National Public Radio has suspended Uri Berliner, a senior editor who earlier this month claimed in an essay that the network had "lost America's trust" by pushing progressive views in its coverage while suppressing dissenting opinions.
Berliner's suspension was reported.
NPR declined to comment to CBS News. "NPR does not comment on individual personnel matters, including discipline," a spokesperson said.
Berliner's essay in the Free Press caused a firestorm of debate, with some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, calling on the government to "defund" the organization. Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues also took issue with the essay, with "Morning Edition" host Steve Inskeep writing on his Substack that the article was "filled with errors and omissions."
"The errors do make NPR look bad, because it's embarrassing that an NPR journalist would make so many," Inskeep wrote.
Within his essay, Berliner expressed his view that NPR has historically leaned towards a liberal perspective. However, during his 25-year tenure, he believed NPR maintained an open-minded and curious culture. Berliner noted a shift in recent years, stating that NPR now reflects the distilled worldview of a small portion of the U.S. population.
He pointed out, "What's striking is how individuals across all levels of NPR have embraced a progressive worldview. The lack of diversity in viewpoints is the most concerning trend at NPR," he emphasized.
In response to Berliner's essay, NPR's chief editor, Edith Chapin, strongly disagreed with his assertions and expressed her unwavering support for NPR's journalism.
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Berliner also criticized NPR for allegedly neglecting to cover developments related to Hunter Biden's laptop. He claimed that NPR ignored these issues in the lead-up to the election. Additionally, Berliner raised concerns about NPR's internal management, specifically highlighting what he perceived as a growing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI).
"In nearly every aspect of the workplace, race and identity took center stage," Berliner observed. "Regular meetings led by a growing DEI staff urged us to 'start talking about race'."
"The narrative is likely to resonate with those who already hold the same beliefs, but may not be convincing to others - mirroring his criticism of NPR," Inskeep noted.
