Wednesday, July 06, 2005
NPR supports creationism?
What's going on with NPR? I listened to a program on the evolution controversy on All Things Considered this evening, and was outraged that only one viewpoint was heard. It's true that I missed the last 5 minutes (was in the car) but the previous 25 minutes had been devoted strictly to the opinions and comments of people who are against the teaching of evolution.
I've always loved listening to NPR precisely because you could always count on hearing both sides of a controversy. I would like very much to know if this policy is changing. If so, is there anything that faithful NPR listeners can do about it?
--Jean Brandt, Dayton
[WMUB General Manager Cleve Callison: While I did not hear very much of the piece you mention, I can't imagine that NPR has become a vehicle for creationist ideology. I'm sure they're simply reporting the facts of the climate in Tennessee some 80+ years ago.
I did find the NPR web page with the original story by Barbara Bradley Hagerty, an essay by Noah Adams, and a great deal of other material.]
[NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin: Thank you for your email to Cleve and I appreciate the fact that he shared your note with me.
The two reports were not, in my opinion, free airtime for creationism. The goal was to look at the still smouldering issue on the anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey" trial. I thought Noah Adams did an amazing job in revisiting Dayton, Tennessee and that Barbara Bradley Hagerty's report was also wonderful as she spoke to high school students about this.
The story is still very much alive around the United States and I believe that NPR's reporting on this is essential to ensure that listeners understand what are the core beliefs of many Americans.
I am told that NPR will be doing other stories that look into the reasons why evolution is under attack and how its advocates plan to respond to the proponents of creationism and intelligent design.]
I've always loved listening to NPR precisely because you could always count on hearing both sides of a controversy. I would like very much to know if this policy is changing. If so, is there anything that faithful NPR listeners can do about it?
--Jean Brandt, Dayton
[WMUB General Manager Cleve Callison: While I did not hear very much of the piece you mention, I can't imagine that NPR has become a vehicle for creationist ideology. I'm sure they're simply reporting the facts of the climate in Tennessee some 80+ years ago.
I did find the NPR web page with the original story by Barbara Bradley Hagerty, an essay by Noah Adams, and a great deal of other material.]
[NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin: Thank you for your email to Cleve and I appreciate the fact that he shared your note with me.
The two reports were not, in my opinion, free airtime for creationism. The goal was to look at the still smouldering issue on the anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey" trial. I thought Noah Adams did an amazing job in revisiting Dayton, Tennessee and that Barbara Bradley Hagerty's report was also wonderful as she spoke to high school students about this.
The story is still very much alive around the United States and I believe that NPR's reporting on this is essential to ensure that listeners understand what are the core beliefs of many Americans.
I am told that NPR will be doing other stories that look into the reasons why evolution is under attack and how its advocates plan to respond to the proponents of creationism and intelligent design.]
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