NPR has named a distinguished media ethicist as its sixth public editor, appointing Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute to fill the newsroom watchdog role at a time when many other major news outlets have abandoned it.
“The public editor represents the public interest in our journalism and helps hold us accountable to maintaining our high standards of journalism,” NPR CEO John Lansing said in an interview. “And so [it’s] really a critical position for us, particularly during this current [public health] crisis.
“Our journalism has always been great. But it’s never been more important than ever that we get the truth out to the people that need the facts, that we fact-check government officials,” he added. “Literally, lives are in the balance, based on people having the right information. And having a public editor of the quality of Kelly McBride will help support that effort in a very meaningful way.”
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