NPR Axes Juan Williams for Muslim comment

#26
#26
DC Vol said:
While you have a point, NPR should be facing a Wrongful Dismissal lawsuit. While it can be construed as ignorance, I fail to see grounds for legit dismissal.

"Freedom of Speech" was hyperbole on my part, but, given the nature of things on NPR I think that absolutely should be the point.
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They will say he violated the "bias" clause in the analyst contract. Here's the statement from NPR to affiliates.

NPR memo to stations: why we fired Juan Williams - LA Observed

and here's some contract language

Third, these specific comments (and others made in the past), are inconsistent with NPR’s ethics code, which applies to all journalists (including contracted analysts):
“In appearing on TV or other media . . . NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist. They should not participate in shows . . . that encourage punditry and speculation rather than fact-based analysis.”
More fundamentally, “In appearing on TV or other media including electronic Web-based forums, NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist.”
Unfortunately, Juan’s comments on Fox violated our standards as well as our values and offended many in doing so.
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#29
#29
utvolpj said:
so anyone working at a publicly funded company has absolute free speech?
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No. Not what I said. I think he should have the same latitude afforded to others to speak opinions that some may consider controversial. Since it is publicly funded, she does not have the same right that a private broadcaster does to edit according to a political or social bias.
 
#30
#30
droski said:
this is truly unbelievable. do you think NPR employees actually think NPR is unbaised?
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Yes. I think that Goldberg was right in "Bias". Many if not most liberal journalist think they are unbiased and objective. Most of the MSM is self-deceived about its bias.
 
#31
#31
The problem I have with the above quoted statement is that he had been in a pundit or commentating position for a long time. Seems that only when he said something they didn't like that they made that complaint.
 
#32
#32
JedEckert.com, Liberal Lynch Mob Finally Gets Juan Williams

But you are not allowed to say these things lest they offend the most protected class of people in the history of the world. You simply can’t say anything that might in the smallest way make Muslims feel the least bit uncomfortable. Witness the Seattle cartoonist who dared suggest a “Draw Allah” contest. That woman has been forced to into hiding on the advice of our own FBI. Our country either cannot or will not protect her!

This is beyond outrageous.


This is madness.
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I suppose the important thing that sticks out here is the first amendment and the liberal interpretation that it means seperation of church and state and that it has nothing at all to do with free speech.

Remember the guy who had worked for the New Jersey Transit Authority for six years but was fired for demonstrating against the ground zero mosque??

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Liberal group zeroes in on next target: NPR correspondent and Fox News contributor Mara Liasson | The Daily Caller - Breaking News, Opinion, Research, and Entertainment

Now that Fox News contributor Juan Williams has been dropped from National Public Radio, the liberal website Media Matters for America is now targeting Mara Liasson, the last remaining NPR correspondent who works with Fox News.

“NPR’s Mara Liasson and her long-running association with Fox News has often raised questions. This might be the proper time for NPR to finally address that thorny issue,” wrote Media Matters columnist Eric Boehlert Thursday in a post entitled “What about Mara Liasson?” “f you look at NPR’s code of ethics, there’s simply no way Liasson should be making appearances on Fox.”

Boehlert cited an official NPR document that says employees may not make media appearances that are “harmful to the reputation of NPR or the NPR participant” or “where the employee’s appearance may appear to endorse the agenda of a group or organization.”

Boehlert said that since Fox News pushes a “political agenda,” .......
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Media Matters and NPR both announced this week they were receiving million-dollar grants from left-wing billionaire George Soros.
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As if NPR doesn't promote a political agenda??
 
#34
#34
Meh, they get 10 % of their funding from the corporation for public broadcasting and another 6 % from grants. The whole public funding angle is a bit overblown.
 
#36
#36
"In wake of NPR controversy, Fox News gives Juan Williams an expanded role

The cable news network signs the analyst to a new three-year contract for nearly $2 million. Meanwhile, conservative figures blast the public radio network for its response to Williams' comments about Muslims."
 
#41
#41
I had this discussion with a friend recently. IMO, he has the right to say pretty much whatever he wants....and his employer (publically funded or not) pretty much has every right to terminate his contract if they feel those comments do not represent their organization in the way they want. Or, at least that's basically what I've seen.
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#42
#42
By the way, any organization that thinks this is so negative that it is a fireable offense is run by a bunch of maroons.
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#44
#44
Arclight said:
"In wake of NPR controversy, Fox News gives Juan Williams an expanded role

The cable news network signs the analyst to a new three-year contract for nearly $2 million. Meanwhile, conservative figures blast the public radio network for its response to Williams' comments about Muslims."
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It's probably the best thing that could have ever happened to his career.
 
#46
#46
TennTradition said:
By the way, any organization that thinks this is so negative that it is a fireable offense is run by a bunch of maroons.
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About par for the course for gov't and gov't backed entities I'd say....

I do agree with Droski that I'm glad this has happened to shed some light on this whole farce that NPR is some objective organization that has some sacred credibility that is completely unearned.

On LG's statement about the funding is being overblown: Yes, it's only 10% by your figures but how would you feel if Fox News had 10% of their expenses paid for by the Government? Besides not only that, doesn't that pretty much kill the whole purpose of the press? (being the people's watch dog over the government)

I had heard from someone that she also had said his personal opinions should be left to himself or to his shrink... but I can't find that so I'm not going to claim it. IF she had said something like that, then I believe he has grounds for a slander suit. But wrongful firing? No, any employer has the right to terminate the contract at any time.
 
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#48
#48
#49
#49
She apologized because she created a public relations nightmare for NPR... and for no other reason.
 
#50
#50
IBlvNTmWrk said:
She apologized because she created a public relations nightmare for NPR... and for no other reason.
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The whole way this was handled seems completely boneheaded for an organization that relies on grants and private donations. It's not very difficult to smell a major rat here.
 
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