PBS follows NPR’s lead and exits Twitter after inaccurate labeling

Elon Musk defends “government-funded” label; Chicago affiliates not affected 

The Public Broadcasting Service, or PBS has decided to follow National Public Radio, or NPR off of the Twitter platform after a flap regarding both being labeled as “government-funded media”. 

This came as NPR stopped using Twitter last week, saying the labeling was inaccurate, noting only fifteen percent of PBS funding from the federal government (though the Corporation of Public Broadcasting) and the rest from viewer donations (hence the “viewers like you” monkier) and philanthropic institutions. NPR says only one percent of its funding comes from the government. 

It appears Twitter owner Elon Musk is selectively applying the labels to public broadcasters. While the BBC, PBS, and NPR have been labeled by him as publicly funded, others such as South Africa’s SABC, Canada’s CBC (and its accompanying CBC News account), and Ontario’s TVO are not labeled. 

Musk doesn’t appear to be sympathetic to those complaining, even doubling-down in an interview with the BBC Wednesday. Musk has also stated on Twitter he would like to see NPR defunded. 

Individual NPR stations have also left Twitter including those in Boston, Pittsburgh, and Santa Barbara, Calif. However, there are currently no plans for either WBEZ-FM or WTTW to suspend their Twitter accounts, as theirs remain active – and not labeled. The decision also doesn’t affect individual accounts of NPR or PBS employees, such as NPR media critic Eric Deggans, who is staying put. 

“We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public’s understanding of our editorial independence,” NPR said in a statement. “We are turning away from Twitter but not from our audiences and communities.”

There is no doubt Musk is using his newly-acquired platform to targeted perceived enemies in the media he doesn’t like, which explains the selective labeling process. Musk recently revoked the verification badge for the New York Times after publicly saying they wouldn’t pay $1,000 a month for it, and feuded with SubStack earlier over links its uses. But another reason he may be doing this is to impress conservative figures around the globe – especially Republicans on Capitol Hill, who are historically at odds with the media – no matter who is funding their newsrooms. In the states, conservatives have long targeted public media, as Republicans have often threatened to strip CPB of its funding.   

All of this is indeed troubling, given Musk’s unprofessionalism and the fact a lot of advertisers have bailed on the platform with technical problems galore. But as long as Twitter remains king on the social media hill – even in its weakened state, Musk can pretty much do whatever he wants – even if it means undermining organizations unfairly.