Screenshot / YouTube, NewsNation; James Cridland CC BY 2.0 DEED, via Flickr, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

NPR Senior Editor Uri Berliner's recent article has reportedly sent shockwaves through his news organization, sparking what insiders describe as “turmoil.”

Berliner highlighted a striking partisan disparity within the network on Tuesday, revealing that while 87 registered Democrats hold editorial positions at NPR’s Washington, DC, headquarters, there are zero Republicans in similar roles.

He also lambasted what he perceives as a pervasive liberal groupthink, highlighting NPR's handling of key events such as Russiagate, the Hunter Biden laptop saga, the COVID lab leak theory, and the Israel-Hamas conflict as evidence of left-wing bias, Fox News outlined.

NPR has staunchly defended its editorial practices in response to Berliner's accusations. Editor in Chief Edith Chapin, for example, asserted the organization's commitment to inclusive coverage and the importance of diversity in storytelling, The New York Times reports.

Some NPR journalists, including TV critic Eric Deggans, publicly criticized Berliner for not allowing NPR an opportunity to respond to his allegations.

“Mr. Berliner’s essay also sent critical Slack messages whizzing through some of the same employee affinity groups focused on racial and sexual identity that he cited in his essay,” The Times said. “In one group, several staff members disputed Mr. Berliner’s points about a lack of ideological diversity and said efforts to recruit more people of color would make NPR’s journalism better.”

Berliner also argued in his article published in The Free Press, a popular Substack publication, that NPR's emphasis on racial diversity has overshadowed the need for ideological diversity within the organization. His critiques have garnered attention for its bold accusations against NPR's newsroom culture.

Berliner's essay prompted heated discussions within NPR's internal communication channels, with employees disputing his claims and advocating for increased efforts to diversify the organization.

Several staff members disagreed with Berliner's assertion of a lack of ideological diversity and argued that recruiting more people of color would enhance NPR's journalism, per one employee affinity group focused on racial and sexual identity.

Berliner stood by his essay during a recent interview, expressing no regrets and reaffirming his love for NPR.

He hoped that his criticisms would spark a broader conversation about news coverage practices. Despite receiving a note from his supervisor reminding him of NPR's protocols regarding media appearances.

Berliner responded to the note stating that he hadn't consulted network spokespeople before sharing his remarks with The New York Times.

Staff members of “Morning Edition” gathered on Wednesday to address the repercussions of Mr. Berliner's essay. An NPR producer challenged Berliner's rationale for the decline in NPR's listenership during the meeting, citing various contributing factors.

Tony Cavin, NPR's managing editor of standards and practices, emphatically dismissed all of Berliner's allegations of unfairness. He expressed concern that Berliner's remarks could hinder NPR journalists in their work, suggesting that future interactions with sources might be affected.

“The next time one of our people calls up a Republican congressman or something and tries to get an answer from them, they may well say, 'Oh, I read these stories, you guys aren't fair, so I'm not going to talk to you,'” remarked Cavin.

Some within NPR expressed differing views, however. Jeffrey A. Dvorkin, NPR's former ombudsman, indicated on social media that Berliner was “not wrong.” Chuck Holmes, a former managing editor at NPR, praised Berliner's essay as “brave” on Facebook.

The essay has stirred up a storm of criticism on social media, particularly from conservative circles that have long accused NPR of political bias. Even former President Donald Trump weighed in on his social media platform, Truth Social, advocating for the rescinding of NPR's government funding.

“No more funding for NPR,” Trump said. “A total scam! Editor said they have no republicans, and is only used to 'damage Trump.' They are a liberal disinformation machine. Not one dollar!!!”

Berliner's critique is the latest development in a series of internal conflicts within NPR. He participated in a protracted debate over whether NPR should adhere to language recommendations proposed by the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association regarding coverage of the Gaza conflict in October, for instance.

“We don't need to rely on an advocacy group's guidance,” Berliner wrote in an email exchange viewed by The Times. “Our job is to seek out the facts and report them.”

Despite the debate, NPR's language guidance remained unchanged, set by editors who were not part of the discussion. The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association clarified its role as a professional association for journalists, not a political advocacy group, in response.