Ombudsman's Report: November 2002
Highlights:
- 12,626 e-mails were received since mid-July.
- While the Middle East issues still predominate the complaints, other issues (Iraq, pro/anti-war, economy, domestic security) are emerging.
- The historical series on the Middle East received a large percentage of complimentary e-mails (apprx. 30 percent).
- High number of comment/dialogue (NPR/hosts/programs) about the programs. These were not necessarily complaints.
- Increased number of enquiries (general information) about tapes and transcripts, books, CD purchases, etc.
- Strong level of satisfaction with the NPR web site.
- Completed content analysis of NPR's Middle East coverage.
E-mail by subject:
| Ombudsman's website column | 334 |
| Accuracy | 191 |
| Bias | 172 |
| CAMERA | 21 |
| Ethics | 50 |
| General Information | 2,034 |
| Hoaxes | 40 |
| Ideas/commentaries/suggestions | 536 |
| Inquiries (Ombuds' investigations) | 31 |
| Legal | 95 |
| LPFM | 7 |
| Middle East coverage | 4,019 |
| Middle East series | 370 |
| NPR changes (programs, cultural, etc.) | 6 |
| Online | 537 |
| Politics/Election | 12 |
| Station issues | 183 |
| TVC | 77 |
| Underwriting/funding (inc. pledge drives) | 77 |
| Total | 12,626 |
Jeffrey Dvorkin
Office of the Ombudsman
October 25, 2002
