Musk Accuses NPR of Being State-Controlled on Twitter

Twitter: Musk is now having the US broadcaster NPR marked as state-controlled

The ongoing feud between Elon Musk and US media has taken another turn. Musk has marked American broadcaster NPR as state-controlled on Twitter, which has implications for the reach of their profile. NPR’s chief John Lansing called the move “unacceptable,” stating that NPR is independent and its funding comes from donations and contributions. Until recently, even Twitter’s own guidelines did not flag editorially independent channels like NPR and BBC. The classification was removed after Twitter was tweeted about the contradiction by a Washington Post journalist. The reason for Musk’s interest in NPR remains unclear, but as a Twitter owner with over 130 million followers, he has been amplifying right-wing political views and attacking renowned media, including accusing them of being “racist” towards whites.

Musk’s accusations of media bias have led him to clash with various news agencies. Recently, he accused the New York Times of spreading propaganda and labeled their Twitter profile’s content as “diarrhea.” As a result, the New York Times account was de-verified. Musk has long felt that he has been treated unfairly by the US media and has been using his Twitter platform to voice his opinions.

This move to flag NPR as state-controlled may have broader implications, as Twitter restricts the reach of such profiles. NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding those in power accountable. Its classification as state-controlled is factually incorrect and, according to NPR’s chief, poses a threat to the broadcasting station’s independence. While social networks make their own independent decisions about rules, NPR stands by the independence of its journalists.

Despite Musk’s vocal opposition to mainstream media, it remains to be seen how his actions will impact public perception of journalism in the long run. However, as a powerful figure with a large following, his words and actions carry weight and may have broader implications.

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