After NPR was recently labeled with “state-affiliated media” and, later, “government-funded media” on Twitter, the media giant decided to leave the platform altogether, ceasing the use of its 52 official Twitter feeds. PBS, faced with the same labels, also cut ties.
The “state-affiliated” label is the same one used for Russian and Chinese propaganda profiles, according to NPR — and NPR says “government-funded” is a little misleading, too. NPR, an independent and nonprofit news organization, stated that it receives less than 1% of its $300 million annual budget from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
“I would never have our content go anywhere that would risk our credibility,” said NPR CEO John Lansing in an NPR interview.
In support of NPR and PBS, some media organizations also decided to abandon Twitter due to the event. The growing list includes NPR affiliates KCRW, WEKU, LAist and WBUR.
However, Cleveland’s NPR affiliate Ideastream Public Media — the home of WKSU, WVIZ and WCLV broadcasting stations — has decided to stay on the platform, while supporting NPR in its decision to exit.
“We have considered our own use of Twitter and determined that we will continue our activity on the platform for the time being, so we do not disrupt our sharing of local and regional news with our Northeast Ohio audiences,” says Kevin Martin, Ideastream Public Media President and CEO, in a statement.
Martin pointed out Twitter’s inconsistent policies, referring to the shifting “state-affiliated media” and “government-funded media” labels of NPR and PBS.
“News organizations like NPR, PBS and Ideastream must protect our credibility. Ideastream realizes that these labels will have little impact on the trust our followers have in us. Our listeners and viewers depend on us to provide local news and information, and that is what we will continue to do,” Martin says. “Ideastream is an independent, locally operated, and governed organization with the majority of our support coming from individual donors and members, foundations, and corporations. We remain dedicated to serving Northeast Ohioans with in-depth, trustworthy news across social media platforms, the web, and over our airwaves.”