Does Raw Video of NPR Expose Reveal Questionable Editing & Tactics?
- Posted on March 10, 2011 at 2:54pm by
Scott Baker
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On Wednesday, The Blaze posted a lengthy report looking at the ethics of undercover journalism. The comments on the post show a lively debate and wide-ranging views on what is considered ethical and acceptable in pursuit of a scoop.
Plenty of readers felt the new NPR exposé justified any ethical misgivings involved in producing it. Others felt that those seeking truths should hold to higher standards.
When undercover video like the NPR story first surfaces, we often look to see if there is raw video of the material used to produce the report as a basis for evaluating the accuracy of the representations made.
And we decided to do that in this case.
The Blaze’s Pam Key, who produces most of our original videos, is experienced in reviewing hours and hours of raw audio/video to find key sections that can then be used in proper context. Her review of the NPR exposé identifies a number of areas to examine.
Do these areas reveal problematic editing choices? Are assertions made in the video misleading? Are the tactics used by the video producers unethical?
Clearly the NPR executives, particularly Ron Schiller, show poor and, at times, despicable judgment. Do any of the revelations from the raw video ameliorate that? Do their wrongdoing justify any wrongdoing by the video producers?
These are sometimes difficult matters to consider, especially for those who are pleased with the outcomes produced by the release of video reports like this; however, the ethical implications can be significant. And as we say around The Blaze watercooler…the truth has no agenda. Perspective and context are essential elements in bringing truth to the forefront. To exclude or alter them can obscure truths rather than reveal them.
We’ll allow you to watch sections of the edited video that has been widely distributed…and then to compare those sections with the raw video that has been laudably released by the video producers.
1. Muslim Brotherhood connections
Much of the consternation over this video centers on the question of why would NPR executives meet with a group connected to Muslim Brotherhood. Did they know? And if Muslim Brotherhood is mentioned, how are the ties characterized? Is the edited video misleading on these points?
In this first section, the narration describes the players and says the NPR executives were preparing to meet with the members of “Muslim Education Action Center.” The narrator then describes the MEAC as a “Muslim Brotherhood front group.” It does not explain how the NPR executives would have a basis to believe they were meeting with a Muslim Brotherhood front group.
The raw video helps us evaluate how the NPR execs might perceive the men. The men describe themselves as board members but indicate that they are at lower levels in the organization…one of them explaining that he is relatively new to the board…the other saying he works in mostly an “observation basis.” You will see that in this clip.
Further, we compare the edited video with the raw video on the important section of how the actors describe the role/connection of the Muslim Brotherhood to their efforts. The edited video includes a reference to some of the original founders of MEAC being members of the Muslim Brotherhood in America. Is this the only reference and basis for the NPR execs to consider MEAC to have a Muslim Brotherhood connection? The raw video also includes a longer section of description that seems to downplay connections of the MEAC group to the Muslim Brotherhood as popularly perceived.
2. Does Ron Schiller react to “Sharia” mission statement with amusement?
The narrator notes that the MEAC website includes this phrase: “We must combat intolerance to spread acceptance of Sharia across the world.”
Sharia is defined as “the sacred law of Islam.” But the interpretation of that definition has many variations across many Islamic traditions. That alone would not be a firm clue for the NPR executives of the group’s beliefs.
Of greater concern, though, is how the video is edited at this juncture.
So after saying that the MEAC website advocates the “acceptance of Sharia,” the video cuts to the NPR exec saying, “Really? That’s what they said?” The cadence is jovial and upbeat and the narration moves on. The implication is that the NPR exec is aware and perhaps amused or approving of the MEAC mission statement. But when you look at the raw video you realize he was actually recounting an unrelated and innocuous issue about confusion over names in the restaurant reservation.
3. How does Schiller describe Republicans?
Schiller’s negative comments about Republicans and conservatives have gotten a great deal of attention.
He clearly says some offensive things, while being very direct that he is giving his own opinion and not that of NPR. Still — a wildly stupid move!
But you may be surprised to learn, that in the raw video, Schiller also speaks positively about the GOP. He expresses pride in his own Republican heritage and his belief in fiscal conservatism.
4. The “seriously racist” Tea Party
NPR exec Ron Schiller does describe Tea Party members as “xenophobic…seriously racist people.”
This is one of the reasons why he no longer has a job!
But the clip in the edited video implies Schiller is giving simply his own analysis of the Tea Party. He does do that in part, but the raw video reveals that he is largely recounting the views expressed to him by two top Republicans, one a former ambassador, who admitted to him that they voted for Obama.
At the end, he signals his agreement. The larger context does not excuse his comments, or his judgment in sharing the account, but would a full context edit have been more fair? See what you think:
5. Are liberals more educated than conservatives?
You may also have seen a section of the video where Schiller describes liberals as more educated than conservatives. But the raw video shows a section where Schiller is hesitant to criticize the education of conservatives and the other executive, Betsy Liley, is outspoken in her defense of the intellects of Fox News viewers.
Would it have been fair to include the broader range of the executives statements? The impression of the original video, that the execs were only hostile toward Republicans and conservatives, is incorrect.
6. Does NPR need federal funding?
Let’s look now at one of the other sections most featured in news reports about the original video — the comments about federal funding for NPR.
Schiller says that NPR, “in the long run,” would be better off without federal funding and that most of the stations would survive a loss of such funding. The implication is that Schiller does not believe federal funding for NPR is important. In the raw video, however, Schiller explains the risk to local stations in more detail and why NPR is doing “everything we can to advocate for federal funding.”
7. Audio issue number one
In the release of the raw video, there are two sections where the audio becomes an issue.
In this first clip the video (complete with “timecode” stamp) continues to play while the audio goes into some kind of glitchy loop.
This could be an actual glitch, though not one I’ve seen like this in 25 years of working with video editing.
It could also be a “glitch” edited into a loop to cover a section of the recording on purpose.
In any case here it is:
8. Audio issue number two
The video producers “redacted” a 1:24 section of the audio. They explain that this is for the “safety of a reporter illegally in foreign country.”
The implication from the editing is that Betsy Liley is describing the activities of the reporter in question:
The Blaze contacted NPR to see if Liley recalls the nature of her comments here, but thus far they have been unable to accommodate our inquiry.
Conclusion:
Anyone looking at the edited version of the Project Veritas video would be concerned about the conduct and views expressed by the NPR representatives. But should we also be concerned about the deceptive nature of some of the video’s representations? Some will say no — the end justifies any means, even if unethical. Others may be bothered by these tactics and view similar projects with a greater degree of skepticism.
In our posting yesterday on the ethics of undercover journalism, we found a range of views. One interesting view is held by Fred Barnes of The Weekly Standard. Barnes believes it is always wrong for a journalist to lie: “It‘s dishonest for anyone in journalism to pretend to be someone they’re not.”
But Barnes also believes this applies only to journalists. “This rule doesn’t apply to folks outside the profession,” he told The Blaze. Barnes views the O’Keefe production as a “political hit job and a quite clever and successful one at that.”
Barnes may not realize that O’Keefe describes his work as “investigative journalism,” and thus by Barnes definition — unethical.
And that is only on the issue of going undercover. But even if you are of the opinion, as I am, that undercover reporting is acceptable and ethical in very defined situations, it is another thing to approve of editing tactics that seem designed to intentionally lie or mislead about the material being presented.
For a further discussion of this post, see my analysis on Thursday’s edition of The B-Cast:
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Comments (219)
mikenleeds
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:36pmi thought it was very fair plus we all know the so-called professional talking heads all have there own bias and this is the only way you ll ever get the real truth
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:23pmLets look at the resume of the Film Producer. O’Keefe & friends sat in jail, went to trial, were found guilty by real judges; were put on probation and have paid fines & done community service for illegal setups. In 2010, O‘Keefe’s associates reported “thwarting sex pranks” that would border on kidnapping and assault.
Report Post »dirtytricksjusttowin
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 7:07pmLets look at the resume of the journalist working for CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and New York Times.
Kiss Obama’s behind,
Kiss Obama’s behind,
Kiss Obama’s behind,
Kiss Obama’s behind,
I guess they are better than O’Keefe and Co.?
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 3:08pmdirtytricksjusttowin
Report Post »- You are just being silly! Hee hee
FosterDulles
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 4:34pmMikenleeds – that’s incredibly fuzzy logic. If I had it in my mind that the folks who publish dictionaries are dangerous perverts hoping to corrupt the minds of the young, and to prove it I went to a dictionary and deleted all the words except “penis,” that wouldn‘t mean that I’d proved the folks over at Merriam Webster are perverts. It means that I’ve altered the record in order to make a point which I had already predetermined. This doesn’t get me closer to “the truth” – in fact, it puts me much farther away.
There are such things are relevant contexts. I think it‘s well documented above that O’Keefe was purposefully falsifying the record to slander NPR and its executives. The unedited version of the video (by its *un*edited nature) gives you an approximation of “the truth.” A maliciously edited one obtained under false pretenses only provides you with whatever distortion you happen to believe at the moment. Further it erodes any credibility you may hope to maintain when making your argument and provides anyone else you’re talking to with the sense that your efforts are completely lacking in any sort of ethical compass and are not to be trusted, thus weakening your position in the long run.
Report Post »OK, now what?
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:36pmAnd here we see the real difference between reporting and activism. A true journalist would be about the truth, plain and simple. an activist is looking for the “sound byte,” a small piece of audio, taken totally out of context, to spin things the way they want them.
I‘m joining snowleopard’s round of applause and hats off to the blaze for showing the not-so agenda driven story.
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:34pmNice job, I am not interested in scandal for the sake of scandal…the truth will do just fine.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:31pmExcellent analysis here, to keep our side clean as possible.
We live in a world of sound bites–that’s the nature of the beast. But the full story should be as easily available. I tend to somewhat favor undercover journalism, but I don’t take a hands-off attitude toward it. I won’t even presume rules that might be applied, if any.
Liberals, like at MSNBC, use ‘creative editing’ to push their point. And that’s where they leave it; we know how often they do that. I hope our side never goes that route. I want access to the full version of what is used as evidence, as easily as I can get the ‘released’ report.
Now I have to wonder if O’Keefe is the kind of person worth any credence. Time will tell but, in my mind for right now, I cast at him with a suspicious eye.
Report Post »roxee
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:29pmNo more Public $$$ for NPR,that simple!!
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:37pmI agree. They are too big and too established to need public support.
Report Post »soc.lib.fisc.cons
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 4:44pmFine. Funding for NPR has been cut. That’s done with.
Now, can we do something that will affect more than 0.00001% of the federal budget?
Let’s cut government support for all religious groups (in the form of tax exemptions), since I don’t believe in any particular religion, and apparently we’re cutting funding for anything that either side opposes by a large majority. If a church is going to stay “in business”, let it be funded by those that reap it’s benefits; namely, the churchgoers.
Let us cut government subsidies for excessive consumption. Home mortgage interest comes to mind. There is no reason to subsidize the mansions of those who choose to buy large houses. If we want to provide a benefit for “the masses” in this regard, cap the deduction at a home value of $250,000. Any interest on a loan larger than that size is a luxury item, plain and simple, and government support in the form of the tax break only serves to line the pockets of those who are already well into the upper-class range, and of financial services firms who can charge more interest on loans since people don’t have to pay for the interest anyways.
Third, let us close loopholes that allow companies to not pay tax. If a company earns a profit, it should pay tax. If it doesn’t earn profit, it shouldn’t pay tax. I think that’s a pretty reasonable stance. If you earn money, which is in part due to the infrastructure and education which your taxes go to support, then you should pay some portion of your income in taxes. That‘s why they’re there in the first place.
Those would be my first choices, anyways. There’s probably a lot more that needs to be done. Tax benefits received in lieu of salary (i.e. FSA, health care, 401(k) match) at fair market value. Just because there’s no cash exchanging hands, doesn‘t mean that it’s not pay.
After we’ve gone through picking at the low-hanging fruit… raise taxes until all our expenses are covered. When we’re all paying out the … rear … for everything, maybe we’d be more willing to cut funding for things. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to balance the budget going into the future. That way we limit our interest expense at about $200MMM ($200 billion) per year.
If things keep going the way they are, interest will begin to make up an overwhelming amount of our annual budget, and we won’t be able to get out of the hole. Partisan politics really piss me off because we don’t actually get anywhere. Both sides are “willing to cut” things that the other side cares about. Let’s stop the bickering, and look at the whole budget, from most expensive thing to least expensive thing, and see what we want to cut.
Deceptive journalism, as exposed in this article, helps no one. Whether done by the right, or the left. I would rather gouge out my eyes than be forced to watch Fox or MSNBC for the rest of my life.
Sorry for the rant.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:23pmThere is a big difference in where after you say we are connected with the muslim brotherhood, not playing the part where you downplay it to stay in the game, than what the democrats do all the time where they take a tape of someone saying I’m not a member of the muslim brotherhood, never have been never will be, editing out the not, changing never to always.
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:21pmHey! If our intelligent services would do there jobs regular folks could stay out of the business of finding the truth behind all the corruption in this country. I still want to know who the hell is Obama and why are Marxist Czars in the white house, NPR corrupt people are small fish compared to Obama and the CLAN!!!!
Nevermind
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:20pmJust another reason not to trust anything Okeefe or Briebart put out . The Acorn video was heavily edited and so is this, nevermind the crap Briebart pulled on Sherrod. Funny how you say this is what the “lefties do” when the right are the ones pulling this one over and over and you all fall for it every time. When have the lefties doen this? Please provide a link to the video. If noone can it just shows that it is the right doing this over and over.
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:18pmA journalist’s reputation is everything. Based on their antics, O’Keefe & friends sat in jail, went to trial and were found guilty by real Louisiana judges; were put on probation and have paid fines & done community service.
Report Post »TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:21pmHow about dan rather and made up documents slandering a sitting president.
Report Post »It isn’t as if the “real and credible” journalists are worth a damn either.
TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:32pmHaving said that, this is a disgusting hatchet job. I guess O’keefe aint a good guy after all.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:20pmseriously, half of you guys applaud this piece, as you should… and the other half, skipped it to jump to comments, and say something stupid. if you aren’t going to bother reading it, and just shoot off your mouth, whats the point. go yell at the wall or something.
Report Post »bagman52
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:18pmGee, this is a nice long story but since I’m just an ignorant, dishonest Blaze reader, I really don’t understand what it says, but it does have lots of pretty pictures. Wait a minute, I hear a sheep calling me.
Report Post »truthncharity
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:16pmTrust is a commodity in short supply, and one that cannot be easily gained back once lost.
Anyone calling themselves a journalist, of any sort, needs to adhere to ethical standards. When a report, audio or video, is edited in such a way to give a false impression or to skew the facts for a “gotcha” moment, it is no longer ethical or journalism.
Project Veritas just made a mess in their own hats.
Thank you to the journalists at The Blaze for proving yet again…the truth has no agenda. Well done!
Report Post »moriarty70
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:01pm@truthncharity
That’s the best way to put it.
Much respect goes to The Blaze for not just jumping on the bandwagon.
Report Post »RvrRat
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:15pmThe videos would have accomplished the goal of exposing NPR execs without the questionable editing. This only opens the door for lefties to try to invalidate what actually happened. I’m afraid the mainstream media will spin this to discredit what truly transpired.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:13pmVery good reporting, especially after I just ripped the Blaze a new one for their post on radio morons insulting the Blaze.
This is very disturbing. Such editing tricks should never be used. They amount to lies, the kind CBS defended when they said the National Gaurd memos were “fake but accurate”.
I have np problem with jouranlists lying in order to expose the truth. But that is premised upon the idea that what they will then present is truthful. Lying in order to present lies is doubly immoral.
Report Post »proudpatriot77
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:13pmInteresting point of view. I am not a fan of editing videos in a way to make someone look bad. That is the lefties’s business. If you cant convince people by just using the truth, it‘s probably because it isn’t true. I still think the video showed the disdain elitist’s have for the tea party American.
Report Post »DriveByBlogger
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:17pmI agree with you ProudPatriot77.
Report Post »I‘d like to see Glenn Beck interview James O’Keefe sometime.
The Blaze reporter did a great analysis of the finished vs. raw video. If only industrious reporters would do the same for the crap “news” the Left spews…
Magus
Posted on March 12, 2011 at 6:17pm“I am not a fan of editing videos in a way to make someone look bad. That is the lefties’s business.”
All the recent history of this kind of thing has shown that it’s right-wingers who do it.
Report Post »home_of_the_brave
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:11pmC‘mon O’Keefe, I was supporting your work yesterday, but we do not need to resort to such tactics. This is what the liberal media does, not us. The truth has no agenda!
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:33pmWelcome to James O‘Keefe’s world – since he was 14! A rebel needing a cause. Cronkite once said that he would not have been great, (a household name) had he been seeking fame!
Report Post »wkan
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:10pmI know Beck is a wimp but this is war and the first causality of war is truth. Can for once conservatives just take a victory with out trying to find a defeat in it. Notice NPR didn’t cry until told they should. If you don’t want to win just stay in your fetal position.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:21pmi don’t really see this as a victory for anybody. i think you need to have your head examined.
Report Post »MightyMouth
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 5:50pm@CLIVE Our friend here has got a point. On this one Blaze has snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory. Let’s let the liberals pick apart bone crushing exposes like this while we leave them in the dust licking their wounds.
Report Post »DieHard
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 1:57pm@CLIVE
Report Post »Yeah, the end always justifies the means. Always. It‘s time all conservatives wake up and realize that ethics are a luxury we can’t afford. Only by sacrificing our morals can we preserve our power…you know for the greater good.
JesusChrist
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:09pmHey, this isn’t bad….i don’t agree w/ most views on this page….and sometimes i think this very website takes things out of context (especially the headlines!) That being said….this piece was very well done….and quite fair….Kudos to The Blaze….keep it up
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:18pmJesus Christ you are not.
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:29pmJC, Keep the faith, these guys wouldn’t know Michael Moore if he were walking amongst them (grin)
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:09pmAnother thing…. HE IS A DISGRACE…..
Marylou7
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:08pmI’m sorry but this man is anti-America in my opinion. Why is he meeting with our enemy??
Report Post »brownbat
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 10:53pmMary,
They didn’t think they were meeting with the Muslim brotherhood, and they weren’t.
This is discussed in the article. I recommend you read it.
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:07pmI understand where you are going with this article. But what this guy said about Republicans and Tea Party members is outrageous no matter how you edit it!
Report Post »Clive
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:25pmactually, it does matter how you edit it. when someone says something, you don’t cherry pick all the parts that are bad, and string it into a bad sentence, you listen to the entirety of their sentiments. You can pull bad soundbites out of anything… ask sarah palin about it.
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:07pmHey Blaze, THANKS for doing this – it elevates this issue and helps explain the value of evidence and the difficulty of maintaining evidence. I have lots of respect for you – this is more like news than fake expose and you earned it the old fashioned way!
Report Post »shimauma42
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:07pm“to catch a predator” uses this sort of tactic to catch pedophiles all the time. I have no problem with a journalist claiming to be something they’re not if they are going to expose a criminal. NPR is stealing taxpayer money, seeing as I am a taxpayer and never willingly donated to them. They are criminals and if we can prove that, they should be prosecuted.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:19pmalso, you didn’t read the piece. its not about pretending to be someone their not. its about cutting up the tape, to make it sound like people are saying something they aren’t.
Report Post »MightyMouth
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 5:19pm@CLIVE I did read the whole piece and this is no worse than what happens every day with the MSM.
Report Post »Or in any given liberal political ad, movie, speech, bill, debate….
godlovinmom
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:05pmhe says that NPR doesn’t need public funding…lets take him at his word…when you uncover the truth…whats the problem?
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:11pmI agree they should not receive public funding – they outlived the “three-channel” broadcasting era and most farming communities have satellite now. Based on the very high quality programming they produce, they will be fine.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:18pmi don’t think you read this whole piece.
Report Post »HippoNips
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:23pmClive, I don’t think you have.
Report Post »He says they don’t need Federal funding and would be better offf in the long run without it. . He says they advocate for it anyway. Including both does not change the meaning of either
godlovinmom
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 7:23pmI did read the WHOLE piece and thats basically what I got out of it…I personally do not want to fund this stuff…however we find out about it…the truth really can’t be pieced together..all public broadcasting is becoming this…a propaganda machine for bloated government…you hear it on NPR…you see it on PBS…etc…
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:01pmI agree that undercover reporting is acceptable, but when it is edited to give a different message, it ceases to be reporting. It becomes tainted journalism.
Report Post »home_of_the_brave
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:13pmAbsolutely, this is what the liberal/progressive media does, not us, we should be better than this.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:17pmtotally agree… its one thing to pretend you are something you are not, to get someone to say something. but when you do that… and then to take the video and edit it to appear different… at some point, the whole thing becomes… fiction. this piece is one of the best i’ve seen on the blaze, really well written, great ideas too.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:23pm@Showtime
It becomes more than tainted journalism, it becomes propaganda used in the most vile of means to distort and twist what is said for someones agenda. Tainted journalism is where professional reporter will deliberately sell out their ethics for a cause or ideology that they wish to have advanced to the detremite of all other things, they become mercenaries, and thus worthless and untrustable.
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:04pmStings are useful, but there are easier clearer ways to gather evidence. You can go to law enforcement and get an audit warrant. If the widespread illegality is so true, why not put out an ad in Craigslist and take reimbursed depositions from the 2, 12, 120, or 1,200 witnesses who must be using Planned Parenthood illegally? Why bother preparing edited recordings and risking FBI charges? Why not just turn over the whole recording? Why release it without asking the other side to explain.
Report Post »Chrono_Sleuth
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:16pmRight, it’s one thing to lie about yourself to get the truth, it is quite another to distort what someone else says to force a perspective. I don‘t think O’Keefe realizes the impact of this, and I pray he does, as it only hurts our own causes, his cause, and it damages reputations unfairly, even if one part was presented honestly. Just reminds me too much of the progressive media machine.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 9:04amUnless a media outlet will air the entire piece which is about 1/2 hour long they have to edit to just the incriminating parts to get air.
Report Post »But reguardless of this story or any story about NPR we’re broke the country is 14,233,000,000,000 in debt. NPR,PBS,and all media outlets that get government funding need to be cut along with a whole list of other wasteful spending.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:01pmKudo’s and hats off to the Blaze and their true journalists; they have a definite code of conduct and have demonstrated here objectively shows where there may be content of questionable and contradictory nature; ethics and integrity in journalism, in finding out the truth while conducting one’s own actions by a high standard is honorable and commendable.
In the case of these NPR videos and the ones who have gotten them, they are not professional journalists, yet also let the people of the world make up their own minds.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:11pmThere is no excuse for meeting with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ellie
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:25pmI’d also like to thank the true journalists (an endangered species) at the Blaze for breaking this down and exposing the editing bias of Project Veritas. This editing bias is one reason that Shepard Smith does not trust them and is reluctant to report on their videos.
That being said no one would have been able to verify anything if PV had not released the raw video.
So how many Emmy Winning Undercover “hit jobs” of the ‘70’s,‘80’s, and ‘90’s produced for 20/20 and the like were equally or even more biased in their editing?
The world my never know since NONE of these mainstream media “hit jobs” ever released the raw video.
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:27pm(See the on-line article Written by By Tim Kenneally & Daniel Frankel) James O’Keefe, with his little pals, was recently convicted in a court, is on probation, and was fined/made to do public service for illegally punking a sitting Louisiana Senator. “The man who slew ACORN and on Wednesday toppled the CEO of NPR, is some new kind of journalist – Johnny Knoxville meets Glenn Beck in Michael Cera’s body. His critics call him a sneaky little punk who cheats context to destroy careers and lives.”
Report Post »ClassicalLiberal
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:28pmWell done for your intellectually honest work in doing this piece.
Still cut funding for them of course.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:31pmMarylou. Yes there was. 5 millon reasons. They would support the devil if he donated to NPR.
Dale
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:34pmMary;
They (NPR) may not have known they were meeting with MB. It was made clear during the meeting.
Report Post »TheLascone
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:36pmI agree Marylou …..
Report Post »http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630227@N06/5512811623/in/photostream/
Timmtamm
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:39pmThanks to the blaze for coming out with this in depth analysis of the NPR videos. I appreaciate the fair look. It really takes him from looking like satan incarnate (really quite unfair), to just simply a person, one with some really bad judgement and opinions, but a person none the less.
Report Post »kwatch
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:43pmwell why doesn‘t Beck invite O’ Keefe on his show and ask to explain?
Report Post »SLAPTHELEFT
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:45pmhahahahahahahahaha! You idiot libs get tricked every time. You have so much hate and envy that it just comes spewing out as soon as you think you can impress someone with your intelligence.
Ok- heres a question for all the “enlightened libs”- if you are truly the cream of the crop when it comes to intelligence, why do all of your organizations have to beg for money? Shouldn’t yall be the top of the line capitalists this country has always been known for? Why are your organizations constantly involved in criminal activity? Why do you crawl around on your bellies in the shadows? Do you get to lick the masters hand for scraps if you do a good job?
Frankly, your time is up. You had your shot but you underestimated the will of the American people. Now get the hell out of here and move to a country that is already a communist utopia. there are plenty to choose from. There you will not have to deal with the violent, racist tea party. That will be the least of your worries.
fertlmind
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:48pmWho cares?
Defund CPB and NPR
copper
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:49pmDo I condone deception? NO.
Did the President get into the WH by representing himself and his plans for America correctly, HONESTLY??? Isn’t THAT of much greater importance? Every day we are assaulted by outright LIES from this REGIME and the MEDIA. Is it such a crime to use their own tactics on them?
Anyone who knows that the Muslim Brotherhood is the parent organization should be aware that it would be a covert terrorist operation. To assume less would be stupid. These people at NPR are supposed to represent the cream of society and have the objectivity of government. If one branch of the government is in an armed conflict with Muslim Terrorists and this group has even the smallest possibility of sharing their interests they should NOT have even entertained taking one cent at all.
The left was celebrating the blogger who pretended to be Mr Koch when he spoke to Gov Walker. So what’s the point….James O‘Keefe doesn’t pretend to be holier than thou like MSNBC the Obama Propaganda machine.
Does the CIA or FBI ever use subterfuge? How do they catch arms dealers & drug traffickers? We are in a war for this country’s survival.
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:49pmWhile I still do not agree with NPR receiving any funding from Tax Payers …
Report Post »I also do not agree with deceptive editing “ever” to make ones case..
it‘s either the truth or it isn’t the truth should speak for its self
gbisapl
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:07pmWell done The Blaze. My respect for you has been raised considerably.
Report Post »HippoNips
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:20pmThis article doesn’t expose anything, Their points are uneventful.
Report Post »So the woman said she knows a conservative person….The video is not about her is it? Was she forced to resign? No
So the NPR exec like the former Republican party prior to the tea party, …ya know that Repubican party that loses elections to far left Democrats.
So he says NPR does whatever they can for Federal funding even though he says theyd be better off in the long run without….What’s the issue? Does the former expell the latter? Do they cancel each other out or something?
I’m starting to wonder about the intelligence of Blaze journalist.
Red Meat
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 4:24pmWell, I”m glad to see the Blaze is on the side of the MB and NPR. Is this why Beck is “away for a while?” Is Breitbart getting more hits?
AzDebi
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 6:07pmHats off to the Blaze for releasing this! Everyone can make up their own mind…for me, it does put the Mr. Schiller in a slightly better light. I would also prefer that we always be given the privilege of seeing the uncut, raw videos in this type of “investigative journalism”…
Report Post »monkeymom
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 6:24pm@ redmeat — WRONG – the Blaze is on the side of honesty and intergrity and should be respected for that.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 7:08pmI am glad the blaze posted this.. I do NOT like it when MSM lies by OMISSION I certainly do condone it JUST because it is done by a conservative.. I think no more video’s of under cover operations should be posted IF it has been altered..all video coming from this group should be suspect to inspection..
Now I have another problem.. this NPR rep.. stated that the T.E.A. party people are gun hugging, racists etc.. so his so called REPUBLICAN friends voted for OBAMA.. Well that would be a good trick since according to OBAMA and the rest of the LEFT have said the reason they call the TEA PARTY..RACIST is because they didn’t exist BEFORE Obama was elected.. which is it???
HappyStretchedThin
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:12pmJournalists have a tough job. They need to elicit the truth, and personal beliefs from people not eager to share them or not honest enough to reveal them publicly. Playing a role in a way that elicits the truth is not the same as setting a person up to fall a certain way. O’Keefe walked the line on that, in all fairness, but clearly Schiller thought it was safe to reveal things he believed, and that was the only way his true beliefs could be brought to light. Kudos to Mr. O’Keefe.
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 9:48pmKWATCH
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 3:43pm
well why doesn‘t Beck invite O’ Keefe on his show and ask to explain?
======================================================
At this time I would have to surmise that he hasn’t because he is still on vacation right now. Just a thought, he may still decide not too, but since he is out of town and not filming it is a pretty good reason not to.
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:06pmI’m not seeing the case for things being taken out of context. What was said was said. It’s not as if the person said “I do not agree with the statement ‘Tea Partiers are xenophobic’.“ And the ”I do not agree with the statement” part of the quote was omitted. That would be out of context and wrong, but when someone means what is reported, no matter how much ends up on the cutting room floor, you can’t apologize it away. NPR’s actions for years speak for themselves. I listened back when Juan was fired to NPR for 5 minutes and had to turn it off because of the leftist slant to everything they said. There is no way that anyone could confuse the trash they put out as middle of the road. If this article is implying that, you are deluding yourself. Sorry but I’m not buying this context crap here. Many of his statements were so ignorant and so far from any truth that he should resign. It‘s not the Tea party that’s racist, it’s the left. That‘s a fact and it’s indisputable. It‘s not the Tea Party that’s violent, it’s the left. That‘s a fact and it’s indisputable. We are lucky that the new media is waking a lot of people up to the fact that left is a fraud.
Ruler4You
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 10:42pmTruth is not “relative” to perspective. Truth “IS” its own perspective.
Report Post »Truth
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:12amDefund NPR, the Democratic party and the Republican party. They are all liars and thieves, and shouldn‘t get any taxpayer’s money.
calebgs83
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:24amInstead of dissecting the patriotic work of O’keefe, maybe the blaze should look into the selective editing done by the entire MSM!
restorehope
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:31amThe author of this piece (Baker) is guilty of overzealous dissection of what happened during the video. He was so into parsing it, word by word, that he literally could not see the forest through the trees. The whole point of the video was to uncover wrongdoing and as we all saw, the “proof is in the pudding”. There is no inappropriate way to unmask scandal that affects all Americans in one way or the other.
calebgs83
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 12:34amAs a conservative I find it outrageous that my tax dollars are given to entities dedicated to the destruction of my beliefs…and the Blaze thinks its necessary to come to NPR’s rescue…WTF!
BidBerthaDotCom
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 1:14amAs far as the ethics of journalists going undercover, nobody seems to have a problem with these now famous words “Hi, I’m Chris Hanson with Dateline NBC.” However, if Chris Hanson set up guys to look like they were trying to hook up with children and they really weren’t, that would be another story altogether.
Report Post »shy
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 6:32amI say the truth. the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Let it be long or let it be boring. Just let it be the truth. Because the TRUTH is all that really matters.
Report Post »Magus
Posted on March 12, 2011 at 6:28pmCultureWarriors: You say “It‘s not the Tea party that’s racist, it’s the left. That‘s a fact and it’s indisputable. It‘s not the Tea Party that’s violent, it’s the left. That‘s a fact and it’s indisputable.” The reality is that, no, it IS the Tea Party who are violent and racist. What you dismiss as liberal bias is really just the truth.
Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 12:32pmAwesome journalism. The TRUTH has no bias and no boundaries.
Defund NPR. They have no business using my tax money for any purpose.
Report Post »yugnj
Posted on March 14, 2011 at 5:04pmslaptheleft, that might have something to do with the purpose of these various organizations – helping people less fortunate. What conservative non-profit organizations that help people do you know of that is swimming in money.
If you look at the richest people in the United States, you’ll find a pretty good distribution of liberals and conservatives… with the liberals being concentrated in the “new” money, and conservatives concentrated in old family estates. Take out the Waltons, and Koch brother, and you have a largely democratic/liberal list for the top 15-20.
Liberal organizations are the only ones that have been involved in criminal activity?
I highly recommend opening your eyes and not selectively filtering for your convenience.
Otherwise, when you make uneducated and informed statements, you seem very ignorant.
Report Post »teep
Posted on March 15, 2011 at 8:10amAint it noteworthy how many posters in this thread clearly show they dont have any interest in truth but just want to believe the lies exposed in this article?
Report Post »4stmichael
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:21amWOW, NPR gets a fair shake, something they are completely unfamiliar with.
Report Post »They have been spinning for so long it might be hard for them to comprehend.
They probably won’t know what to do.
jackrorabbit
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 1:19amWhile I commend the capture of the lie, is this not the EXACT tactic used by the left wing media to destroy our very way of life daily? We need to wake up to that fact, and start to use methods that they have been using for years to get their way. The court of public opinion can only digest what it sees, and NPR has done far worse with their snippets and splicing.
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 7:35pmBUT~~not everybody appreciates Scott’s honest assessments. Ironically, the criticism comes from the right: http://leestranahan.com/?p=1118
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