Twitter has slapped NPR’s account with a label that described the outlet as “State-affiliated media.”
The label appeared on Tuesday night.
Owner Elon Musk commented that the description “seems accurate.”
Twitter’s guidelines state “Labels on state-affiliated accounts provide additional context about accounts that are controlled by certain official representatives of governments, state-affiliated media entities, and individuals associated with those entities.”
BREAKING: Twitter just labelled NPR as US state media pic.twitter.com/PSNHKV7kMv
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) April 5, 2023
Musk quoted Twitter’s Help Center, which notes:
“State-affiliated media is defined as outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution.”
Seems accurate pic.twitter.com/nx5TmJY7GX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2023
NPR’s leftist allies, such as Climate & Energy Correspondent Jeff Brady, were annoyed:
Uh, no… pic.twitter.com/ki7vo9TIBi
— Jeff Brady (@jeffbradynews) April 5, 2023
Labeling @NPR state-affiliated media is wholly inaccurate and untruthful. NPR gets LESS THAN 2% of its funding from grants through the federal government. NPR’s newsroom is an absolutely free and independent newsroom; always has been. This label is a LIE and an insult. pic.twitter.com/2iS04hMeQ1
— Ashley Westerman (Valdez) (@_aswesterman) April 5, 2023
Others noted that Twitter’s guidelines also state that “State-financed media organizations with editorial independence, like the BBC in the UK for example, are not defined as state-affiliated media for the purposes of this policy.”
However, despite issues of bias with the BBC, the organization is funded by the public and not with taxpayer money.
Twitter branding @NPR "state-affiliated media" literally conflicts with its own policy:
"State-financed media organizations with editorial independence, like the BBC in the UK or NPR in the US for example, are not defined as state-affiliated media…" 🤯https://t.co/u2bg3QICMS pic.twitter.com/FOCrac61Jm
— Ben Pauker (@benpauker) April 5, 2023
BBC gets about 70% of its funding from the government (via license fees), NPR gets about 1-2%. Former is not listed as state-affiliate media, but NPR is. Along with deverifying NY Times, illustrates how Musk is the one running a propaganda outfit to fit with his political views. https://t.co/OjZabXAKz2
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) April 5, 2023
In 2020, Twitter made the move to label many accounts, including Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik, as well as reporters working for them as “state-affiliated media.”
The company said it would prevent tweets from those accounts from appearing on the home screen, in notifications, or in searches.
However, NPR was left alone.
Twitter claimed it was doing this “to make the experience more transparent.”
“We don’t let state-affiliated media accounts advertise on Twitter,” Twitter added.
“We’ll also no longer include them or their Tweets in recommendations, as we continue to support a free and independent press.”
For clarity: we don't let state-affiliated media accounts advertise on Twitter. We’ll also no longer include them or their Tweets in recommendations, as we continue to support a free and independent press.
More on this policy and new labels: https://t.co/BY1jTO46Zc (2/2)
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) August 6, 2020
How much taxpayer funding NPR receives is unclear, with much of it being hidden in the form of grants.
However, estimates have suggested NPR’s budget is made up of 25 percent of taxpayer dollars, with its member stations receiving another 40 percent of public funds.
Others argue it’s less than 2 percent.
NEW: Twitter has changed NPR’s Twitter handle to say “US state-affiliated media”
Thanks @elonmusk! Now do the New York Times and Washington Post! pic.twitter.com/1mgFnkSZUA
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 5, 2023
Might just be easier to label those media outlets that aren't State affiliated at this point.
— Klay Thompson (@Thompsonklay) April 5, 2023
So the question is, does NPR push an agenda and ideology influenced by the state?
Many on Twitter argue that it certainly does:
“Ha ha, nobody’s trying to promote insect-eating…. That’s just a right-wing conspiracy theory…
“NOW BE LIKE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND EAT THE BUGS!!!
NPR, naturallyhttps://t.co/yEE4yGkIIK pic.twitter.com/61G9AfE0by
— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) April 4, 2023
NPR has responded to the move by complaining that their emails to Twitter were auto-replied with a poop emoji.
“NPR officials have asked Twitter to remove the label,” NPR spokesperson Isabel Lara said.
“They initially assumed it was applied by mistake.
“We were not warned,” Lara said.
“It happened quite suddenly last night.
“In response to an NPR email for this story seeking comment and requesting details about what in particular might have led to the new designation, the company’s press account auto-replied with a poop emoji — a message it has been sending to journalists for weeks.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to the labeling by defending “the independence of NPR’s journalists.”
WATCH:
KJP addresses @elonmusk's Twitter labeling @NPR as "state-affiliated" media:
"There's no doubt of the independence of NPR's journalists!" pic.twitter.com/fJAuKAfOKy
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 5, 2023
However, as many pointed out on social media, Jean-Pierre’s defense of NPR did more to confirm Twitter’s allegation of the outlet’s links to the White House than refute it.
