CPB Awards $1.9 Million to NPR for Editorial Enhancement

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2024) -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has awarded a $1.9 million grant to NPR to help further strengthen its editorial operations and meet the challenges of producing 24/7 news content on multiple platforms that consistently adheres to the highest standards of editorial integrity - accuracy, fairness, balance, objectivity, and transparency, and the obligation to include diverse viewpoints.

Specifically, the grant will enable NPR to fill 11 new positions - adding a team of seven editors that will provide a "backstop" of expert editing focused on ensuring NPR's journalism undergoes an additional step in its rigorous editorial process before being distributed; two supervising editors to NPR's editorial standards and practices team to provide guidance on editorial ethics and policies; and two content strategy analysts to provide data around the mix of content being produced and its impact.

"Misinformation and disinformation are threats to our democracy, said Patricia Harrison, CPB president and CEO. "The American people place great trust in public media's informational and educational content. We are proud to support NPR's commitment to maintaining that trust by increasing its editorial oversight, transparency, and inclusion of diverse perspectives across its content."

Utilizing CPB's grant to expand its editorial standards and practices team will allow NPR to be more transparent and engage with its audiences more frequently regarding its content decision-making. It will also allow NPR to work more closely with its member stations and foster greater consistency in editorial decision-making. In addition, the grant, and the increased capacity it will afford, will allow NPR to hold regular editorial briefings with newsmakers and experts in their fields to gain insight on topics and perceptions of coverage to ensure its journalism remains a trusted and valued public service to the nation.