Ombudsman Report: March 2002
Listeners concerns have increased in every category. Overall, the number of e-mails increased 60.9 percent over the previous quarterly report.
E-mail by subject:
| Ombudsman column | 755 |
| On-air accuracy | 202 |
| Bias (left/right) | 111 |
| Middle East (accusations of pro-Palestine bias) | 530 |
| Middle East (accusations of pro-Israel bias) | 3,402 |
| Corrections (on air and on line) | 59 |
| Journalistic ethics | 42 |
| General information (transcripts, tapes, music, etc.) | 733 |
| Hoaxes | 79 |
| Story suggestions/commentaries | 490 |
| Inquiries into stories (complaints) | 123 |
| Legal (copyright, permissions, complaints) | 33 |
| LPFM | 5 |
| NPR/hosts/programs | 2,834 |
| Online | 331 |
| Politics | 36 |
| Stations (local programs, complaints) | 258 |
| Underwriting | 97 |
| Total | 10,120 |
Part of the increase in the number of e-mails regarding NPR's Middle East coverage is the result of two significant pressure campaigns: from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) and from CAMERA. Overall, it remains my impression that in the past six months, the number of specific complaints about NPR's Middle East reporting has declined even as the volume about NPR coverage in general, has increased. The higher number of e-mails may also be a function of increased listenership since many e-mails are from self-identified first time listeners.
Jeffrey Dvorkin
Office of the Ombudsman
March 7, 2002
