The National Public Radio, better known as NPR, is a massive American public broadcasting service. The non-profit medium networks several radio stations across the country and also produces its own multi-platform content. They touch on various topics such as politics, culture, science, technology and more. One of his most famous programs, at least in Latin America, is the concert series he broadcasts Youtube, Tiny desk where hundreds of musicians – many of them Spanish-speaking – presented viral concerts lasting a maximum of 20 minutes.
In its more than 50-year history, it has received several awards – including the award Pulitzer and that Peabody Among other things – and with a presence not only in the United States but through millions of listeners around the world – NPR is a prestigious and popular medium.
Twitter as a platform, is also one, but much less than before the billionaire Elon Musk acquired it and made radical decisions that negatively affected the image of the little bird’s social network, starting with the name change to X and kill the distinctive animal that represented the platform. It is not for nothing that it has lost almost 50% of its value compared to when the tycoon acquired it.
It is therefore not surprising that there are conflicts with the National Public Radio would turn out to be a bad idea X.
In early April, the social network decided to label NPR accounts as “state-affiliated media.” The decision unsettled the media team. NPR journalist Bobby Allyn contacted Elon Musk and asked how the radio would be financed when the label was already in the books. According to NPR himself, Musk admitted that he may have been wrong.
The billionaire emailed him: “So NPR will publish it again.” Twitter Or should we reassign @NPR to another company?”
NPR has a budget of $300 million per year, consisting primarily of sponsorships, grants and donations from individuals and foundations. Only between 1% and 5%, depending on the year, comes from the state through the federally funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting, whose goal is to support the media in the United States.
This explanation led to this X will soften its label slightly and switch from “state-affiliated media” to “state-funded media.” NPR claimed this was inaccurate and misleading and announced it would stop using its platform.
On April 12, the 52 public radio accounts — which include both the main @NPR profile and users of the many programs produced by the network — announced that they would no longer tweet.
“By remaining silent on Twitter, NPR’s CEO is ensuring the company protects its credibility and its ability to produce journalism ‘without the shadow of negativity,'” the network said in a statement announcing the move. “The handicap, whatever it may be, doesn’t change that fact. “I would never publish our content where it compromises our credibility,” said CEO John Lansing.
Five months after the controversy erupted, NPR still doesn’t tweet and the 52 accounts still belong to the radio station, but X lowered the labels.
Elon Musk doubled down. The billionaire was contacted again by NPR journalist Bobby Allyn and emailed him: “So NPR will continue to publish.” Twitter Or should we reassign @NPR to another company?”
Musk’s ironic threat earned him criticism on his own social network, and nothing changed. Well, almost nothing: Five months after the controversy erupted, NPR still doesn’t tweet and the 52 accounts still belong to the radio station, but X lowered the labels.
