NPR Ombudsman Rips Exec During Online Q&A
- Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:50pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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NPR‘s ombudsman has weighed in on the organization’s recent undercover video debacle. And even she has some harsh criticism for the outlet’s recently departed executives.
In a candid Q&A session Wednesday afternoon hosted by the Washington Post, NPR’s hired self-critic Lisa Shepard tore into both recently-resigned executive Ron Schiller. She did discuss, to a lesser extent, newly-ousted CEO Vivian Schiller (no relation), although most of her ire was directed toward Ron.
Here are some excerpts from the full session (Note: all spelling and grammar errors are Shepard’s).
-On the reason behind Ron’s resignation:
Certainly he wasn’t fired for harboring negative views about conservatives. it was the unprofessional manner that cost him his job. Who blabs to total strangers in public about their personal biases? Who doesn’t vet a prospective donor before meeting. PBS got the same offer and turned it down.
-Regarding whether Schiller’s comments should have been treated as “off the record:”
Because Ron Schiller wasn’t holdling a private conversation. he was meeting in public representing NPR. His personal views should be kept to himself. his job WAS to sell donors on NPR’s commitment to fairness, accuracy, thoroughness, and diversity of voices. he hardly did that.
Look, we all have personal views, but journalists and people at Mr. Schillers’ level need to be professional, and he was anything but.
-Can NPR ever be trusted again?
Senior excecutives at NPR have made some serious mistakes in the last six months. Working inside NPR I can see it’s very disheartening to the reporters, hosts, producers. They are angry that top managment hasn’t handled NPR more carefully. It’s a complicated situation. I’m basically suggesting you separate the executive staff from the editorial staff, many of whm have been here for decades.
-Regarding why Vivian Schiller eventually paid for Ron’s mistake:
Running a large news organization is complicated. I would ask you to read Paul Farhi take on what happened withformer SVP for news Ellen Weiss and Juan Williams. It’s such a complicated story. So much has happened since October. I can hardly absorb it.
Schiller was kept on after Juan becasue the NPR board of directors said they had confidence in her. She has done an amazing job of “rescuing” NPR and bringing it into the digital age. When she arrived two years ago, NPR was in a financial mess. She was instrumental in changing that. she also had a vision about moving NPR to where listeners/readers are wehther on air, mobile phones, ipads, etc.
But she also hired Ron Schiller. And the board decided, according to its chair, Dave Edwards, that she had become a distraction. And NPR has the fight of its life on its hands.
-Why was Ron Schiller confiding in complete strangers?
Amen to that. That is what baffles me most. When you first meet a complete stranger do you share your personal feelings about conservatives, liberals, politics? UNBELIEVABLE.
And then to not closely vet them.
AND, how about this. When the Washington Post was undergoing so much criticism during Watergate, the venerable Katherine Graham sat a few reporters and editors down and said, “Be Careful. People will be out to get us, to trick us.”
Ron Schiller should have been thinking like that. So should Betsy Liley, in charge of instittuional giving. She’s on administrative leave. I’m not sure how she could continue effectively for NPR.
-On whether executives should be held to the same “objective” standard as journalists:
Of course, he was required to be objective. He knew what lines shoudln’t be crossed. I still can’t believe you would divulge so much to a stranger. That‘s what I’m having a hard time wrapping my brain around. He was a fundrasier at Univ. of Chicago and reputed to be excellent. He had to have known better. Makes you also wonder what else he said to potential donors. I hope nothing like this.
Despite being critical of the Schillers, Shepard does take time to defend NPR and its coverage in general. You can read all her thoughts here.
(via Business Insider)
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Comments (80)
BBReggie
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:45pmThe Government does not need to be in the business of journalism, period. NPR should compete in the marketplace with no funding from the Government. I don’t listen to NPR or care what their political slant is, I only care about the out-of-control spending going on in DC. Whether NPR gets $5 or $500 million, it is too much. Stop the spending!
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:44pmRon Schiller was a fundrasier at Univ. of Chicago! Does the University of Chicago have anyone working there or are they all working on obama’s socialist agenda?
Report Post »tarpon
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:43pmCut them loose from the public teet … The government has no business funding propaganda.
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:15pmNPR: National Propaganda Radio
I stopped listening to them a long time ago because of the anit-American crap they expoused. I couldn’t stand it anymore. DEFUND! I don’t want another cent of my taxdollars spent on their drivel.
Report Post »Beware of Romans
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:33pmAdolph Hitler -NAZI (National Socialist Labour Party) Leader 1939
“Propaganda must not investigate the truth objectively and, in so far as it is favourable to the other side, present it according to the theoretical rules of justice; yet it must present only that aspect of the truth which is favourable to its own side. (…) The receptive powers of the masses are very restricted, and their understanding is feeble. On the other hand, they quickly forget. Such being the case, all effective propaganda must be confined to a few bare essentials and those must be expressed as far as possible in stereotyped formulas. These slogans should be persistently repeated until the very last individual has come to grasp the idea that has been put forward. (…) Every change that is made in the subject of a propagandist message must always emphasize the same conclusion. The leading slogan must of course be illustrated in many ways and from several angles, but in the end one must always return to the assertion of the same formula.”
Report Post »Marine Recon Dad
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:31pmIf this had been a Conservative news organization, it would be ALL OVER the news now. But the MSM has yet to cover it, except to preface any article starting with James O’Keefe and the Acorn sting squad. Talk about diluting the discussion – bait and switch.
I did talk to NPR‘s Ombudsman’s office last week regarding an article about a murder. In it the author felt it was necessary, for bias sake, to insert the Tea Party into the story. Funny thing, it had NO bearing. Not only did I write a scathing email, I politely reamed the office a ‘new one’.
NPR‘s bias is not just limited to its’ execs…. it is in the journalism room, too.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:29pmHave you ever tuned in to the Berkeley NPR station. Egads it even makes us sort of liberal types shudder. Day after day it spews crack pot new age women’s insane rants, Palestinian blather, black “entitlement” mindset propaganda, and gay gimme gimme crud like below;
“We’re campaigning to remove the discriminatory restrictions against treating trans sexuality and its related medical problems,” said Riordan. “Right now there’s discrimination, and you know, tough luck if you have this condition, you don’t get treated. If you have every other condition, they’ll treat you.”
Gender reassignment surgery currently isn‘t covered by Berkeley’s two health insurance providers. So the City Council is considering setting aside a total of $20,000 a year to offset the cost.
City Councilman Darryl Moore spearheads the proposal, following the example of San Francisco, which has offered that benefit for a decade.
Report Post »Comeandtakeit
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:28pmWonderful. The NPR execs displayed plain, old-fashioned elitist bigotry towards those who think differently than they do ( which is most of the nation) and the “ombudsman” only has to say they need to make sure they are only speaking to other bigots who share their biases when they speak. So, are you saying, Ombudsman, that it would be ok to say a racial slur in private but just don’t let anybody know about your hatred who might expose it? Do they have special antiteaparty KKK outfits they wear at the office party when only they are there?
DEFUND. They don’t have to be bigots on my dime. At least let them finance their loathing of me themselves.
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:20pmI think we can all agree that Ron Schaller’s views and comments are a complete reflection of NPR and himself, to disconnect the two is unreasonable. He’s an elitist socialist scumbag, along with the rest of them, pushing a communist ideology like its crack on a society that is now awake and pissed off.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:17pmdustyluv. n p r, could make it with out taxpayers money, 90 % of their money is taxpayers. if they had to depend on their left wing buddies, they would go broke,remember,the left believe in every thing free,so let fall and fall fast and hard, when big daddy soros’s money run out they will try and come back to the center, o yeah they don’t know what center is. they all lean left, so hopefully they will lose their balance and fall off the face of the earth .
Report Post »Automan
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 11:01amAmen!
Report Post »some spokes man yesterday said that they had programming that people like thats why they should get hard earned tax dollars
rwsasinger
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:10pmWe all need to be clear on the role of Mr. Schiller. His job was to win over potential veins of cash flow for NPR. If he were talking to Jews, he would have been anti-Palestine or Islam. If he were talking to a Conservative group; the Liberals would have been scorned. Such is the face of NPR; all things to all people and all faces to anyone who will look.
“If you stand for everything and anything, you stand for no one and nothing” –Unknown.
Report Post »Marrabella
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:12pmGood point, RWSASINGER.
Report Post »Obama reminds me of this. He has flip flopped so many times, I am dizzy.
He is afraid to reveal who he really is so he keeps agreeing/disagreeing in the same sentence.
Ultimately, he is like the man who woo’s 6 different women at the same time. When it comes time to choose….. they will ALL hate him.
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:09pmTime to shut the tax dollar door on NPR. No more wasting our money on these slobs. To quote a new reality star… “Losing, SIzzle, Bye Bye.”
Report Post »geonj
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:08pmto quote lisa shepard “Certainly he wasn’t fired for harboring negative views about conservatives”
Report Post »nope you only get fired for your views on muslims, ala juan williams.
9thCommandment
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:07pmTrying to cover the tracks, distance man! Distance!
Report Post »Soldier_FORTHERECORD
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:06pm“caught with their pants down”? “hand in the cookie jar”? I think it’s pretty clear these are the norm for these people and they only act embarrased when shown their outrageousness of their philosophy.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:48pmSoldier_FORTHERECORD
“caught with their pants down”? “hand in the cookie jar”? I think it’s pretty clear these are the norm for these people and they only act embarrased when shown their outrageousness of their philosophy.
They are NOT embarrassed – they still think WE are wrong. Go figure.
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:05pmYou know I just have to laugh at the people at NPR the real attitude at this crappy place just got exposed and they are whinning because they are going to lose government support and my tax payer dollars that has been funding this crappy organization!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Report Post »CalMarine
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:05pmThis story shows just how divided we truly are. This guy is caught red handed, and the left is still defending with their last breath. Biased or not, this country is so broke, defund NPR for that alone. There is so much crap that can be cut from the budget and our government is fighting over table scraps. They should all be ashamed
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:04pmIn the 1970′s the government started a new network with some “seed money” and see if it grows. It was supposed to be VIEWER SUPPORTED shortly thereafter. But low and behold, like all this government it turned into an entitlement costing the taxpayers ever since. Now it’s time, they sink or swim on their own merits. If the left wing nutjobs want to keep hearing them let them fund’em.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:04pmI agree DUSTY!
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:00pmcan n p r ever be trusted???? NOPE. trust is hard earned ans easily lost, and man they never had the trust factor so they never lost it. the only thing they trust in is george soros billions, so they need not ask me for a dime, i don’t trust left wing anti american nut jobs.
Report Post »Katayno
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:00pmWhat could she say?….HE were caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Report Post »It’s easy NOT defending a guy who was fired…er…ah…I mean had resigned.
Showtime
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:12pmIt’s hard to defend a lie, too, when you’re caught.
Notice that Obama hasn’t confronted Rep. Joe Wilson (SC) in public about Wilson’s calling out, “You LIE!”?
Heh – heh – heh!
Report Post »RIGHTNOTLEFT
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:59pmHurry 2012!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »absolutely
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:59pmI hope they have a lot of busses, cause they sure are busy throwing their people under them.
Report Post »Absolutely
Mare
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:27pmGood one
Report Post »Star Spangled
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:58pmIt doesn’t take long for libs to start turning on each other ! ” Winning!” lol
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:58pmcan n p r ever be trusted???? NO WAY NEVER, they have never been trusted, only trust they have is to george soros and his billions so nope trust is a word they don’t understand. can they repair their image??? NOPE,
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:55pmDefinitely no contributions from me!
Report Post »sjssb
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:36pmThat is true. With “Spooky Dude” George Soros and his Mafia Hench-PENS they will gain control of the world. His lifelong ambition. Anyone check on the amount of capital this ScrewBall has exported over the two years of Obamanation in DC?
Report Post »So
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:39pmNPR
N – New
Report Post »P – Progressive
R – Reformists
Showtime
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:54pmNPR simply got caught with their pants down, just as ACORN, Planned Parenbthood, Obama, Pelosi, SEIU, Ohio Teamsters Local 284, and the teachers’ union.
Dustyluv
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:01pmLet them all fry. GOP, Dem or just plain old stupid people. This is nothing more than a plea to keep their funding. Kick the damn box out from under them for good. We can’t afford this stupid junk anyway. Let them fend for themselves!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:03pmOnce again follow the money .. they don’t care about anything but getting TAXPAYER money .. .DEFUND NPR PBS … it’s a start.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:03pmDefund, defund, defund – they don’t need my money, which is great, because I don’t want them to have it!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:07pmOff Topic:
Hey, I have a friend who is with Sheriff Joe’s Posse here in AZ…he called me to let me know that they did a “**** fighting bust” this morning (Sheriff Joe HATES anything to do with animal cruelty…they saved 100+ roosters) …Guess who was one of the Posse Deputies who broke through the gate to gain entrance to the property?…..It was Steven Seagal ! Pretty Cool, huh? I forgot that he is one of Sheriff Joe’s volunteer deputies.
Report Post »bigbud
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:12pmDefund them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:20pmLooks like the “Chicago Way” is failing to impress the public! Ron Schiller was a University of Chicago fund raiser, you know that he must have had inside access to the White House and Valerie Jarret’s ear. This could go as high as the Office of the President since the Muslim Brotherhood was the intended donor and how it favors Muslim interests.
Report Post »Obama Bin Lying
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:22pmHmmmmmmm Gee what a shock, Liberals getting caught with thier pants down. Sounds like a Former Dem President we all know……
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:23pmThe only ombudsman who has any credibility is Andy Levy.
Report Post »Since he doesn’t work for NPR, skroo and starve NPR
Dale
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:38pmShowtime;
And they weren’t at the airport.
Report Post »Awakened One
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:40pmGet used to them being exposed. It’s just who they are, and everyone but the kool-aid drinkers know it. But the book says to continue the lie, so they do. The progressive template continues unabashed.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:50pmHere‘s another bust that Judge Napolitano showed just now on Glenn Beck’s program.
This statement is by the NEA’s General Council, Bob Chanin:
“Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas; it is not because of the merit of our positions; it is not because we care about children; and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child.
“The NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power. And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of million of dollars in dues each year because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them; the union that can protect their rights and advance their interests as education employees.
“This is not to say that the concern of NEA and its affiliates with closing achievement gaps, reducing drop rate rates, improving teacher quality, and the like are unimportant or inappropriate. To the contrary these are the goals that guide the work we do. But they need not and must not be achieved at the expense of due process, employee rights, or collective bargaining.
“That is simply too high a price to pay.”
Report Post »* * * * * *
Stunning statement from the largest union in the United States, don’t you think? He has just demonstrated that MONEY comes before our children’s education!
BuckOfama
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:53pmHa Ha……..
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:54pmAZDebi and CheezWhiz, I’m just trying to keep up with you two.
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:06pm“Who blabs to total strangers in public about their personal biases? Who doesn’t vet a prospective donor before meeting. PBS got the same offer and turned it down.” Just dangle $5 million in front of them the they’ll spill their guts. These phoney, shallow intellectuals are such dispicable greedy creatures.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:05pmThis loon who is quoted in this article is talking about how to stay in the shadows like a good progressive. His point is to say that these executives did not lurk in the shadow and made a mistake by telling someone while a camera ran about their true beliefs. The one thing this jacka$$ said is that NPR would be better off without public funding, and I believe he is correct.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:19pmAnd, we’re supposed to care….why???
Another arm-chair QB to Join John Wayne McCain.
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:27pmBeing caught in the headlights is a new experience for these lib/progressives. They’ve been working in the shadows manipulating the rest of us for years. We need patriots like O’Keefe to keep that light shining brightly in their direction and ensure no more unethical practices are allowed. The fact that this Ron Schiller was a fund-raiser for a Chicago university is very telling. He probably learned his tricks from the steady stream of shady activists that city produces.
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:32pmAbout the quote from the NEA guy that it’s all about power, I despise the NEA but I reluctantly have to take issue with how that’s been represented, first by Glenn and today by Judge Napolitano. In fact, I think Glenn may have walked this back a bit a week or so back. The NEA guy worded it poorly but when you take the whole statement in context, his point was that it was power that made them effective, not how much they care about kids. If I say you‘ll listen to me not because I’m persuasive but because I have a gun in your face, I‘m not saying I’m not persuasive, I‘m just saying it’s the gun that will get your attention, and when you talk about it later, you won’t remember that my argument was so compelling, even if it was, you’ll remember that you were staring down the barrel of a gun.. Now, what he should have added to the “it’s not because we care about the kids“ the phrase ”although we certainly do” then this would have been a non-issue.
Report Post »fedfreakingup
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:39pmThey didn’t have to hide there true colors when they thought they were amongst like minded people.
Report Post »getalong
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:56pmYes, Ms. Shepherd, you are right. Lies can caise a “very complicated situation” because they are always changing,playing catch- up to the last lie whereas the TRUTH never changes – so its not complicated at all.
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