NPR has done it again … self-inflicted controversy

National Public Radio has done it again … self-inflicted controversy and scandal. Acting in what has become the insecure, confused and fearful signature manner of NPR management, they have cancelled a member station produced program “World of Opera” because the show host – Lisa Simeone – helped organize an ongoing protest in Washington, according to an NPR spokeswoman.

Lisa Simeone

What Ms. Simeone did was on her own time and not involved with her professional work or capacity with “World of Opera.” No one would have been aware of her private time had it not been for NPR’s objection.

“Our view is it’s a potential conflict of interest for any journalist or any individual who plays a public role on behalf of NPR to take an active part in a political movement or advocacy campaign,” NPR spokeswoman Dana Davis Rehm told the Associated Press. “Doing so has the potential to compromise our reputation as an organization that strives to be impartial and unbiased.”

But, Ms. Simeone did not work for NPR and was not acting on behalf of NPR.

NPR's head of communications, Dana Davis Rehm. NPR photo.

Before I go on, let me note that there seems to also be a fundamental of misplaced competence level involved. Ms. Rehm, who is NPR’s senior vice president of marketing, communications and external relations, has nothing in her bio that suggests even a blush of expertise or credentials in communications. Rather, she comes from the incestuous local public radio environment.

NPR’s ethics code states that “NPR journalists may not participate in marches and rallies” involving issues NPR covers. The code notes that some provisions may not apply to outside contributors. It uses a freelancer who primarily contributes arts coverage as an example.

The target of NPR’s scorn – Lisa Simeone – is a highly respected freelancer who has worked in radio and television for 25 years, hosting music shows and documentaries. She hosted “World of Opera” produced by North Carolina classical music station WDAV. Ms. Simeone was involved in a Washington citizens protest on her own time. NPR had a problem with that.

Clown Rodney Huey, NPR's former head of communications

The list of NPR’s problems just keeps growing beyond this latest looney action:

1. NPR is deeply afraid of appearing to be liberal and incurring more scorn from conservatives on Capitol Hill and around the country, and that affects their judgement.
2. NPR is struggling with sustaining its funding in a highly charged political climate (see #1).
3. NPR management doesn’t realize that legitimate news coverage might incur scorn from someone. That’s because they come from the world of fundraising, not journalism.
4. NPR persists in hiring executives from the organizationally inbred clan of local public radio who often lack deep experience and credentials to handle the brand and image responsibilities of a major national radio organization. Remember when NPR hired Rodney Huey as head of communications? Huey had no experience in news or broadcasting but had worked at Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, the circus.
5. The position held by Ms. Rehm is a contradiction and an organizational hold-over of bygone days. “Marketing” and “Communications” are contradictory practices in today’s world. Marketing promotes, sells and pushes out self-serving messages. Communications, on the other hand, works to build trust, engagement, connection. Stated another way, marketing shouts while communications listens.
6. NPR continually makes self-inflicted and very public stumbles and wounds to its reputation through amateurish handling of issues, such as the idiotic behavior of senior NPR fundraising executive Ron Schiller or the impulsive firing of long-time journalist Juan Williams.
7. NPR has systematically cancelled opera and classical music programs in recent years. Was the Simeone excuse just cooked-up to cancel “World of Opera?”

Before picking on Lisa Simeone, NPR needs to get its own house in order. Because what NPR is not just punishing Ms. Simeone, WDAV and “World of Opera” but also NPR listeners. Isn’t there any comprehension of that impact?

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3. Self-Inflicted Brand Damage for Groupon and Kenneth Cole
4. Self-Inflicted Damage, New Opportunities
5. Debat Update: NPR’s On the Media

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