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New York (AFP) – The American public radio NPR announced on Wednesday that its “accounts (…) will no longer be active on Twitter”, after Elon Musk’s platform categorized it as “state media”, then “media financed by government funds”, measures which “undermine our credibility”.
“NPR accounts as an organization will no longer be active on Twitter as the platform takes actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent,” it said in a statement. a statement from National Public Radio.
Asked by AFP, a spokeswoman for NPR said that the journalists of the network, as well as its member stations, “can decide on their side if they want to stay on the platform”.
“We do not put our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public’s understanding of our editorial independence,” adds NPR, whose main account had 8.8 million Twitter followers on Wednesday. .
The radio had protested last week after being labeled “media affiliated with the American state” by Elon Musk’s social network, a label putting it on the same level as the accounts of RT or Sputnik for Russia.
Subsequently, Twitter changed its designation to label NPR as a “government funded” organ, a label also added to Britain’s BBC.
Founded in 1970 and very well known in the United States, the NPR is mainly financed by advertising and sponsorship, as well as by the participation of the radio stations that are members of its network. It ensures that less than 1% of its operational budget comes from federal sources.
The change of label for the NPR came a few days after the social network had removed the daily New York Times its certification.
The NPR and the New York Times are well-watched and respected outlets in the United States, but are also considered too left-wing by some conservatives.
Elon Musk assured in an interview with the BBC on Wednesday that the management of Twitter had been comparable to a “roller coaster” and admitted “many mistakes”, six months after buying the company for 44 billion dollars.
© 2023 AFP
