NPR CEO Katherine Maher to Receive First Amendment Award Despite Past Criticism

<p>NPR CEO Katherine Maher will receive Harper's Magazine's "First Amendment Award" later this month despite her previous criticism of the First Amendment. The award ceremony is scheduled for October 26.</p><p>Harper's Magazine stated in a press release that Maher has guided NPR through significant political, legal, and financial scrutiny, reaffirming journalism's role in a democratic society. The magazine noted that Maher led NPR during a time of heightened scrutiny and successfully addressed efforts by President Donald Trump to defund the organization, although Congress rescinded $1.1 billion in federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2025.</p><p>Despite being recognized as an advocate for journalism, Maher has expressed concerns regarding the First Amendment. In 2021, while serving as CEO of Wikimedia, she referred to the First Amendment as a "challenge" in addressing disinformation. She stated, "The number one challenge here that we see is, of course, the First Amendment in the United States. [It] is a fairly robust protection of rights and that is a protection of rights both for platforms, which I actually think is very important that platforms have those rights to be able to regulate what kind of content they want on their sites."</p><p>Maher added that this protection complicates efforts to address the sources of misinformation and the influence of those who profit from it.</p><p>NPR has faced scrutiny for its journalism practices, notably for its decision not to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020, which some critics viewed as an attempt to shield then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. Maher, who became NPR's CEO in 2024, later acknowledged that the organization "made a mistake" in not covering the story more aggressively.</p><p>During congressional testimony in 2025, Maher stated, "I do want to say that NPR acknowledges we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner."</p><p>Tim Graham, executive editor of the media watchdog NewsBusters, criticized the award, arguing that Harper's Magazine's recognition of Maher reflects a liberal bias and a failure to hold President Biden accountable. He stated, "Their explanation for this pride is that Maher courageously fought off defunding NPR, which, of course, is not true. They are defunded." Graham also expressed concern over Maher's views on censorship and the First Amendment.</p><p>NPR issued a statement celebrating Maher's award, with Maher commenting, "Public media exists to serve the public interest, and I can think of no greater service to the public than the defense of the First Amendment. The freedom, imagination, and initiative of all Americans flourish with its protections, so that we may better understand the world and one another. The compact of citizenship asks that we each step up to defend our constitutional rights if they are threatened. On behalf of NPR and the NPR Network, I am deeply honored to accept this award."</p>