Ombudsman's Report: March 2003
Highlights:
- 11,510 e-mails received since November 2002.
- Criticisms about NPR's Middle East reporting have diminished, but remain a concern for many.
- Other issues emerging, specifically around NPR's reporting of the possibility of war in Iraq. By far the majority writes to urge NPR to report what they perceive as a growing anti-war movement.
- In a related trend, there have been more e-mails accusing NPR of political bias.
- Increased number of comments/dialogue with programs.
- Still high levels of appreciation with NPR's web site.
- Ombudsman's online columns are now weekly instead of bi-monthly.
E-mail by subject:
| Ombudsman's website column | 515 |
| Accuracy | 65 |
| Anti-war | 981 |
| Bias | 418 |
| CAMERA | 44 |
| Corrections | 118 |
| General information | 567 |
| Hoaxes | 60 |
| Ideas/commentaries | 887 |
| Inquiries | 63 |
| Journalistic Guide | 275 |
| Legal (inc. TVC) | 285 |
| LPFM | 12 |
| Management issues | 225 |
| Middle East coverage | 2,312 |
| Middle East history series | 392 |
| NPR/hosts/programs | 2,764 |
| Online | 626 |
| "Pants" | 209 |
| Politics | 31 |
| Shuttle disaster | 218 |
| Station issues | 283 |
| Underwriting/funding/pledge drives | 160 |
| Total | 11,510 |
Jeffrey Dvorkin
Office of the Ombudsman
February 12, 2003
