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The good folk at National Public Radio are shocked, shocked to find out that most of the American people find them to be liberal.

To prove they aren't liberal, the NPR program "On The Media" did an investigation.  Now, keep in mind that as a media junkie, I'm a regular listener to NPR and to "On The Media."  I actually like "On The Media" and find much to like about NPR, but there is no doubt in my mind that not only does NPR have a decidedly liberal bias, "On The Media" is perhaps the most liberally biased program on NPR.

What got the "On The Media" team launched on this investigation was an interview it did with Ira Glass, the host of the NPR program "This American Life."  If there is one program on NPR that is MORE liberal than "On The Media," it is "This American Life."  It is, for example, consistently -- almost relentlessly -- pro-gay.

Anyway, Ira Glass said there was NO WAY NPR was liberal and that the good folks at "On The Media" should put the question to rest once and for all by doing an investigation.  So that's what they did.  And despite finding that the overwhelming majority of the reporters at NPR (and all mainstream media outlets) are liberal and vote Democratic, and despite the fact that Democratic listeners outnumber Republican listeners 2-1, they came to the conclusion -- hold on, now -- wait for it -- OK, here it is:  NPR does NOT have a liberal bias!

Well, that's not exactly what they discovered.  What they discovered is that they couldn't find a measurement that proved the case one way or the other, so the charge of liberal bias must not be true.

For my money, this is just another example of -- well -- liberal bias.  But you can judge for yourself by listening to the report here:

http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2011/03/25/03

WORLD Magazine Publisher Nick Eicher recently wrote about NPR in a column which lays out WORLD's brand of journalism as an alternative and antidote to NPR's brand.  In his column, Eicher challenged his readers, "If journalism is to have a future, particularly our brand of journalism, it will be a journalism that is close to the people, supported by the people. Will you be part of this future?"

It's a great question.