The American public radio NPR protested this Wednesday against the mention of “media affiliated with the American state” that is now attributed to Elon Musk’s social network, Twitter, which had deleted its daily certification a few days before. New York Times.
The official “@NPR” account is now tagged on the platform “US state-affiliated media”, in the same way as RT or Sputnik accounts for Russia. An “unacceptable” mention for the general director of NPR (National Public Radio), John Lansing.
editorial independence
“NPR and its member stations (its network) are supported by the millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide. NPR stands up for free speech and holds the powerful to account,” he adds.
According to the French version of Twitter’s “Help Center,” “state-affiliated media are defined as media whose editorial content is controlled by that state through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressure, and/or control over production.” and distribution”.
He called on Twitter to back off the change, a “gift to purveyors of misinformation and authoritarian regimes around the world.”
Founded in 1970 and well known in the United States, NPR is financed mainly by advertising and sponsorships, as well as by the participation of the radio stations that are part of its network. It ensures that less than 1% of its operating budget comes from federal sources.
Affected by falling advertising revenue, it announced in late February that it would have to cut 10% of its posts, or about a hundred, the latest episode in a series of US media layoffs in 2022 and 2023.
Source: BFM TV
