A failure to mention a racial disparity in cancer rates

Is a failure to serve the Black community [View this email online]( [NPR Public Editor by Poynter's Kelly McBride]( Readers detected subtle signals in two different health stories this week — one because a word was added, and one because a fact was left out. First, about that missing fact. Colorectal cancer is one of the more common and more preventable cancers. It’s significantly more prevalent in Black Americans (by 20%). And once diagnosed, Black patients are 40% more likely to die. When a story about a government task force’s recommendation to lower the standard age for colonoscopies to 45 failed to mention the increased risk of the disease for Black people, one reader felt betrayed by the missed opportunity. Colon cancer is a fairly common disease. The disparities between Black and white patients are well-documented. (NPR and its member stations have done [many]( [past]( [stories]( And NPR’s own strategy declares that public radio must do a better job of serving Black and Hispanic communities. Given all that, it was an oversight to not include information on the higher incidence of colorectal cancer in the Black community in this story. It seems unlikely NPR would have left this fact out, had the story been bigger and required more resources. But it’s a reminder that audience members are constantly picking up signals about whether public radio is created for them. Read on to see our analysis of the second critique of an NPR health story, this one from a reader who objected to a headline writer’s decision to characterize embryonic research as “controversial.” Then finally, we helped an NPR listener track down a current list of all of NPR’s sponsors. It’s all there on the internet, but digging it up took a minute. [This microscope image from the National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research shows human colon cancer cells with the nuclei stained red. Americans should start getting screened for colon cancer at age 45, according to new guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.]( This microscope image from the National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research shows human colon cancer cells with the nuclei stained red. AP 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](. This story missed an important fact Chandler Christian writes: I am very disappointed [in this recent article]( on colorectal cancer screening by Rob Stein. It's 2021 and it is well known that CRC impacts African Americans at a much higher rate and earlier than other races and this was not mentioned at all. In 2020 the Black community lost Chadwick Boseman, a major talent, to [colon cancer] at the age of 43 after being diagnosed [in 2016]. An actor that NPR had several articles about around the time of his passing. Imagine how many Black people may look at this and not know that they are at higher risk? You’re right, Black Americans are greatly impacted by colorectal cancer. It would have been more complete and helpful to a broader audience, had that fact been included. According to the [American Cancer Society]( Black adults are about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups. At 300 words, this story about experts’ recommendations for screenings is a news brief. In an email, Joe Neel, NPR’s deputy senior supervising editor on the Science Desk, described the piece as a short news post on one group’s embrace of an approach to screening for a disease that affects people of all races, ethnicities and identities. “It was news of general interest to all our audience — colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the U.S. according to the CDC,” Neel wrote. “If it were a longer feature, or if the news was specifically about Black Americans and health disparities, then it would have been relevant to note Black Americans’ higher incidence.” Fair enough. However, NPR has stated that its key strategic priority over the next three years is to diversify its audience and expand it, “with an emphasis on Black and Hispanic audiences on all platforms.” Part of that, [the strategic plan]( states, is to “produce content that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism.” Not including an angle on a health story that specifically acknowledges a disparity in both incidence and outcome does not fulfill that strategy. Adding a single line about the disproportionate impact colorectal cancer has on Black patients would have served NPR’s entire audience more effectively. — Amaris Castillo and Kelly McBride Do you have to say ‘controversial’? Gregg Eaton writes: When I read [your story headline, “Controversial New Guidelines Would Allow Experiments On More Mature Human Embryos,”]( it just validated my opinions of the unAmerican press and their reckless & desperate willingness to throw American unity under the bus to sell news. Without having to read this story the headline boldly takes a moral position, “Controversial…would allow…more: This is horrible, what are we going to do about this?” It’s doubtful there will ever be a time in the foreseeable future when experimenting with human embryos will not be controversial, so the headline is accurate. It’s been long established that doing research on embryos beyond two weeks of development is prohibited. In the segment you reference, Science Desk Correspondent Rob Stein reports that there’s been a general consensus that keeping human embryos alive after that opens a “Pandora’s box of ethical and moral issues.” So introducing new guidelines that would scrap that standard is bound to bring strong and fervent disagreement — i.e., controversy. Stein did not write the headline, Joe Neel, NPR’s deputy senior supervising editor on the Science Desk, told me in an email. “But I would stand by the use of ‘controversy’ because that is what the story was about — the guidelines are very controversial in the world of science and elsewhere.” In this case, choosing to describe something as controversial in a headline is not meant to take any moral position. It’s acknowledging that this proposed change is widely seen to be controversial. Headlines — the good ones — are meant to communicate what the story is about. This one plainly did so. — Amaris Castillo Show me the (corporate) money Jacqui Shine writes: I would like to know more about how NPR corporate funding works. I’m only aware of some companies that sponsor NPR when they are mentioned in conflict-of-interest disclosures in news stories. NPR takes money from Facebook, Microsoft, Google, and a number of other major companies that aren’t regularly disclosed otherwise. Why not? It’s not that I’m concerned about fair reporting, but I do wonder, overall, about the ethics of accepting money from companies that are, according to NPR’s reporting, damaging democracy (like Facebook). Why aren’t these connections more public? NPR is quite serious about its obligation to be transparent regarding its finances. NPR publicly breaks down annual revenue and publishes an [annual report]( online, including [a financial statement]( and [a list of corporate sponsors](. On top of that, [NPR]( and the [NPR Foundation]( both make their IRS 990 forms available. On the ethics of accepting money, NPR says on its [Public Radio Finances]( page that it “has no list of sources from which funding will be refused. However, potential conflict of interest or similar concerns are considered in accepting or rejecting support from particular entities.” Here are [guidelines]( for NPR sponsor messages. NPR also makes it clear on this page that corporate sponsors cannot influence coverage, journalists have no role in selecting corporate sponsors, and “when news warrants, we will report on the activities of companies that support NPR.” The section on independence in the code of ethics [reads]( “NPR journalists interact with funders only to further our editorial goals, not to serve the agendas of those who support us.” Managing Editor for Enterprise and Planning Gerry Holmes explained how the disclosure process works on news stories: If the company or individual who supports NPR is the main focus of any news story on any platform, the relationship will be disclosed. If they aren’t the main focus, the need for disclosure will be reviewed based on what is being said in the story. You asked why these sponsor connections weren’t more public. They are public, but this information that NPR puts out occasionally must compete against all the news that NPR puts out every day. NPR organizes these reports on the Public Radio Finances page. That page shows up first on Google if you search for “NPR finances.” At the bottom of every page on the NPR site, you’ll find an about section with a link to the finances as well. That said, it’s our job to know where all these things are, and we had to work to find them. — Kayla Randall 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. Merry Clayton’s voice [Merry Clayton performs a Tiny Desk (Home) Concert]( Credit: Courtesy of artist NPR MUSIC [Merry Clayton: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert]( Hearing Merry Clayton sing for a [recent Tiny Desk (Home) Concert]( was special. The powerhouse vocalist has an unforgettable sound — [her voice]( on The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” still stuns listeners to this day. She’s got her own catalog of music beyond being a backing vocalist, and she performed a few tracks from Beautiful Scars, her first new album in years, for this warm home concert. — Kayla Randall A rising star The Fresh Air [interview with Anthony Ramos]( lead actor in the new movie In The Heights, provided both insight and joy. The musical was adapted from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning Broadway musical of the same name. In the wide-ranging interview with host Terry Gross, Ramos (who also starred in Hamilton) talked openly about his childhood struggles, of being raised by his single mother in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and navigating his way through the world of musical theatre. Side note: The movie [received criticism]( for failing to cast dark-skinned Afro-Latino actors in lead roles. — Amaris Castillo Pulitzer kudos [No Compromise logo]( NPR INVESTIGATIVE SERIES [It's A First! NPR And Member Stations KCUR And WABE Win A Pulitzer Prize]( NPR won its very first Pulitzer Prize last week for the limited series podcast [No Compromise]( a deep dive into gun rights advocates who want to abolish all gun laws and think the NRA is too liberal. Created in partnership with WABE in Atlanta and KCUR in Kansas City, the audio investigation debuted last September, and foreshadowed the Jan. 6 insurrection. This was only the second year the Pulitzer board awarded a prize in audio reporting. Given NPR’s dominance in the new category, it’s maybe no surprise to see public radio winning this prize — but it’s quite an honor, nonetheless. Also, still a darn good listen, if you missed it last year. — Kelly McBride The Office of the Public Editor is a team. Researchers Amaris Castillo and Kayla Randall 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]( Kelly McBride, Public Editor Kayla Randall, 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. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]