Twitter classifies NPR as a “state-affiliated outlet” | The USA Print

Twitter has classified National Public Radio as a “state-affiliated outlet” on the social network, a move some feared Wednesday could undermine public confidence in the US news company.

NPR said it was upset to see the caption added to every tweet it publishes, and John Lansing, its president and CEO, said it was “unacceptable for Twitter to classify us this way.”

At the moment it is not clear why Twitter made the decision. The owner of TwitterElon Musk, mentioned that the definition of a state-affiliated media included in the company’s guidelines indicates that they are “media where the State exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressure, and/or control over production and distribution”.

“Sounds right to me,” Musk tweeted in response to npr.

NPR receives funding from the US government through grants from federal agencies and departments, along with the Broadcasting Media Corporation. The company noted that this represents less than 1% of the company’s annual operating budget. npr. But until Wednesday, the same guidelines for Twitter They said that “state-funded media organizations with editorial independence, such as the BBC in Great Britain or npr in the United States, they are not defined as state-affiliated media outlets for purposes of this policy.”

NPR has already been removed from that sentence on the Twitter website.

The press office of Twitter responded to a request for comment with a poop emoji in an automated message.

“NPR and our stations are backed by millions of listeners who trust us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide”Lansing noted. “npr defend freedom of expression and hold the powerful accountable.”

The literary organization PEN America asked Twitter reverse the action, noting that npr “it diligently maintains editorial independence.”

Liz Woolery, PEN America’s head of digital policy, said Twitter’s decision was “a dangerous move that could further undermine the public’s trust in reliable news sources.”