Berkshire Eagle Column 2-3-04
Berkshire Eagle
I, Publius

Shame on NPR
By Alan Chartock
Special to the Eagle


Saturday, April 03, 2004 - A terrible thing has befallen all of us who listen to Bob Edwards on NPR's Morning Edition every day. The arrogant meatheads at NPR have demoted the man who is as reassuring in the morning as that first cup of hot something.

This is the guy who has been with the program since day one, almost 25 years. Beyond comforting us by his very presence and style, he has proven himself a masterful interviewer, unmatched anywhere on the radio dial. How will we survive getting out of bed without Bob? Why was this necessary? It isn't as if Edwards hasn't won almost every award in contemporary journalism. It isn't as if he plays favorites (he doesn't). It isn't as if Morning Edition hasn't grown by leaps and bounds under Edwards' leadership. It must be something else.

In a rather pathetic series of hints, leaks, informal statements and letters to the thousands of disgruntled and astounded listeners, NPR seems to be making the case that they are looking for a younger demographic and that it is time for a change. They suggest that Edwards will still be present as a "senior correspondent." Edwards has said that he doesn't want the change.

Think about Bob Edwards, 56 years old, being replaced because of age. What about all of us who are older than he is? What about all those who grow older every second? In fact, the president of NPR, Kevin Klose, is so old that he looks like Father Christmas.

I am 62 years old and I can tell you that I am really ticked off. If NPR, with all its endless rhetoric about racism, sexism and ageism, is now a practitioner of the very same evils they have been decrying, all I can say is "shame." Anyone who is around my age or older ought to take this insult very seriously. If you are younger, do you want to look forward to a time when you are shoved aside because some callous jackass decides that younger people buy more? This is absurd. There are excellent Supreme Court judges who are closer to 100 than to 60.

I have been out front in demanding that these faceless bureaucrats return Edwards to his rightful perch, but the know-nothings are toughing it out. They think they can afford to. Listeners to the NPR network will take it out on member stations like WAMC that are as dismayed and as unhappy as they are.

The way it works is that WAMC pays dues to NPR and a lot of dues at that. That amount isn't going to change. They get their $600K from us no matter who gives or doesn't give to WAMC. So they are sitting pretty.

I haven't been quiet about this. I have discussed, both on the radio and in my blog, the outrageous chutzpah that NPR has shown in making this unilateral decision to fire a first-rate talent. I have received a good deal of mail from people asking me why so few station managers have dared to get in NPR's face over this.

I can't speak for them but as a group, these folks have never been known for courage. Some may believe that NPR will act against them in some nefarious way if they don't toe the line. Some may want to get to the big league, NPR, themselves. Some may not want to set a precedent so that when they fire someone they don't have pressure from those opposed to their moves. Hey, that's why we have these positions, to show some guts. I remember firing a popular guy who, despite many warnings, refused to play by the rules. But Bob Edwards hasn't done anything but behaved in the most professional manner.

The New York Times checked in, publishing a piece of tripe suggesting that many of the NPR station managers were behind the anti-Edwards putsch. Somehow, the mighty Times, in its quest for fair and balanced journalism, couldn't seem to find me although many of the top people at the Gray Lady are listeners in our area and are very aware of my views on this matter.

There is a Web site, www.Savebobedwards.com, that has a petition with a down side. While the intent of the site is admirable, it asks those who sign not to give any money to an NPR member station until Bob is saved. Talk about no good turn going unpunished. I've heard from several people who want to sign the petition but who won't because they wonder why we should be punished for going to bat for Bob Edwards.

I recently heard from Bob himself. He is basking in all the love that has been shown toward him by so many people. If you want to do something, get on the computer and the phone. You may want to write to Kevin Klose, the NPR president, at Kklose@npr.org or the ombudsman, Jeff Dvorkin, at Jdvorkin@npr.org . The guy who actually pulled the switch is the news director, Jay Kernis. He can be reached at Jkernis@npr.org .



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Alan Chartock, a Great Barrington resident, is chairman and executive director of WAMC Northeast Public Radio and a professor of communications at SUNY-Albany. His web site is www.alanchartock.com
- posted by Alan @ 4/03/2004 02:33:00 PM