NPR Urged to Follow the Money on Nuclear Issues

by Diane Farsetta — August 23, 2007 - 1:15pm
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During an August 15 news segment on nuclear power, why did National Public Radio's John Ydstie say "many environmentalists ... who began their careers opposed to nuclear power ... are now reconsidering nuclear power in the face of global warming"? In an alert, the media watchdog group FAIR notes that Ydstie only mentioned one by name: Stewart Brand. But Brand -- like fellow nuclear boosters Patrick Moore and Christine Todd Whitman, who consult for the Nuclear Energy Institute -- has financial ties to the nuclear industry. Brand's Global Business Network includes "more than a dozen corporations and governmental agencies involved in the production or promotion of nuclear energy." FAIR also found that NPR itself has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from nuclear companies Constellation Energy and Sempra Energy, between 1993 and 2005. FAIR is calling on NPR to accurately represent the consensus view of leading environmental groups: that "nuclear power, with its huge safety, security and cost issues, is not the solution to climate change."

Main Source: 
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, August 22, 2007

Comments

Good Idea

Submitted by Pani113 on August 26, 2007 - 4:16pm.

That is a good idea Mutternuch BUT would they stop taking corporate funding if we all donated enough? Or would they just be greedy and take it anyway. Is there anyone out there (besides sites like these) who really gives a damn about public interest anymore. Or would they just see the grants as pay raises for themselves?

It is a vicious cycle too, because the more they sell out, the more those old hippies are going to get disgusted with them. I have to admit I didn't give. I thought about it cause I really wanted Liam Lawton tickets (awesome Celtic musician who happens to be a priest), but then I thought about their one sided handling of obesity issues. And I said screw it, why should I donate to folks who just slap me in the face and promote stereotypes without even TRYING to give both sides of the issue!

Our entire society is just driven by greed and will fall apart. I am glad I am alot closer to 50 than 20 cause I have had it!!!!!!

But NPR never stops following the money.

Submitted by Mutternich on August 24, 2007 - 8:18am.

"FAIR also found that NPR itself has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from nuclear companies Constellation Energy and Sempra Energy, between 1993 and 2005."

If that's not "following the money," I don't know what is. NPR and PBS should be required to state, during every pledge break in every pledge drive, exactly how much they'd have to raise from the public in order to forgo money from corporations and foundations tied to them.

Like, "Hey, you old hippies -- if you're tired of hearing about Boeing 'defending democracy' with its high-tech blowing-stuff-up, c'mon, dig deeper!"