Twitter removes “government-funded media” labels from NPR, PBS and others after backlash

Twitter removed labels labeled “government-funded media” from news outlets NPR, PBS, BBC and others after the organizations criticized the label as not one and presenting an accurate representation of their editorial independence.

Both NPR and PBS stopped publication after the labels came out last week. Neither was resumed Saturday morning after the designation was removed late Thursday.

The “state-funded” labels on international news outlets such as RT in Russia and Xinhua in China have also been removed.

Twitter owner Elon Musk, who has made several changes to the platform since acquiring the company for $44 billion, said in an interview with the BBC that the labels were an effort to provide transparency and be “accurate.” .

NPR stopped posting to its 52 official Twitter feeds on April 12 after the tag came out. PBS followed soon after.

NPR reported that Musk emailed NPR reporter Bobby Allyn on Friday morning that removing the tags “was Walter Isaacson’s suggestion.” Isaacson, former chairman and CEO of CNN and an award-winning biographer, is working on a Musk bio.

Musk’s latest rethink comes after Twitter this week began removing blue checks from verified account holders, including many of the platform’s most prominent users, including journalists, celebrities, politicians, corporations and even Pope Francis. Musk wants users to pay $8 a month for the check.

Other color-coded options include a gold badge for business accounts ($1,000 per month) and gray for government-affiliated entities. Some media organizations including The Wall Street JournalReuters and CNN also paid for a golden check.

Dade Hayes contributed to this report.