Twitter recently labeled the US-based National Public Radio (NPR) as “state-affiliated media,” a classification it reserves for government-owned Chinese and Russian platforms. However, Twitter backtracked after NPR protested, and the social media giant now refers to NPR as “government-funded. ”After Elon Musk’s social media network applied the “government-funded” label to the National Public Radio (NPR), they also did the same to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which primarily relies on funding from British households paying a license fee. The change occurred quietly overnight on Saturday, causing an uproar in the media community.
NPR’s complaints
NPR protested the use of the “state-affiliated” label, saying it was disparaging and inaccurate. As a result, NPR stopped tweeting and updated its Twitter bio to invite users to find the network elsewhere. NPR’s CEO, John Lansing, called the decision by Twitter “unacceptable.” While NPR’s main account with over 8.8 million followers has remained silent, its other accounts, such as its music and politics handles, continue to post tweets.
Musk’s move against NPR
Elon Musk has expressed his disdain for the news media for years. Recently, his social media network stripped The New York Times of its verified status on the platform, and just days later, he applied the “state-affiliated” label to NPR. However, Musk signaled in a series of emails to NPR that the relabeling may not have been accurate, and it would investigate the matter further.
Twitter’s policy
According to policy, labeling media outlets as “state-affiliated” or “government-funded” will deamplify their tweets and limit their reach on the platform. This applies to both NPR and the BBC. While it’s decisions will affect their reach, media outlets, celebrities, and officials still use the platform as a major communication tool.
NPR’s funding
According to NPR’s website, the bulk of its budget comes from fees paid by member stations throughout the United States, who are supported by individual donors and government funds. Less than one percent of NPR’s operational budget comes from federal sources. NPR is one of America’s most respected news outlets.
Twitter’s backtrack
After an uproar, it has rebranded NPR as “government-funded” instead of “state-affiliated media.” The change occurred after NPR complained that the former label was inaccurate and disparaging. Elon Musk’s social media network also applied the “government-funded” label to the BBC, which primarily relies on funding from British households paying a license fee.
Twitter’s policy of labeling media outlets as “state-affiliated” or “government-funded” will deamplify their tweets and limit their reach on the platform, affecting both NPR and the BBC. However, media outlets, celebrities, and officials still use as a major communication tool.
It’s labeling of NPR as “state-affiliated media” caused an uproar in the media community. NPR protested the label, calling it disparaging and inaccurate. Elon Musk’s social media network applied the same label to the BBC, causing the beloved national broadcaster to seek clarification. However, after NPR complained, it rebranded NPR as “government-funded.” Twitter’s policy of labeling media outlets as “state-affiliated” or “government-funded” will limit their reach on the platform, but media outlets, celebrities, and officials still use this app as a major communication tool. It’s controversial labeling of NPR and BBC as “State-affiliated Media”
Last week, it sparked an uproar when it labeled the US radio network National Public Radio (NPR) as “state-affiliated media,” putting it in the same category as government-owned Chinese and Russian platforms. However, it has since backtracked and changed the label to “government-funded” after NPR complained that the previous term was disparaging and inaccurate. The same label has also been applied to the BBC, which is primarily funded by British households paying a license fee.
NPR’s response and Twitter’s clarification
Following the label change, NPR stopped tweeting and updated its bio to invite users to find them elsewhere. The CEO of NPR, John Lansing, described it’s labeling as “unacceptable,” and the radio’s account has remained silent ever since. Meanwhile, the BBC has reached out to Twitter for clarification. It’s policy is to reamplify tweets from both companies, which limits their reach on the platform. However, accounts run by NPR, such as its music and politics handles, did not receive the “state-affiliated” specification and have continued to post tweets.
Related articles: New York Times Loses Twitter Verification Badge for Refusing to Pay Subscription Fee
Musk’s move against NPR and Twitter’s decision to De-verify The New York Times
Elon Musk’s social media network, which also uses the same label as Twitter, applied it to NPR just days after it stripped The New York Times of its verified status on the platform. Both NPR and The New York Times have been accused of left-leaning bias, particularly by US conservatives. Musk has a well-known disdain for the news media and even installed an automatic response of a poop emoji to emails sent to the site’s main press address.
