Consider This from NPR A tricky reporting assignment: covering your own workplace
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Aug 3, 2025 David Folkenflik, an NPR media correspondent with two decades of experience, shares insights about the complexities of reporting on his own workplace. He discusses the pressing challenges of funding cuts affecting public broadcasting and the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity amidst political pressures. Folkenflik also highlights the balance between transparency and interpersonal relationships in newsrooms, addressing the growing distrust in mainstream media and the implications for independent journalism.
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Contested Media Truths
- Truth, facts, and bias are all contested in today's media environment, complicating journalism.
- News organizations sometimes make incredible mistakes, adding to the challenge of fair reporting.
Challenges in Covering the Press
- Covering the press beats involves extraordinary control, paranoia, and vindictiveness compared to other beats like politics or education.
- The media industry is anxious, with many egos and money at play, increasing perceived stakes for reporters.
NPR's Editorial Firewall Protocol
- NPR developed a formal protocol to isolate news reporting from corporate interference, including a firewall around editorial content.
- David Folkenflik has conversations with new CEOs to affirm his role reporting critically even if they dislike it.