Ombudsman's Report: November 2007
Total E-mail Filed- June 8- October 16, 2007: 4,259
Topics get their own folder/ category once there are more than 10 email messages received concerning that particular issue. Just because a topic does not have its own folder, does not mean the Office of the Ombudsman has not received questions/ concerns about the reporting.
Bias |
541 |
- General biased reporting |
151 |
- “Npr is too liberal” |
34 |
- “Npr is too conservative” |
187 |
- “Npr is pro-Palestinian” |
144 |
- “Npr is pro-Israeli” |
25 |
Campaigns |
479 |
- CAMERA |
16 |
- Conyers Report |
61 |
- Hoaxes |
21 |
- Kenneth Foster |
100 |
- Nuclear Energy |
281 |
Corrections/ Accuracy |
382 |
- Grammar/ Diction |
106 |
- Misc |
276 |
General Inquiries |
174 |
General Suggestions/Comments |
540 |
- Suggestions/Comments |
320 |
- Story Ideas |
220 |
Hosts/ Reporters |
491 |
- Negative feedback |
280 |
-- Juan Williams |
134 |
-- Mara Liasson |
47 |
- Network Appearances |
16 |
- Positive feedback |
14 |
Letters of Appreciation |
48 |
Music |
18 |
NPR.org/ Technology |
60 |
Offended Listener |
359 |
- On Air Violence |
34 |
- Other |
90 |
- Questionable Story Selection |
201 |
- Usage of Expletives |
34 |
Offensive Email |
10 |
Recurring Issues |
1,016 |
- Ahmandinejad |
23 |
- Blackwater |
17 |
- Brents |
16 |
- Co-Sleeping |
44 |
- Dan Rather |
11 |
- Environment/Global Warming |
57 |
- Filibusters in the Senate |
23 |
- Four Family Luxury |
17 |
- Gonzalez |
12 |
- Guatemalan Adoptions |
91 |
- Immigration |
32 |
- Iraq War |
121 |
- Jena 6 |
39 |
- Katrina Coverage |
24 |
- Michael Vick |
20 |
- Minneapolis Bridge |
20 |
- Myanmar vs. Burma |
24 |
- O’Hanlon |
10 |
- OJ Simpson |
15 |
- Other |
64 |
- Petraeus Report/ Hearing |
78 |
- Presidential Candidates |
199 |
- Rover Resignation |
23 |
- Senator Craig |
28 |
Spam |
73 |
Station Issues |
50 |
Underwriting |
26 |
*Notes:
- This tally only counts email, but it is generally reflective of the concerns I receive daily via phone calls and postal mail.
- The “Bias” section of this tally has been broken down into more specific categories to incorporate the increasing email we received on the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict. In previous board reports, this conflict was listed under “Recurring Issues”.
- As major outliers in the tally, Mara Liasson and Juan Williams have each received their own folder for their commentaries, some of which include their network appearances on FOX News. Historically, each host/ reporter received their own folder, but with escalating concerns questioning Liasson’s and William’s reportage, the Office of the Ombudsman has decided monitor these two employees. This is largely due to the fact that their email/phone/postal mail earnings greatly exceed those of other on-air staff.
- While concerns about NPR’s reporting on the Middle East are continually submitted to the office, there is also an increasing apprehension surrounding the alleged bias of NPR’s coverage of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This is independent of the Six Day War Series, which merited its own folder in last quarter’s board report.
Chantal de la Rionda
Acting Manager, Office of the Ombudsman
Assistant to the Ombudsman
