Who gets challenged + who has a say at NPR

Without evidence, when do NPR journalists challenge the speaker? [View this email online]( [NPR Public Editor by Poynter's Kelly McBride]( This week's column It’s probably no surprise that the public conversation around journalists and the stories they are telling is getting even more heated in this country as we round third base and head into a presidential election. This week, news consumers asked us to look at several stories in which NPR journalists were faced with a provocative viewpoint that seemed to be rooted in incomplete information, a distorted narrative or something that just was not true. In each of these cases, the journalists made choices about how to frame the statement, whether to use the information at all and if a fact check was necessary. In this newsletter we look at the specific stories you’ve asked us about. In my column, we ask some bigger questions, including how individual bias plays into these decisions, and what obligations a professional newsroom like NPR’s has to ensure thoroughness, not just on the individual story level, but across all the content it creates. [A family shares a work space]( MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images ['Without evidence' Is A New Catchphrase At NPR.]( [Read the column]( From the Inbox Here are a few quotes from the Public Editor's inbox that resonated with us. You can share your questions and concerns with us through the [NPR Contact page](. A snapshot of Southwest voters Kristopher Weiss: I’m concerned with David Greene’s [recent travels to talk to voters in the Southwest.]( While I think it’s lazy for NPR to devote so much energy to person-on-the-street stories around election time - this is a job for local reporters - I am more concerned about Greene’s and NPR editors’ decisions to let comments about [George Floyd protests being based on lies]( (8/26) and the offensive/racially charged things [Trump says being jokes]( (8/27) go on the air unchallenged. These may be the voters’ opinions, but it’s also Trump propaganda. I expect more from NPR, but it seems you are twisting yourselves out of line in the spirit of both-sides journalism. Propaganda isn’t a side; it’s a weapon. In his introduction to one of these interviews, Morning Edition host David Greene says, “Politics is personal.” NPR’s primary goal in covering the presidential election is to help voters decide. A secondary goal is to listen to voters as they explain how they are making their choices. Greene said this series is a look at real voters on the ground, and is meant to be a snapshot of the fears and anxieties that influence people across the country. “I think we would be doing a disservice if we just listen to the pundits, if we just looked at polls and did not listen to people talk about why they vote the way they do and why they believe what they believe,” he said. Greene said interviewing citizens requires a different approach than interviewing a public official. Challenging voters through radical or offensive parts of a conversation would “change the tenor” of the discussion and make it hard for a voter to think through and accurately voice where his or her beliefs come from, Greene said. “We're not [live] on the air,” he said. “I will let voters talk things out.” There are two particular statements that Trump supporters made during these interviews that garnered much criticism. Lena Crandell told Greene she believed the Black Lives Matter movement is “based on lies.” And another voter, Mary Jean, said that protesters are making American cities more violent and then dismissed the suggestion that President Trump’s rhetoric and actions are provoking the protests. In both of these cases, Greene doesn’t tell these women they are wrong. Instead, he asks them to explain why. And they do, but for those who disagree with them, the explanations are not satisfying. Crandell says that as a Latina she has never experienced racism, so she has trouble believing that others have. Mary Jean says Trump’s humor is misunderstood. Greene said he and his editors painstakingly consider instances where the voters should be pushed on their beliefs and where context should be added. But NPR has to let voters talk through their own experiences. Bottom line: NPR won’t let a voter say something inaccurate, and that didn’t happen here, Greene said. Certainly Greene and the producers and editors who worked on this series could have added more context. They could have inserted statistics about systemic racism, or a political analysis about Trump’s disingenuousness. But the point of these interviews was to listen, to take the audience into the living rooms of everyday citizens and hear what their beliefs are built on. Had Greene argued with them, or introduced other material during the editing process, it would have undermined their voices, which is why he was in their living rooms in the first place. — Meredith Roaten and Kelly McBride Did the RNC ‘shatter norms’ or break the law? Bill Siderski writes: Why the wording '[shatters ethical norms]( instead of 'commits crimes'? [In a story about the president’s use of the White House as a backdrop for the RNC.] If his actions are unethical — and they clearly are — say so. This mediocre hand-wringing goes all the way back to not divesting from his businesses, and only lets him continue unfettered and emboldened. The story in question involves the provisions of the Hatch Act, passed in 1939 to prohibit federal employees from engaging in political activity inside federal buildings or while on duty. According to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, the president and vice president are [exempt](. But as I looked into addressing your comment, I learned that it’s not black and white as it relates to Trump himself. Brett Neely, an editor on the NPR Politics team who wrote the headline in question, told us NPR clearly characterizes the issue as a question of law from the get-go. “The president and vice president are not subject to the civil provisions in the law, so we cannot definitely say that President Trump is breaking the law’s civil provisions,” Neely said in an email to our office. “The president is subject to the criminal provisions, but it is not clear that President Trump violated them.” Neely noted that it’s possible, but that would be determined by the Department of Justice, which is led by a close Trump ally. “It's hard for us to declare unilaterally that the law was broken in an instance like this but it’s abundantly clear that the events Sam [Gringlas] reported on, plus the subsequent nights of the convention, including the use of the White House for a campaign event, clearly shatter all the existing norms separating governing and campaign activities,” Neely pointed out. Tom Rosenstiel, executive director of the American Press Institute, told us that it may be misleading to call it a criminal act. “The best course is to be as precise as possible and inform the audience, not feed their outrage,” he wrote in an email. NPR revisited the topic in Weekend Edition Saturday when it aired host Scott Simon’s interview with Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics. If you haven’t listened to it yet, [I recommend it](. Simon asked Shaub about the legality of the RNC events and the enforcement mechanism. “Sometimes people criticize the reliance on ethical norms in government, but you begin to see how the law has no teeth,” Shaub said. “So you either have a presidency that will follow the norms and the laws or you have a presidency that won't follow either. And unfortunately, we're in the latter category right now.” So, criminal on Trump’s part? That would have been an overreach to say so. Wildly out of character from what we’re used to seeing from past presidents? Absolutely, yes. — Amaris Castillo Failure to fact-check an author Patrick Cavanaugh writes: While I understand it’s an interview and the views presented may not represent NPR, should NPR interviewers not perform fact-checking when an interview is saying blatantly incorrect things? [[One Author’s Controversial View: In Defense of Looting]]( The interviewer should have been prepared for the author to say known falsehoods and refute them, or at least the transcript should be updated to not spread them. This Q&A with a provocative author did not serve NPR’s audience. You and several other NPR fans pointed out that [NPR’s own prior reporting]( contradicted some of the things this author was saying. On top of being wrong about recent events, the author’s characterization of the Civil Rights Movement is a distortion and oversimplification. So how did this Q&A make it onto NPR’s website? (This content was not slated for radio broadcast.) The Code Switch team has a strong track record of presenting rigorous academic ideas that explain race, explore racial disparities and float interesting observations about social divisions. So a book that explains looting, even defends it, seems like appropriate material. But in the interview, the author made several statements in support of her hypothesis that could be easily fact-checked. I asked Code Switch editor Steve Drummond if the piece was fact-checked, and he said, “This piece was fact-checked but we should have done more.” A new introduction was added to provide more context and prepare the reader to digest the author's ideas. Still, this failure to challenge this author’s statements is harmful on two levels. Publishing false information leaves the audience misinformed. On top of that, news consumers are watching closely to see who is challenged and who isn’t. In this case a book author with a radical point of view far to the left was allowed to spread false information. Casual observers might conclude that NPR is more interested in fact-checking conservative viewpoints than liberal viewpoints. Or possibly, that bias on the part of NPR staff interferes with their judgment when spotting suspect information. We address this question in [our column this week.]( Spotlight on The Public Editor spends a lot of time examining moments where NPR fell short. Yet we also learn a lot about NPR by looking at work that we find to be compelling and excellent journalism. Here we share a line or two about the pieces where NPR shines. A long, winding learning curve [A family shares a work space]( Alex Eben Meyer for NPR MORNING EDITION [Learning Curve: We Meet A Mother Of 4 As The School Year Begins]( Two weeks ago, we gave props to NPR's Life Kit for its helpful list of 20 questions to help decide what's best for children and parents before classes kick off. We’re delighted to see more in the pipeline. Morning Edition on Monday aired a story about Sharay Timmons, a 36-year-old single mother of four from Charlotte, N.C., who [is struggling to balance her children’s remote learning]( and grocery store clerk job. She goes by the nickname Sky. The story was part of “Learning Curve,” a new series by NPR that will feature the voices of teachers and parents as they wade their way through this education tangle. They will air on Morning Edition and [Weekend Edition Sunday](. Sky walks us through her complicated daily life, which involves having to leave her 13-year-old in charge as she goes to work everyday. Weekend Edition Sunday introduced us to [the Munoz family from Las Vegas](. The dad of five, Johnathan, recorded an audio diary of their first week of school. We get a glimpse into the frustrations into remote learning: Adrian needs help with English, and Zyra needs help with writing. It’s not all bad, but it’s definitely not the same as being in school. These are the kinds of stories I love most from NPR, the ones that dive into the lives of everyday people. I also want to shout out to NPR Books for its [megalist of 100 favorite books for young readers]( part of its summer reading poll. Take a scroll down the list for the little ones in your life. And though this is technically not from NPR, I do want to mention [This American Life]( which has also produced a great series about this unprecedented school year. In five acts, we hear the stories of teachers, a high schooler, and even an emptying university campus. — Amaris Castillo Songs for the spirit MORNING EDITION [Nursing Home Employee's Musical Talent Uplifts Residents]( This feature on a [staff member at an Alabama nursing home]( doesn’t shy away the sadness and loneliness many feel right now. Instead, a reporter from WBHM in Alabama takes a dive into how residents found hope in the gospel music that LPN Ashley Moore sings over the intercom. The audio is short, about three minutes long, but hearing how Moore makes residents feel and how much she loves sharing her music is sure to bring an easy smile to your face. — Meredith Roaten Behind the Scenes This is how the news gets made. We want your ideas for how we can do it better. Covering higher education with a microphone and a mask By Meredith Roaten The pandemic shutdowns hit when education reporter Elissa Nadworny was on a reporting trip in the Dominican Republic. After working remotely since March, she’s excited to get back out in the field. She is traveling across America to visit many of the colleges reopening under COVID-19 restrictions, and talking to parents, students, faculty and staff about how they will get through this difficult semester. Nadworny said she has planned for this trip since the early summer, and it’s a relief to more easily reach the people whose stories need to be told. The education stories during this pandemic haven’t let up, but Nadworny said she finds strength and determination in the realization that good education reporting is crucial in this time. Here’s how she works remotely from her home in D.C. and — for the past three weeks — on the road. (This conversation was edited for length and clarity.) Producer Lauren Migaki and reporter Elissa Nadworny report from the Midwest leg of their road trip. Elissa Nadworny/NPR What’s the hardest aspect of working in the field? Safety protocols are a challenge. People are a little wary of having a stranger talk to them. We were on a university campus this past weekend. And it's sensitive, especially with the way colleges are punishing students for partying and the blame language that we've seen. I think there's a lot of shame and hesitancy to talk about testing positive or moving out of dorms. What has it been like to cover college reopening so closely? I wrote my first story about what the fall would look like at the beginning of April. I felt like it would be so important for NPR to actually be on campus when it reopened. And I'm so glad. Last week was just such a testament to the power of being in a place when things started to happen. We were at the University of Georgia watching students move in the day that UNC canceled classes. And within a few days we were able to get to UNC’s main campus in Chapel Hill. So I just want to stress how important I think this reporting is right now. What do you miss the most about the office? I miss collaboration. Everything is kind of scheduled and it's hard to just have a chat with somebody. Of course, communicating is essential now, but one of the things that I loved about NPR and that makes my reporting special is the essence of collaboration. I do radio and I write and I also take the photos for my stories. And so those are three very different teams at NPR. I'm straddling all three of those worlds and when I'm in the office, I can just swing by each section. That’s why I’m so lucky to have a producer Lauren Migaki for this NPR road trip project. There's two of us in the field and that alone is amazing. Two brains are always better than one brain on a story and collaborating again and writing together — it's incredible. It’s such a cool NPR thing that we do reporter/producer teams and it really makes the story so much better. How do you stay safe working in the field? We have been taking a flight at the beginning of the 10 days we spend on the road and then we're in the car usually hitting like three to four states, 10 days and then flying home. When we come back to DC, we quarantine and we get COVID tested. So once we're clear of coronavirus, then we are heading out on the road again. We have a whole bunch of other safety protocols, always masks, of course, and I brought face shields. My father is actually an infectious disease physician, so he has been whispering in my ear for months talking about how to stay safe. We met with Caroline Drees, the senior director of field safety and security, several times before we went out, and Lauren and I have both had hostile environment training. We have both reported from abroad and have been in precarious reporting situations, but there's really nothing like this. By the end of the day, we're just exhausted in the field because we haven't had many in-person social interactions for months, and now we're going to talk to lots of people. But it’s also hard being super vigilant about cleaning and the mask-wearing and staying six feet apart. It's exhausting. What’s the biggest challenge working from home? For a while, every week, I was live on Up First or Morning Edition because education affects so many people in America. There's been too many stories to even write. My story list has stayed the same length. I can never make a dent in it and it's been five months. For education, summer is a time where you can do kind of the more in-depth features because a lot of folks are out of the classroom. But that obviously doesn't exist anymore. A couple of things have been major challenges. I constantly felt like I was missing something. A lot of the people that I aim to cover are harder to reach just by nature. They're not digitally connected or they're working or they’re student parents. And so a lot of times I meet my best sources in the field. Scenes were also harder. We had to get a bit creative. I did a lot of FaceTime videos where I would record the sound or I'd have my sources record video or record audio for me while they were going about their lives or while they were making phone calls, I'd ask them to record. What’s the story that you’re proudest of during this time? The one that I keep going back to that is so relevant right now is [a look at student behavior that I did in June](. I talked to a bunch of behavioral psychologists about this wild card for everyone's reopening plan, which was student behavior, whether or not students would party. I talked to a number of folks who study the brain science. They told me that developmentally, 18-to-24-year-old brains, which tend to be the age of many residential college students in the U.S, they're just wired differently than older adults. They tend to value reward over risk. So this idea that reopening plans rely on the majority of students to follow the rules, doesn't seem like a good idea. Of course, we’re seeing what happens when that is indeed the case. How have you tried to balance the grueling pace of your work right now and your mental health? These stories have taken over my life, I suppose, but they also bring me so much joy to report and write. This moment is so important for education reporting. When I'm on the road, I live in the world that I'm reporting. I have the mindset of: This is going to be my main focus,on college campuses, reopening and on the people who are taking classes. And I'm just going to kind of live in that space and then come home and take a few days’ break. Mentally, that works for me better than working remotely and trying to balance it in a single day. Favorite activity for de-stressing? So much contemporary fiction. I set a goal at the beginning of the year — before I knew that this was going to happen — of reading a new book every month. By the time I got to June, I had read like a dozen. I blew that goal out of the water because I found myself craving to be away from my screen and to kind of live in another world. One of my favorites has been In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. It came out in 1994. It's actually an oldie. Talk about completely living in a whole other world. It takes place in the ’60s in the Dominican Republic. Her writing is so beautiful and so descriptive. I found myself having to journal after I read it. University of Illinois prepares for social distancing. Elissa Nadworny/NPR The Office of the Public Editor is a team. Researchers Amaris Castillo and Meredith Roaten make this newsletter possible. We are still reading all of your messages on [Facebook]( [Twitter]( and [from our inbox](. As always, keep them coming. Kelly McBride NPR Public Editor Chair, [Craig Newmark Center for Ethics & Leadership at the Poynter Institute]( Meredith Roaten, NPR Amaris Castillo, Poynter Institute The Public Editor stands as a source of independent accountability. Created by NPR's board of directors, the Public Editor serves as a bridge between the newsroom and the audience, striving to both listen to the audience's concerns and explain the newsroom's work and ambitions. The office ensures NPR remains steadfast in its mission to present fair, accurate and comprehensive information in service of democracy. [Read more]( from the NPR Public Editor, [contact us]( or follow us on [Twitter](. You received this message because you're subscribed to Public Editor emails. 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