The truth about Wikileaks (for a change)

Twitterers were able to publicize a correction that National Public Radio tried to bury.

The broadcaster's wrote: In recent weeks, NPR hosts, reporters and guests have incorrectly said or implied that WikiLeaks recently has disclosed or released roughly 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables. Although the website has vowed to publish "251,287 leaked United States embassy cables," as of Dec. 28, 2010, only 1,942 of the cables had been released.

By all accounts, the correction was the result of a number of listener complaints to NPR's Ombudsman.

And this is why we need Wikileaks and sites like it. Mainstream media outlets in this country, even the best ones, have a truth telling problem. And while NPR deserves some credit for actually running corrections, unlike most broadcasters, it shows how important it is for people to be watching the self-appointed watchdogs and holding them accountable.

The correction also rubbishes one of the many dubious claims of anti-transparency advocates that Wikileaks is "not showing any restraint." The site has published fewer than 0.8% of the cables it was given.

Days of Pabst and roses

Public broadcasting famously likes to brag about his it's "non-commercial." It has underwriters and sponsors, but not "advertisers."

Public radio and TV affiliates regularly ask for money. They hold fund drives to tell you how great it is that you can watch this or that splendid concert "without commercial interruption"... and then spend 10 minutes asking for your money.

As a big fan of public radio and member of three stations, I accept this state of affairs as a necessary evil.

Public radio also likes to portray its audience as more educated and more affluent, essentially of a higher class.

Yet guess who's an advertiser... er... "sponsor" of NPR.org, National Public Radio's website?

The Beast!

I'm not sure of the ethics of a public broadcaster advertising beer "sponsorships," though I suppose it's less ethically questionable than accepting money for energy or pharmaceutical drug companies (which is also seen in public broadcasting).

But this is not Sam Adams, not Guinness, not just any beer. Pabst Blue Ribbon is one of the most popular beers of cheap college fraternity keg parties across the nation.

Maybe this is NPR's attempt to counter criticisms that it's elitist.

Indy booksellers mad at NPR

Publishers Weekly had an interesting report on how some booksellers are upset at an unexpected target: National Public Radio.

When the NPR website highlights certain books, the 'Buy this book' link directs users to Amazon.com. Presumably, tbe network gets a commission if a user buys something on Amazon via the link on NPR's website. A non-profit on which I am on the board of directors has a similar agreement with Amazon.

However, independent book sellers naturally aren't thrilled about this.

Collectively, independent booksellers support NPR to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. On top of that, a number of booksellers provide book selections to their local affiliates and occasionally nationally on NPR.

The main NPR affiliate in this area, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, isn't much different.

WAMC regularly provides an on-air forum to independent booksellers. And they do have links to the many independent bookstores that underwrite their programming. But links to books featured on their The Book Show program also take users to Amazon.

They do so while encouraging users to 'Support WAMC with your Amazon.com purchase,' though if I were a bookstore underwriter, I might wonder why I'm supporting WAMC with my dollars.