Former NPR business editor Uri Berliner has joined The Free Press as a senior editor.
Berliner penned an op-ed for the outlet criticizing his professional home of 25 years, claiming NPR had “lost Americans trust” due to political biases permeating the public broadcaster.
“It’s true NPR has always had a liberal bent, but during most of my tenure here, an open-minded, curious culture prevailed. We were nerdy, but not knee-jerk, activist, or scolding,” Berliner wrote in April. “In recent years, however, that has changed. Today, those who listen to NPR or read its coverage online find something different: the distilled worldview of a very small segment of the U.S. population.”
“An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don’t have an audience that reflects America,” he added.
After a suspension for his comments and a public rebuke from top leaders at the network, Berliner departed the network, stating that “I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cite.”
The Free Press — an independent news organization founded by former New York Times reporter Bari Weiss — announced Berliner’s hiring Tuesday.
“The Free Press is thrilled to announce today that Uri Berliner is joining us as a senior editor, helping us craft our stories and mentor a new generation of independent journalists,” a statement from the company read. “Uri, with his deep background in print and audio, his commitment to viewpoint diversity, and his bravery, is a natural fit for our growing team.”
