To me NPR looks like the most balanced news source in the US. They are also much less US centric in their news coverage, and they cover a very wide array of topics that other news media don't even bother with.
I used to listen to NPR, but overtime I grew tired of the NPR Formula for reporting most issues. I tend to just read Reuters and BBC World these days when I have the chance.
A lot of people will find the idea hilarious, but Jon Stewart's show is one of the best sources of real news out there. I'm going to have to google "Fark."
I like Christian Science Monitor, the PBS News Hour, and the Wall Street Journal (not necessarily all of their editorials, but just their reporting and news in general.)
NPR has stories and feature stories about stuff you wont hear on TV or any other new outlet...so yes.
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All Things Considered, NPR is a rather weak news organization. They are very good at their two foci, which are covering issues that would interest an academic audience, but not necessarily a general audience, and getting a deeper look at news stories. They are never the first on scene, they rarely break a story, and they never "take on" a beligerant audience. If you rely on NPR as your main source of news, you get a lot of important news that the mainstream media misses, but you won't hear about a lot of important news that the MSM covers until much later.
You have to consider that given their budget and format they don't have the capabilities that many other MSM services have. I mean they can't fly a chopper out to cover a car chase. At the sametime though that frees them from being obsessed with the sensational as much of the MSM is. NPR in many ways is more like an old newspaper and provides more indepth coverage and analysis of issues than trying to scoop headlines.
With Google News or something like the Daily Show to suppliment, NPR listeners aren't missing out much. Well maybe the juicy details of Lindsay Lohan's new tattoo, but NPR gets to that eventually. I listen to PBS Newshour during work, and it turns out half of its audience is older than 45. Well I happen to like focused segments with commentary and analysis afterwards. That crack-like euphoria of getting the latest sprinkle of detail for something like balloon boy isn't really for the sake of getting news. And least not in my parents' day...
Oh they mentioned it but they don't do hours of hours of it like CNN and other major news media. Things like that and Jackson death does not need endless coverage, the main stream media is not too far left like the Fox people like say, but they are too far on the stupid end.
Either them or PBS both are reliable when it comes to news and focus on the facts instead of opinions. Basically not focusing on strictally ratings.
