Posted on Apr 7, 2023
Elon Musk says NPR's 'state-affiliated media' label might not have been accurate
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https://www.npr.org/2023/04/06/ [login to see] /elon-musk-says-nprs-state-affiliated-media-label-might-not-have-been-accurate
Twitter CEO Elon Musk said the platform's recent labeling of NPR as "state-affiliated media" might not have been accurate during a series of email exchanges that provided a glimpse into the billionaire's thought process on decisions that reverberate far beyond the social network.
Regardless, as of late Thursday, the designation remained.
On Wednesday, press freedom advocates and the network itself were taken aback to see that Twitter had placed NPR in the same category as government-aligned propaganda outlets in China and Russia — despite the network's federal support, in the form of competitive grants, accounting for about 1% of its annual operating budget.
In one email exchange, Musk appeared to be unclear about the difference between public media and state-controlled media when he decided to affix a state-affiliated media label on NPR's account.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk said the platform's recent labeling of NPR as "state-affiliated media" might not have been accurate during a series of email exchanges that provided a glimpse into the billionaire's thought process on decisions that reverberate far beyond the social network.
Regardless, as of late Thursday, the designation remained.
On Wednesday, press freedom advocates and the network itself were taken aback to see that Twitter had placed NPR in the same category as government-aligned propaganda outlets in China and Russia — despite the network's federal support, in the form of competitive grants, accounting for about 1% of its annual operating budget.
In one email exchange, Musk appeared to be unclear about the difference between public media and state-controlled media when he decided to affix a state-affiliated media label on NPR's account.
Elon Musk says NPR's 'state-affiliated media' label might not have been accurate
Posted from npr.org
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Besides potentially besmirching the reputation of NPR, the label influences the reach of the network's tweets.
Under Twitter's rules, and according to the former executive, accounts that have been given the state-affiliated mark are not recommended or amplified on the platform — a process known as "downranking" among social media insiders.
For example, if someone who did not already follow Russian publications like RT or Sputnik searched for the government-backed publications on Twitter, the publications were not suggested, according to a second former Twitter employee who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Accounts deemed affiliated with government, the employee said, were not allowed to advertise on Twitter. A list of what accounts received the label was never publicly revealed.
The policies were in place as a way of ensuring government propaganda did not run amuck on the platform. Now that Musk owns Twitter, it is unclear if the same platform and advertising restrictions on state-affiliated media are still in place.
NPR has not sent a tweet from its official account since Twitter affixed the label.
Network spokeswoman Isabel Lara said since all of the news organization's tweets now carry a "false disclaimer," the organization has decided to halt tweets until the label is removed.
Asked if Twitter not taking away the label meant that the company was standing by the decision, Musk punted.
"We're digging into it," he wrote."
..."Besides potentially besmirching the reputation of NPR, the label influences the reach of the network's tweets.
Under Twitter's rules, and according to the former executive, accounts that have been given the state-affiliated mark are not recommended or amplified on the platform — a process known as "downranking" among social media insiders.
For example, if someone who did not already follow Russian publications like RT or Sputnik searched for the government-backed publications on Twitter, the publications were not suggested, according to a second former Twitter employee who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Accounts deemed affiliated with government, the employee said, were not allowed to advertise on Twitter. A list of what accounts received the label was never publicly revealed.
The policies were in place as a way of ensuring government propaganda did not run amuck on the platform. Now that Musk owns Twitter, it is unclear if the same platform and advertising restrictions on state-affiliated media are still in place.
NPR has not sent a tweet from its official account since Twitter affixed the label.
Network spokeswoman Isabel Lara said since all of the news organization's tweets now carry a "false disclaimer," the organization has decided to halt tweets until the label is removed.
Asked if Twitter not taking away the label meant that the company was standing by the decision, Musk punted.
"We're digging into it," he wrote."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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Don't step back from the truth. They are federally funded, and no matter what politics are in office, they still pound the leftist drum.
Yes, they do have some decent investigative pieces, but they are still funded by taxpayers. Either by donations or through the Fed.
They are most definitely State Affiliated Media.
Yes, they do have some decent investigative pieces, but they are still funded by taxpayers. Either by donations or through the Fed.
They are most definitely State Affiliated Media.
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