Responses to NPR's Dropping World of Opera, Lisa Simeone Firing
A few responses to NPR dropping Lisa Simeone's World of Opera because of her involvement in organizing protests in DC, and her firing as host of Soundprint for the same reason:
On a related note, Michelle Norris, whose husband is now an Obama 2012 advisor, recently quit her job as All Things Considered host to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest.
- On his Baltimore Sun blog, David Zurawick says that NPR has a code of ethics and needs to enforce it.
- Libertarian website Reason thinks that the lengths NPR goes through to prove its objectivity only emphasizes its editorial bias; better just to acknowledge it and let its employees be Prius-driving, yoga-loving, liberal lunatics.
- WDAV in Charlotte, which produces World of Opera, is sticking by Simeone. The station is keeping her as host, and will start distributing the show directly to stations beginning on November 11. WDAV blog commenters seem pleased.
- James Fallows of the Atlantic has some responses from Davidson College alumni on WDAV's support for Simeone. (WDAV's studios are on the campus of the school.
- FAIR found her firing "absurd."
On a related note, Michelle Norris, whose husband is now an Obama 2012 advisor, recently quit her job as All Things Considered host to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest.