Has NPR Passed Its Sell-By Date?

from Talk Cocktail Hosted by Jeff Schechtman

Now that funding has been cut off by Congress, the future of NPR and individual public radio stations remains uncertain. Back in May, on myWhoWhatWhy podcast, I talked with Steve Oney, who has written what may be the definitive history of NPR, On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR. Some of his conclusions may surprise you. While Fox News and right-wing talk radio built empires of outrage, National Public Radio quietly revolutionized American broadcasting with a different model: nuance, narrative, and long-form journalism in a sea of hot takes. But has NPR’s time passed? NPR’s greatest enemy might be itself: The broadcaster’s “collectivist mentality” that prioritizes consensus over hard-hitting journalism has repeatedly hamstrung innovation. While NPR has been broadcasting tote bags since 1971, can they survive a knife fight, their own risk aversion, and that they still think they’re college radio? Get full access to Talk Cocktail Podcast at jeffschechtman.substack.com/subscribe