NPR Senior Business Editor, Uri Berliner, has resigned from the organization, citing dissatisfaction with the response from CEO Katherine Maher to his essay criticizing NPR's loss of public trust. Berliner, who had worked at NPR for 25 years, expressed his respect for his colleagues and his desire for NPR to flourish, but stated that he could not continue working in an environment where he felt disparaged by the new CEO's divisive views.

The essay in question was published by The Free Press, an online site known for its conservative perspectives on mainstream media. In his essay, Berliner argued that NPR's coverage had become increasingly influenced by a rigid progressive ideology. He also highlighted the lack of diverse viewpoints in NPR shows, podcasts, and online coverage, despite the network's priority on workforce diversity under former CEO John Lansing.

In response to Berliner's critique, NPR's Chief News Executive, Edith Chapin, defended the organization, stating that they were proud of their work in covering a wide range of challenging stories. Chapin emphasized the importance of inclusion in their coverage, both in terms of staff and sourcing.

Berliner's essay resonated with conservative critics of NPR, including former President Donald Trump and activist Christopher Rufo. Rufo has been using Maher's old social media posts to rally public pressure for her removal, as he did with former Harvard University President Claudine Gay.

While some have used Berliner's resignation as an opportunity to call for the elimination of federal funding for NPR and local public radio stations, Berliner himself reiterated that he does not support such calls.

Berliner's decision to publish his essay in The Free Press and appear on its podcast resulted in a five-day suspension without pay from NPR. The organization indicated that Berliner had violated their protocol, as he had worked outside of NPR without permission and shared proprietary information.

In his resignation letter, Berliner clarified that he had never questioned the integrity of his colleagues and had been attempting to raise these concerns within the newsroom for several years. However, his decision to publicize his concerns instead of engaging in ongoing newsroom debates led some colleagues to question his trustworthiness.

In response to the turmoil, NPR announced monthly reviews of its coverage for fairness and diversity, including a focus on diversity of viewpoints. These reviews were reportedly already under discussion prior to Berliner's essay.

The resignation of Uri Berliner and the subsequent controversy surrounding his critique have left NPR in a state of anger and dismay. Despite the differing opinions within the organization, there appears to be a consensus that healthy discussion and an ongoing commitment to fairness and diversity are crucial for NPR's future.

Please note that the information in this article is reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes, according to NPR's reporting protocol. No NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before its public posting.