The Death of NPR

[JaySherman]

Finally got an Internet connection in my apartment last night. Fired it up and immediately went to Pacifica's site, followed by NPR. I've missed both since I've been overseas the past few months :( But when I attempted to bring up an NPR stream, I found myself staring at a Starbucks ad! Now, I've pretty much stayed out of the whole NPR-shift-to-the-right/corporate sponsorship debate, which I know was a big deal for a while. I saw NPR as a good moderate-left source for cultural programming and occassionally news. But this tears it! NPR has in my eyes officially sold out to corporate whoredom. How sad that yet another of our rapidly dwindling public information institutions has been co-opted by the corporate monstrosity! When is this ever going to stop???

I realize I'm probably late for the boat on this one, but it's bugging me and I have to get it off my chest.

RIP NPR

:grr:

[LSparkle]

1. Thank God for Pacifica`

it's the only radio I can stand to listen to anymore (until they get that liberal network cranked up).

[JaySherman]

9. I just heard last night they will be laying people off.

Not good.

[moof]

2. Welcome to DU JaySherman

the other night there was what looked very much like a car comercial on PBS TV

[sally343434]

3. A little extreme?

I think you're overreacting. While NPR may not be perfect, it's still the only choice for many people who want more than the non-stop corporate/right-wing propaganda and info-tainment served up by the commercial networks.

Now, if the ad popped up while they were doing a story about Starbuck's, that would be a different matter. But since the government provides virtually no funding for NPR or PBS anymore, and financial support from individual viewers provides only about half or a little more of their operating expenses, seeing an occasional pop-up for Starbuck's isn't going to make me pop a vein.

[JaySherman]

11. I used to think that.

I was willing before to overlook even the Heritage Foundation sponsorship. But I can't believe that Starf*cks isn't somehow influencing the programming content like these scumbag corporations do in nearly every other case. It seems to show in the recent programming anyway.

And the ad had nothing to do with a piece on Starbucks. I had to stare at the thing for a full 15 seconds whenever I called up a stream, which I did several times because I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Unfortunately, the problem is that with corporate sponsorship NPR is headed in the direction of "the non-stop corporate/right-wing propaganda and info-tainment served up by the commercial networks."

[david_vincent]

4. One word: (ok, actually three letters): CBC

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. Three more... BBC?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

15. forgot to add this before... damn... I think I forget too much

[Ernesto]

6. I almost shit my pants!

Some Capt. Nobody just stated that a local (Sacramento) reserve unit was being called up for the "war against terror" in Iraq. WTF WTF WTF? Saddam & co had nothing to do with international terrorism. .... I have given these people (npr) thousands of $ over the last 20 years... I called and left an ass- chewing about their FALSE statement. I also
asked them: "when did you merge with FOX news?" I am now awaiting a promised return call... I'm sick!

[LincolnMcGrath]

7. NPR gets more wingy

every day. Moderate left!!! Shoot ..slightly right of center, if you ask me.

At least once a day someone from the Heritage Foundation gets to spew their garbage.

Diane Rheem asked a dem cand. "Do you support the REdistribution of wealth?" As if, Repugs are not trying to line the pockets of the RICH.

I can hardly listen anymore to any of the NPR lineup.


IE America only for me

[Deja Q]

8. Holy Hasenpfeffer! This logo isn't a cure-all, but it'll make you smile:

NPR bushlicking* corporate giants? Yipes...



http://www.illegal-art.org/ has a lot of good stuff. "intellectual" property is being overprotected and abuses and stifles creativity everywhere else. Makes America's future look pretty pathetic... especially since Warner Bros did this sort of crap in the 1940s and are profiteering from it. Effing hypocrites. x( So much for buying that Looney Tunes golden DVD set...

The irony here couldn't be more stark. Rooted in the U.S. Constitution, copyright was originally intended to facilitate the exchange of ideas but is now being used to stifle it.

[billbuckhead]

10. Isn't GE one their biggest sponsers?

Imagine that.

[JaySherman]

12. Nice one!

[Bertha Venation]

13. welcome to DU

Capuccino or latte? Oh -- generic only here....
:hi:

[JaySherman]

14. Two words...

black coffee :donut:

:hangover: