Wartime journalism
As our disbelief fades to horror over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, strong journalism is a democratic tool that equips citizens with a clear understanding of how the world is changing.
This is no small feat when you consider the state of information in the runup to this new war in Europe. As President Joe Biden's administration released intelligence, former President Donald Trump telegraphed his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin. As Ukrainians initially behaved as if Russia was bluffing, Putin's administration engaged in lies, theatrical fantasy and snark. It was hard to figure out what to believe.
If things are more clear (and yet more bleak) a week into this war, it's partially because solid journalism allows us to see through smokescreens and disinformation. There are so many possible stories to tell at the onset of war that picking the right ones is a clutch editing skill. Done badly, journalism documents drama without adding meaning. NPR's strength comes in at least three categories:
- On-the-ground reporting from journalists who run toward the conflict in order to tell the stories of humans thrust into the chaos
- Clear explanatory context, distilled for us by authoritative experts
- An understanding of how global developments will impact citizens at home
In this week's newsletter, we'll hear audience comments on NPR's work and take a broad look at how public radio is doing on this big story.
The news at home does not stop, either. We've got a short take on some staffing changes, including a new weekend host and the departure of a popular podcast host.
From the inbox
Here are a few quotes from the Public Editor's inbox that resonated with us. Letters are edited for length and clarity. You can share your questions and concerns with us through the NPR Contact page.
War in Europe
The audience has been grateful for NPR's reporting and at times critical when the work fell short or seemed overly focused on the wrong stakeholder. Here's a range of reactions:
Michael Socolow tweeted on Feb. 24: This @NPR interview w/Nina Khrushcheva, professor of international affairs at the New School [& Khrushchev's granddaughter] is a complete fiasco. It's cringe-worthy in its stupidity ["Did the U.S. Push Putin Into a Corner?"]
It's Mils tweeted on Feb. 24 in response to 4 articles that break down the Russia-Ukraine crisis: Want to learn more about what's going on in Ukraine but didn't know where to start? NPR's coverage has been excellent at catching me up
Mel tweeted on Feb. 25 in response to Life Kit's "5 ways to cope with the stressful news cycle": I'm a psychologist, and seriously? Maybe people should feel a little stressed seeing an authoritarian government invade a democracy.
Mariette Brown wrote on March 1: I heard a reporter refer to the aggressive war in Ukraine as 'unrest'. This is not 'unrest', which implies a civil disturbance. This an all out defense against an unprovoked invasion by a foreign entity, which is properly referred to as a WAR.
Barbara Glickstein tweeted on March 2: I just supported @WNYC with an additional monthly donation added to my sustaining membership status. The coverage by @NPR on the ground in #Ukraine has been very important to learn about daily.
If there was ever a time to summon our old motto — One story is not the whole story — it's now. As Russia was amassing troops for the invasion, NPR began sending reporting crews into the region and tapping into the vast international expertise on staff to gather stories that cut through the noise. Back home, NPR assembled a roster of experts to provide clear and accurate historical insight.
This ability to elevate the conversation to a broad and factual overview and then zoom in on the human drama is key to keeping the public informed and engaged.
The bigger challenge facing NPR (and every other news organization blessed with solid international reporting capabilities) is to organize this growing body of significant work in a way that citizens can find the information they want when they go looking for it. NPR has created several ways to organize information, including this historical timeline and a new daily podcast, State of Ukraine.
Much of the broader context is organized under the "Ukraine invasion — explained" special series page. This includes stories that unravel how NATO's expansion played a role, this sharp fact-check on Putin's deluded version of history and this analysis of the unprecedented sanctions the world is imposing against Russia.
We asked newsroom leaders about the overall strategy and looked through coverage from the past few weeks. In the vast amount of coverage, we found much more to praise than critique.
"Having editors who are regional experts, as well as having been former correspondents, is invaluable," Chief International Editor Didrik Schanche explained in an email. "In addition, we also get great guidance from our brilliant international correspondents on the ground in NPR's 17 bureaus."
In a note to the news staff, Nancy Barnes, NPR's senior vice president for news and editorial director, described the newsroom's approach.
"We have been rotating teams of reporters, producers, editors, and hosts in and out of Ukraine for some time in advance of a possible invasion that we hoped wouldn't happen. Still, we wanted to be there to tell this story, and to be prepared," she wrote. "This has been painful and unsettling for many to absorb, but we are actively bearing witness as journalists with exceptional reporting that should make us all proud."
Those on-the-ground reports connect news consumers to real people caught in the conflict. Paris Correspondent Eleanor Beardsley and London Correspondent Frank Langfitt were in Ukraine as it morphed from peacetime to wartime.
On Sunday's All Things Considered, Beardsley talked to students and teachers who had gone from classrooms to bomb shelters in a few short days.
On Sunday morning, Langfitt told Weekend Edition Sunday, "We saw earthmovers digging trenches for Ukrainian soldiers. And remember, just five days ago, this country was completely at peace, and I didn't see hardly any military presence."
Veteran international correspondent and recently appointed Morning Edition host Leila Fadel traveled across the Polish border into Ukraine with men and women who are returning home to defend against the invaders. She skillfully told the story Wednesday on Morning Edition.
Barnes' note to staff included this detail: "Our security and international teams have been working relentlessly and seamlessly to support our staff in Poland and Ukraine, helping them move to safer ground as needed and stay secure while covering this important story."
NPR's work hasn't been perfect. Several listeners criticized a Morning Edition piece framed to ask whether the U.S. forced Putin to invade Ukraine. The questions at the heart of the piece — What did the U.S. do before the invasion, and could more have been done to stop this? — are important and exactly the kind of work needed to hold our government accountable. But the headline and the underlying framework veered toward politicization.
More often the work has risen above the noise, giving audiences true insight into this dire reality. — Kelly McBride and Emily Barske
Staff changes
Lindsay Foster Thomas tweeted on Feb. 26 in response to NPR naming Ayesha Rascoe host of Weekend Edition Sunday: Happy Black History Month, indeed! @ayesharascoe stans rejoice!
Jad Abumrad (yes, of Radiolab) tweeted on March 1 in response to news of Sam Sanders' departure: Wow. Really sad for our house radio, cause you're our hands down favorite here Sam.
New Weekend Edition Sunday host Ayesha Rascoe replaces Lulu Garcia-Navarro, who was the first of three radio show hosts to announce their departures in 2021. Rascoe's first day hosting will be March 27. Sam Sanders' last day on his podcast, It's Been a Minute, will be March 11.
These departures remain a significant concern for NPR. Everything we wrote in our January analysis remains relevant. NPR has to keep its foot on the gas when it comes to hiring and promoting journalists from marginalized communities in order to maintain a diverse staff ready to step into the highest-profile jobs. And NPR has to up its game when it comes to contract negotiations with top talent.
While all of these departures may not have been avoided, we believe NPR could have prevailed in some of the negotiations. NPR CEO John Lansing tells us he is now involved in all high-level contract talks. — Kelly McBride
The Office of the Public Editor is a team. Editor Kayla Randall and reporters Amaris Castillo and Emily Barske make this newsletter possible. Illustrations are by Carlos Carmonamedina. We are still reading all of your messages on Facebook, Twitter and from our inbox. As always, keep them coming.
Kelly McBride
NPR Public Editor
Chair, Craig Newmark Center for Ethics & Leadership at the Poynter Institute
[Copyright 2022 NPR]
