CPB Awards $1.9M to NPR for Editorial Enhancement

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, October 18, 2024

Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has awarded a $1.9 million grant to National Public Radio (NPR) to bolster its editorial operations. The funding will support NPR's efforts to meet the growing demands of producing 24/7 news content across multiple platforms while adhering to rigorous standards of accuracy, fairness, objectivity and inclusion of diverse viewpoints.

The grant will enable NPR to hire 11 new staff members, including seven editors who will act as an editorial "backstop" to ensure that NPR's journalism undergoes thorough review before publication. Two supervising editors will be added to NPR's editorial standards and practices team, which oversees ethical guidelines and policies, while two content strategy analysts will be brought on to assess content mix and its impact.

"Misinformation and disinformation are threats to our democracy," said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison. "The American people place great trust in public media's informational and educational content. We are proud to support NPR's commitment to maintaining that trust by increasing its editorial oversight, transparency, and inclusion of diverse perspectives across its content."

With the expansion of its editorial standards team, NPR plans to engage more actively with its audiences about its content decisions and collaborate closely with member stations to ensure consistency in editorial practices. Additionally, the increased editorial capacity will allow NPR to hold regular briefings with experts and newsmakers to gain insights that will help shape its journalism as a valued public service.

This grant reflects ongoing efforts by NPR and CPB to address the challenges of a rapidly evolving media landscape while maintaining public trust through transparent and balanced reporting.