NPR CEO to Receive First Amendment Award Despite Past Criticism

Katherine Maher, the President and CEO of National Public Radio (NPR), is set to be honored with Harper’s Magazine’s “First Amendment Award” on October 26. This recognition comes even though Maher has previously expressed criticism regarding the First Amendment itself.

The magazine, in a press release earlier this year, praised Maher’s leadership at NPR, noting her ability to navigate the organization through significant political and financial challenges. They asserted that she played an essential role in reaffirming journalism’s value in a democratic society.

While Harper’s Magazine commended Maher for successfully countering efforts by former President Donald Trump to defund NPR, it’s worth mentioning that Congress still cut $1.1 billion from federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2025.

Despite being recognized as an advocate for journalism, Maher hasn’t consistently supported the First Amendment. In her former role as CEO of Wikimedia in 2021, she referred to the First Amendment as a “challenge” in efforts to combat misinformation, acknowledging that it complicates the regulation of problematic content on platforms.

In her remarks back then, Maher emphasized the necessity of First Amendment protections, arguing they are crucial for platforms to curate their content. However, she also pointed out the difficulties this presents in tackling the spread of misinformation and disinformation.

NPR has faced scrutiny itself over its journalism. A notable incident occurred in 2020, when NPR chose not to report on the Hunter Biden laptop story, leading many to believe it was an attempt to shield then-candidate Biden from negative coverage. Maher, who became NPR’s CEO in 2024, later acknowledged that the organization “made a mistake” in that instance.

In her testimony to Congress in 2025, she 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.”

Tim Graham, the executive editor at media watchdog NewsBusters, criticized Maher’s award, suggesting that Harper’s Magazine reflects a liberal view that emphasizes criticism of Trump while ignoring accountability for President Biden. He conveyed skepticism over claims that Maher, by resisting defunding NPR, truly defended the First Amendment.

In a statement regarding the award, Maher affirmed the importance of public media serving the public interest and expressed her honor in accepting the recognition, underscoring the significance of the First Amendment in allowing Americans to engage with and understand one another better.