Comparing NPR’s coverage of RBG with that of Scalia

The organization’s reportage four years ago had a different tone [View this email online]( [NPR Public Editor by Poynter's Kelly McBride]( This Week's Column When a sitting Supreme Court Justice dies during a presidential election year, it’s monumental news. This is the second time in four years that it’s happened. So it’s a good time to compare and contrast the coverage of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death with that of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. NPR produced a crop of impressive stories over the weekend, and more are being added to [this special section dedicated to ongoing coverage and reaction](. Here are a few good examples, in no particular order: [what Ginsburg’s death means to abortion rights advocates]( the [voices of mourners at an impromptu vigil]( held in front of the Supreme Court; and touching remembrances from [a rabbi]( and one of [Ginsburg’s former clerks](. Most are favorable in tone and focus on those who revered the late justice. Morning Edition on Monday [ran a story about RBG’s position as a pop culture icon]( with audio clips of Kate McKinnon’s impersonation on Saturday Night Live. We saw the response to her death from a variety of viewpoints, like [this reaction from members of Congress](. And there were many updates about President Donald Trump’s [intent to move forward]( with a nomination for a new justice. NPR’s 2016 reporting of the death of Justice Antonin Scalia covered less ground in the first three days. Scalia’s death led to this [obituary]( from NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg that focused on the influence of his dissents. Variations of this obituary ran on [Weekend Edition Sunday]( and [Morning Edition](. The volume of stories using audio clips of the deceased was similar. Nine stories using Scalia’s voice ran in total in the first 72 hours, compared with the 10 stories using Ginsburg’s voice in the first three days following the death. Not including newscast pieces, 60 stories mentioned Ginsburg in the three days following her passing, with 57 equivalent stories for Scalia. It’s not a completely apples-to-apples comparison, because succession coverage began much later with Scalia. It was immediate with Ginsburg. In addition to volume, the tone of NPR’s coverage of Scalia’s death was decidedly different. Events like his [funeral mass]( and [the celebration of his life]( as he lay in repose at the Supreme Court drove the narrative. Cultural influence is at the center of many of the Ginsburg pieces. The reverence in the Scalia stories matched that in the coverage of Ginsburg, but the 2016 stories lacked the laudatory tone. The lead and headline for Scalia’s story reads that he was “known for his biting dissents.” Ginsburg’s descriptor is the more upbeat “progressive icon” or “champion of gender equality.” Compare these two Weekend Edition Sunday stories where [Justice Scalia]( and [Justice Ginsburg]( are remembered by former clerks. Both stories are similar in length, but one host asks Ginsburg’s former clerk more questions about her legacy, while the host in 2016 questions Scalia’s former clerk more about the future of his empty seat on the Supreme Court. This 2016 story on Ginsburg and Scalia’s [friendship]( ran for one minute on All Things Considered. NPR posted this [animated video]( on of Ginsburg reading a note from her husband on multiple platforms There are many reasons behind the difference in coverage, chief among them was that Totenberg was closer to Ginsburg than she was to Scalia, although she was friends with both. Scalia was certainly a [legal titan]( in his own right. Did NPR staff have a different emotional attachment to Ginsburg because she was a champion of equality, while Scalia was a champion of gun rights? Or was it because NPR’s audience is more interested in RBG? Or was it because Ginsburg was simply more popular than Scalia? Totenberg's friendship with both justices influenced coverage. After each died, she gave the audience a peek at her [friendship]( in the form of a [tribute](. In today’s column, I poke at the ethics surrounding these friendships and the implications for NPR's evolving standards. Rebecca Gibian/AP [NPR Should Have Revealed Totenberg-RBG Friendship Earlier]( [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](. Yusuf Islam gets a pass Joseph Glowacki writes: I was shocked and dismayed when I heard the Sept 17th Morning Edition story ".Yusuf Revisits ‘Tea for the Tillerman,’ His Landmark Album as Cat Stevens." Is NPR not aware of the well documented and publicized comments by Mr. Islam endorsing the killing of author Salman Rushdie for his novel Satanic Verses? Yes, Mr. Islam has stated that his comments were misunderstood and mischaracterized, however, anybody reviewing those accounts would see that his explanation is disingenuous. Mr. Islam has never publicly apologized for his statements or denounced the belief that people should be put to death for apostasy. One would think that NPR, being in the news business, would aggressively protect the First Amendment rather than celebrate someone who promotes an author's murder based upon what he writes in a book. Please refer to comments by Jon Stewart who expressed regrets for having Mr. Islam on his show after learning of his past statements and talking in depth with him to gain a further understanding. Mr. Stewart said "Death for free speech is a deal breaker". Doesn't NPR have a similar ethos? It would have been fair game to ask Islam about the past controversies, particularly for listeners like you who remember the attack on free speech, or for those who might have a vague memory of the events. Islam is promoting his album, and the coverage will clearly drive sales. But whatever choice the interviewer made, it was bound to face criticism. Had NPR’s Rachel Martin asked, those who believe the controversy was fueled by anti-Muslim sentiment would have cried foul. In this case, she assured us that her decision to not ask the question was not a precondition of the interview. NPR doesn’t agree to those. “Neither Yusuf Islam nor any of his representatives ever at any point bring up either issue before the interview. Nor did they instruct us not to ask about those issues,” she wrote. “They did not set any limits on the conversation and if they did we would not have accepted the interview.” Martin did not elaborate on her decision. Islam has been asked about this Rushdie controversy multiple times, including in a [2000 interview]( with Weekend Edition Sunday during which the pop singer said he was misinterpreted. Islam’s interview with Martin was part of his promotional rounds for Tea for the Tillerman 2, which features rerecorded versions of songs from his now 50-year-old landmark album. As a music interview, the focus was very narrow. Martin told us in an email that she did not discuss — on tape or off — either of the controversies with Islam. Islam also appeared on [All Songs Considered]( this week, where he spoke about the making of Tea for the Tillerman 2. Host Bob Boilen did not raise the past controversy either. “I spoke to Yusuf about the remaking of a record from 50 years ago. That was the focus of this conversation for All Songs Considered,” Boilen wrote. “He has spoken [many times]( about those comments over the past 30 years including on NPR. This conversation is about who this man is now through the lens of his music.” Islam has said he was misunderstood, but he never really walked his statements back. In a 2015 [profile of the singer-songwriter]( Rolling Stone senior writer Andy Greene said that he was urged by the singer’s team to be “sensitive” when it comes to “religion and past controversies.” At that time, the Rushdie controversy remained a sore subject; Islam told Rolling Stone he never supported the fatwa. Greene described Islam as clearly irritated at the question. “It’s 25 years ago. I’ve got gray hair now. Come on,” Islam told the music journalist. “I was fool enough to try and be honest and tell people my position. As far as I’m concerned, this shouldn’t be the subject of my life.” I do kind of wonder what he would say now, in 2020. — Amaris Castillo 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 record breaker [Guinness World Records book ]( NPR PLANET MONEY [The Surprising Business Model Behind Guinness World Records]( Planet Money last week released [a quirky and very entertaining “short” video]( detailing how one of its interns broke a world record with the help of the Georgian government (not the Peach State, but the former Soviet Republic). And because it’s not Planet Money without talking about, well, money, the team also dove into the origin of the Guinness Book of World Records and how time has changed its business model from selling books to selling publicity. It’s a lot to follow, but the team weaves together these two stories through great editing, narration by host/reporter Sarah Gonzalez, and actors. Alex Goldmark, senior supervising producer of Planet Money and The Indicator from Planet Money, told me in an email that the usual process is to ask for volunteers from NPR staff to act in these videos. Gonzalez said in an email that the video was based on [this 2017 episode]( hosted by Stacey Vanek Smith of The Indicator from Planet Money. In that episode, Smith talks to the intern, Eduard Saakashvili. When he came across a video of a British YouTuber who held a record for the fastest typing of the alphabet on an iPad, Saakashvili thought maybe he could beat him. I don’t want to spoil the fun for you, but I promise Planet Money connects all the dots in what makes for a fun and informative story. Goldmark said the goal of this short was the same as all of their stories: “to inform, engage while we also entertain.” — Amaris Castillo One million views. 33 minutes. Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, hey Courtesy of the artist NPR MUSIC [BTS: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert]( The BTS Army proved its strength, by smashing Tiny Desk viewership records last week. NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert posted a [video]( of the band performing in a record store in Seoul, South Korea. More than 1 million fans watched the video in the first 33 minutes after it was posted, according to a [tweet]( from Otis Hart, NPR Music’s senior manager for digital development. The YouTube video then [surpassed]( the 2 million mark in its second hour online. Pop artist [Billie Eilish]( previously held the record for most Tiny Desk Concert views in the first hour, with 789,000, an NPR spokesperson [told]( Washingtonian magazine. BTS reached that goal in the first 15 minutes after their show was posted. It’s bittersweet to see these concerts without the great equalizer of the Tiny Desk, because of the pandemic. BTS sent in fully produced music videos. Eilish cleverly performed in front of a two-dimensional printout of the Tiny Desk. But others like [Haim]( have embraced the at-home spirit. Tiny Desk is the corner of NPR that reaches the most diverse and youngest audience, aka the future. BTS was one of nearly 100 music artists to appear on the home version of Tiny Desk. So it’s great to see this department thriving in the pandemic. It’s a valuable way to introduce NPR to new audiences. It was refreshing to see in the middle of public radio's financial struggles brought on by the pandemic, the BTS Army [started donating]( to NPR and member stations and sharing screenshots of their donations to encourage more fans to participate. Gabe Rosenberg, the digital news editor for Columbus, Ohio, NPR affiliate WOSU, kicked off the donations with a [tweet]( calling out the BTS Army. “One Tiny Desk concert can’t really reverse the effects of a pandemic on a local newsroom’s budget, but it does something to make you a little optimistic about why you’re doing what you’re doing,” he [told]( the Washingtonian. — Meredith Roaten Behind the Scenes This is how the news gets made. We want your ideas for how we can do it better. Longform storytelling from around the world By Meredith Roaten The new season of Rough Translation explores stories about people who are fighting the status quo. The first episode of “School of Scandal” aired last week and producer Jess Jiang said its international stories hit close to home. Since Jiang and the Rough Translation team went remote in mid-March, they are leaning on NPR’s international reporters to bring timely news to its programming. At the same time, the podcast’s singular voice and narrative structure create a refuge from overwhelming daily updates. Long-form stories can be the antidote to the bad-news burnout that plagues listeners, and Rough Translation is no exception, Jiang said. New episodes for the season drop every other Wednesday. Here’s how Jiang works from her home in New York City. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.) What is a day in the life of a podcast producer like? The typical day can vary depending on the project that I'm working on. It could be anywhere from doing research so I can understand a topic. It’ll be a lot of reading and listening and looking for archival tape. I could be pre-interviewing people, which is where you call someone up to narrow down the story. You're trying to find a voice who can really tell a story that illustrates the topic. I could also be prepping for the actual interview and making sure we have the questions and the moments that we think might be key to a story. That's the thing that people don't realize, especially for a podcast, is how much thought is put in before we even record anything. The moments don’t just happen to be delightful. We've really thought about a lot of the pieces to make sure everything is as poignant or as sharp as they can be. Many podcast teams have told us that they made a transition to a different kind of coverage after the pandemic began. What about Rough Translation? We definitely made a transition at the beginning of the pandemic and certainly after George Floyd’s death so that we could be a little bit more on the news. It really helped that we are in more direct conversations with the international desk. The correspondents have been great about piping up when there's something on their beat that they think would work for Rough Translation. We've incorporated these roundtable episodes [Editor’s note: I enjoyed [this one]( on shaming tactics in the name of public health] where we take a moment that's happening around the world and hear from a few different correspondents. Each place the correspondent covers reveals a new facet of the same moment. That has been a real joy to see how we can collaborate with an international team and really showcase the reporting. What has changed the most from working from home? To be honest, because we were in the New York bureau in many ways, we were already kind of remote compared to what it meant to be at headquarters. In many ways my day-to-day is very similar. I don't have a commute anymore. But the processes that I'm doing are mostly the same. Which episode of Rough Translation during remote work are you most proud of? I didn’t work on this episode, but I’m proud of the show for making [our George Floyd episode](. It was a different format for us. Often we have such a strong narrative structure, but for this one we let the story and the voices flow in a way that we don't normally do, but felt really powerful to let people speak. What should listeners know about the upcoming season of the podcast? It is very much a take on what's happening, this moment that we feel so strongly in the US, but also our different versions of it happening elsewhere in the world. A lot of these stories came during actually this year and during the pandemic. If you want something that's adjacent to news, still newsy but not exactly the same stories that you're hearing everywhere else, this season does that. And we hope to give comfort and joy and delight, which is a hard thing especially now. How do you separate being at work from being at home and de-stress? I have a friend who has worked from home for a long time. She suggested having something that you break that changes things from one direction to the other. I drink a lot of tea so I have a green tea that I'll drink before work to create a kind of taste memory. Then on the other side is a non-caffeinated tea that I'll drink after work or a lemonade or something that has a strong flavor and your mind can accept that you're done. Why should listeners pick up Rough Translation during a time when we are being inundated with bad news? I myself have felt the news burnout, and for me, podcasts are exactly the answer to that. You want to be carried away by a story. You want to have all the feels. In many ways, podcasts are the thing that keep me sane. 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, National Public Radio [Kelly McBride, Public Editor]( Kelly McBride, Public Editor [Amaris Castillo, Poynter Institute]( 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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