November 5, 2006· The ombudsman dissects Steve Inskeep's Oct. 25 interview with Sen. Rick Santorum, which spurred accusations of bias from some listeners. With the benefit of the written script and 20-20 hindsight, Bill Marimow and Inskeep review the 7 minute and 46 second interview.
October 31, 2006 · NPR's new ombudsman Bill Marimow has toiled in the newsroom trenches for 37 years -- both as a reporter and an editor. It's good preparation for his new role as the representative for more than 25 million NPR listeners and the many others who use npr.org.
June 19, 2006 · In his last column as NPR Ombudsman, Jeffrey Dvorkin looks back on the six and a half years he spent bridging the gap between NPR listeners and NPR journalists. In July, he'll begin his new job as the executive director of the Committee of Concerned Journalists based in Washington, D.C.
June 13, 2006 · Reports of the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi put NPR into "news special" mode in the early hours of June 8. Other news coverage was thrown out and all available resources were focused on covering the many aspects of that one big story. Some listeners, however, say NPR gave the story too much attention, and for all the wrong reasons.
June 5, 2006 · A long-standing journalistic tradition mandates that reporters restrict themselves to the role of dispassionate and disinterested observers. But these days, stories evoke strong responses from audiences, and journalists seem more engaged. It has sparked concerns among some listeners as to whether NPR reporters are as nonpartisan as they should be.
May 22, 2006 · Some listeners say that NPR’s reporting on intelligence-gathering organizations has been biased. The spy agencies, they say, are just "harvesting" telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, running them through computer programs and checking to see whether any patterns emerge that might link to terrorists. In short, they are keeping us safe -- a fact, they claim, NPR doesn’t appreciate.
May 15, 2006 · Nothing riles some public-radio listeners like NPR journalists appearing on FOX News television programs. That’s because NPR makes every effort to remain nonpartisan, and FOX, it appears, does not. Frustrated public-radio listeners tell me that the NPR presence only serves as cover for FOX’s claim that it is “fair and balanced.” And that frustration is further pumped up by some political blogs.
May 8, 2006 · Several readers respond to a column addressing whether journalists should reveal their political leanings. The ombudsman challenges the notion that newsrooms are cauldrons of political conspiracy and calls on a newspaperman/poet to illustrate that politics is just one part of the newsroom culture.
May 2, 2006 · Immigration is still a major concern for NPR listeners, if my e-mail is any indication. There are a lot of concerned and anxious people. Rumors of a police roundup of undocumented immigrants, the release of a Spanish-language version of the national anthem, a national May 1st immigrant walkout and the possibility that some sort of legislation is in the works, all contribute to listeners' questions and concerns about NPR's coverage.
April 25, 2006 · Some listeners have been frustrated when they call Talk of the Nation, NPR’s live call-in program, and their questions or comments are rejected. Producers say that listeners can improve their chances of getting on the show by being on topic, having their thoughts organized and by quickly getting to the point.
April 17, 2006 · One of the signs at NPR that a news topic has attracted significant listener interest is when the story is given its own place on the NPR Web site. This is certainly the case regarding the question of immigration. The NPR Web site has done a good job of pulling the angles together in one concise place. Some listeners appreciated the coverage, but it raised questions for other listeners.
April 11, 2006 · One of the most interesting and useful developments on NPR’s Web site is the arrival of the NPR blog, called "Mixed Signals." This feature involves an NPR journalist who posts his or her impressions and opinions of what’s going on behind the scenes at NPR News. It includes the responses, impressions and opinions of NPR listeners and Web site visitors.
April 10, 2006 · Ombudsman quarterly report for April 2006
April 5, 2006 · Each year, hundreds of foreign journalists are invited by the State Department to visit newsrooms in the United States, learning about how journalism works in America. Last week, five American journalists and academics (including the NPR Ombudsman), were invited to return the favor by going to Turkey to meet with journalists in Istanbul and Ankara.
March 29, 2006 · The listeners' ombudsman usually writes about listener complaints. But for the sake of balance, he has decided to share listener e-mails that enthusiastically laud and appreciate what NPR does on a daily basis.
March 21, 2006 · NPR does solid reporting on national issues. But it doesn't have a monopoly on good journalism and a recent report seemed to imply that it does.
Listeners can call the Office of the NPR Ombudsman at 202-513-3245. Send us your thoughts »
The Ombudsman is the public's representative to National Public Radio, serving as an independent source of information, explanation, amplification and analysis for the public regarding NPR's programming.
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