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> It's good to see serious, well respected news outlets like NPR doing the hard work and calling others out on their BS. While I agree that NPR News bats above

> It's good to see serious, well respected news outlets like NPR doing the hard work and calling others out on their BS. While I agree that NPR News bats above average they are not without their blind spots. While they may not chase clickbait or obvious ragebaiting trash, their journalists still latch onto convenient or lazy explanations all of the time.

stusmall 4y ago
It's a human institution. It absolutely isn't without flaw. I can think of a couple stories they did I wasn't a big fan of. But this is part of how the system works and why well funded, ethical, serious media is crucial to a functioning society. News agencies will report on each other and help raise the standard of how they are run. Some, NPR included, with have news desks that are devoted to just that and will even report non-flattering news on themselves. The author of this article is really good about it. He's aired some pretty unflattering, dirty laundry about NPR/PBS, not just other news orgs. Sometimes his pieces are a bit too inside baseball for me, but I appreciate the value they bring to the system as a whole. An introspective news ecosystem is a healthy one. A healthy news ecosystem helps build a healthier society by rooting out corruption, waste and injustice.
Rapzid 4y ago
I recall that NPR had the "Weed is actually bad" book guy on and was pretty much letting him say whatever unchallenged. No opposing viewpoint guest, a bunch of softball questions, and no pushback in general. This guy totally gave off vibes of using this kernel of truth, these studies on THC in developing brains, and wrapping it in a bunch of FUD to sell his personal brand and books. Oh, and his wife is the scientist not him.. Honestly it felt like a paid advertising spot or a bit of propaganda. At the time I was wondering about the latter because it seemed that NPR had somehow taken a stance AGAINST legalization around the time all that activity was occurring a couple years ago.
- glonq 4y ago
  Yeah I'm also sad that the Fairness Doctrine is dead. It's healthy to hear dissenting viewpoints, even if it makes people uncomfy.

stusmall 4y ago

It's a human institution. It absolutely isn't without flaw. I can think of a couple stories they did I wasn't a big fan of. But this is part of how the system works and why well funded, ethical, serious media is crucial to a functioning society. News agencies will report on each other and help raise the standard of how they are run. Some, NPR included, with have news desks that are devoted to just that and will even report non-flattering news on themselves. The author of this article is really good about it. He's aired some pretty unflattering, dirty laundry about NPR/PBS, not just other news orgs. Sometimes his pieces are a bit too inside baseball for me, but I appreciate the value they bring to the system as a whole. An introspective news ecosystem is a healthy one. A healthy news ecosystem helps build a healthier society by rooting out corruption, waste and injustice.

Rapzid 4y ago

I recall that NPR had the "Weed is actually bad" book guy on and was pretty much letting him say whatever unchallenged. No opposing viewpoint guest, a bunch of softball questions, and no pushback in general. This guy totally gave off vibes of using this kernel of truth, these studies on THC in developing brains, and wrapping it in a bunch of FUD to sell his personal brand and books. Oh, and his wife is the scientist not him.. Honestly it felt like a paid advertising spot or a bit of propaganda. At the time I was wondering about the latter because it seemed that NPR had somehow taken a stance AGAINST legalization around the time all that activity was occurring a couple years ago.

glonq 4y ago
Yeah I'm also sad that the Fairness Doctrine is dead. It's healthy to hear dissenting viewpoints, even if it makes people uncomfy.