Uri Berliner, an NPR editor who recently accused the broadcaster of liberal bias in an online essay, has resigned from the nonprofit. He cited criticism from the network’s chief executive, Katherine Maher, as a major reason for his departure. In a social media post, Mr. Berliner explained that he could not work in an environment where he felt disparaged by leadership, especially when his concerns about NPR’s issues were confirmed by such behavior.
In his resignation letter to Ms. Maher, Mr. Berliner expressed his love for NPR and admiration for his colleagues, wishing for the organization to continue thriving and producing important journalism. Despite the controversy, NPR declined to comment on the personnel matters surrounding Mr. Berliner’s resignation. The decision to leave coalesced after an email exchange with Ms. Maher, where he felt that she was indirectly referencing him in a memo about workplace integrity that she had sent to employees the previous week.
Mr. Berliner’s essay had caused a stir within NPR, leading to divisions among employees and a backlash against him from some of his colleagues. The network’s top editor, Edith Chapin, publicly denounced the essay, while others, like “Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep, criticized Mr. Berliner for failing to engage with differing viewpoints and for publishing a piece that discredited itself. Despite the backlash, Mr. Berliner found support from some former NPR employees who praised his bravery in speaking out about the perceived issues at the network.
Conservative activists seized upon Mr. Berliner’s essay as a way to cast doubt on NPR’s journalism and leadership. Christopher Rufo, among others, resurfaced social media posts from Ms. Maher critical of former President Donald J. Trump and supportive of progressive causes to bolster their criticisms of the network. NPR clarified that Ms. Maher’s social media activity predated her tenure as chief executive and that she was not in a news-related role at the time, attempting to contextualize the situation.
Before his resignation, Mr. Berliner was already on a five-day suspension from NPR for failing to obtain permission to work for outside organizations. With no immediate plans post-NPR, Mr. Berliner expressed his desire to focus on getting more rest and spending time with his family. The fallout from his essay and subsequent resignation highlighted the challenges within NPR, as well as the complexities of navigating differing perspectives and criticisms within a news organization. Ultimately, the situation underscored the delicate balance between editorial independence, internal critique, and external pressures faced by media outlets in today’s polarized landscape.
