Here is a link to a story that ran almost two years ago in the New York Times about government intervention in NPR’s stories and alleged “liberal bias”.  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/16/business/media/16radio.html

Albeit this intervention is primarily fiduciary in nature and not statutory, as a citizen, I am uncomfortable with government monitoring and dictating news coverage that people are free to digest or ignore.  We live in a democracy and this type of intervention is not aligned with democratic principles as far as I am concerned.

I believe one of the best ways to learn and grow is to listen to people who do not have the same opinion as you.  Hearing a divergent opinion and rationalization may not change one’s mind, but it certainly can broaden one’s horizon.

The growing lack of independence of media outlets may be a strong factor in the burgeoning “citizen reporter” phenomena.  Individuals, at least for the time being, are free from the shackles of politics, government, boards and bosses. 

Brandi  1/26/08

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That was an interesting article...especially this blurb...

 

"Last month, the corporation's board, which is dominated by Republicans named by President Bush, told the staff at a meeting that it should prepare to redirect the relatively modest number of grants available for radio programs away from national news, officials at the corporation and NPR said."

 

Hmmm...seems a little fishy to me. It wouldn't take too much reading into this before one can connect the dots. Republications, who mostly comprise the board, have suggested to lean more towards music and less towards reporting national news?!?!? I won't go down the path that I would like to given that this is not the forum to debate party politics. However, I do agree with Brandi's post in that people need to absorb a wide spectrum of viewpoints in order to develop their own thoughts, opinions, etc.

 

G. Feldmann, 1/28/08