Northwest Public Broadcasting will no longer share content to its audiences via Twitter in solidarity with National Public Radio.
NWPB General Manager Cara Williams Fry explained that the decision stems from the social media platform’s erroneous labeling of NPR as “state-affiliated media.” Twitter subsequently changed the label to “government-funded media,” which Williams Fry said still falsely characterizes NPR as being editorially controlled by the U.S. government.
“The false labeling by Twitter is an attack on independent journalism,” Williams Fry wrote in an April 13 message posted to the network’s website. “Public media is free press and a guaranteed right in the U.S. As your regional public media station, NWPB (Northwest Public Broadcasting) is committed to being a trusted source of quality content that strives for accuracy and fairness. Our reporting is accountable only to you, the public. We believe that an informed public makes our democracy stronger.“
Northwest Public Broadcasting is licensed to Washington State University and is broadcast from the Pullman campus. Its chief sources of revenue are donations from listeners, regional foundations, non-profits and underwriters. Williams Fry noted that a partnership with WSU’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication serves as the station’s second major funding source.
NWPB also received about 16% of its overall budget for the fiscal year 2022 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Created in 1967, the non-profit was created by Congress to promote public broadcasting and ensure independence from government influence.
Listeners and readers of NWPB can still find updates and the station’s latest stories on its website or through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
Williams Fry invited those with questions or concerns to contact her via email or to connect with the station on Facebook or Instagram.
