news” show isn’t really…

Paradoxdruid - August 15th, 2005 at 12:09 pm

---

Interviewing a radical uber-con Senator is not news, either. It’s a discussion with a news maker. It is context for news. NPR provides context and insight on news. Part of that means letting ol’ Lube-and-Feces say what he believes. The other part of that is letting somebody present the counter-argument.
Having the complete context is a rare thing, and it’s what NPR does really well.

Owen - August 23rd, 2005 at 5:20 am

---

Leave a Response (or trackback on your own site)

You must be logged in to post a comment.