In this letter to the editor, the author responds to the story “Christian Broadcast Association Supports End of Public Media Funding” and the earlier related commentary “How the FCC Can Define the Future of Free Speech.” Radio World welcomes letters to the editor on this or any story. Email [email protected].
I find it necessary to take issue with NRB President/CEO Troy A. Miller who said in a statement: “Taxpayers should not be compelled to fund a media ecosystem that increasingly operates as a mouthpiece for one political perspective. Public broadcasting has long benefited from taxpayer dollars while excluding many voices, especially faith-based and conservative perspectives.”
Mr. Miller needs to take a moment and check his claims about NPR bias and oppression of religious media.
- There are over 2,400 Christian format stations in the U.S. alone. That is more than 1 in 7 stations broadcast a Christian format. This number does not include any other religions, just Christian.
- There are over 1,500 radio stations in the U.S. broadcasting a Conservative Talk format. That is just under 1 in 10 radio stations carrying Conservative Talk. Of all the radio stations in the U.S. carrying a Talk Format, only 9%, or about 135 stations, are viewed as “liberal.”
- There are, at last count, 916 NPR affiliate stations in the U.S. That is less than 6%, which works out to less than 1 in 16 radio stations.
According to adfontesmedia, NPR has minimal partisan bias, its reporting is analytical bordering on complex and meets high standards of journalism. For Mr. Miller to claim that NPR “exclude(s) many voices, especially faith-based and conservative perspectives” is egregious and completely without fact or merit. For the editorial staff of Future plc (owners of Radio World) to reprint statements like this without perspective is a disservice to its readers.
Sincerely,
— Brian Walker, Seattle, Wash.
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