The Resume

(February 24, 1970- )
Headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Funded in part by the Federal Government, but operated without government control
Programs include 'All Things Considered,' 'Morning Edition,' 'Talk of the Nation,' 'Fresh Air with Terry Gross,' 'Car Talk' and 'Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!'

Why they might be annoying:

Several times a year, they interrupt programming with obnoxious pledge drives.
They brag about having no commercials, but feature 'underwriting spots' that amount to the same thing.
Many conservatives are outraged that the network receives public money.
They are often accused of liberal bias in their reporting.
Despite their national prominence, they break very few news stories themselves.
Some popular public radio shows (like 'A Prairie Home Companion' and 'This American Life') are neither produced nor distributed by NPR.
Their fans are mostly snobs, nerds and/or old people.
They decided to replace Bob Edwards on 'Morning Edition' despite that listenership had increased. After 35 years of hosting, they thought he was 'too old' to appeal to a younger audience (2004),
They faced criticism from all sides after firing contributor Juan Williams for comments he made about Muslims on 'The O'Reilly Factor.' Many Republicans called for a cut in federal funding to NPR (October 20, 2010).

Why they might not be annoying:

Media watchdog groups have found their 'liberal bias' to be exaggerated.
'All Things Considered' and 'Morning Edition' get consistently high ratings in the competitive 'drive time' hours.
Their government funding has been steadily decreasing, which makes the pledge drives necessary.
They try to raise the public's awareness of important issues.
They inspired a popular sketch on 'Saturday Night Live.'
When interviewing Bill O'Reilly, they upset him so much that he threw a tantrum and stormed out.
They have a minor conservative fan base. This may be why Newt Gingrich didn't get his wish to cut all public TV and radio funding.
Most of their reporters have a subtle delivery style.

Credit: Wieland Kalligaro

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Bill O'Reilly Doesn't Like Me
• Egg Heads
• Entertainers Loved by Geeks and Nerds
• I am in Public Broadcasting
• Look at Me, I Got My Arms Folded
• Look at Me, Oh!
• Look at My Computer
• Nerds and Nebbishes
• News
• NPR’s 50 Best Albums [2023]
• NPR’s 50 Great Voices
• NPR's 100 Best Literary Characters of the 20th Century [Authors - 2002]
• NPR's 50 Greatest Jazz Vocals [2013]
• Profiles 13001-13250 (Ranked: 13015)
• Satirists and Wits
• St. Petersburg Times' Best TV Series - Eric Deggans [2001]
• Wieland Kalligaro's Profiles [Series 4]

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 55 Votes: 30.91% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 39 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 33 Votes: 75.76% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 160 Votes: 56.88% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 310 Votes: 63.55% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 210 Votes: 63.33% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 70 Votes: 61.43% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 88 Votes: 53.41% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 505 Votes: 68.91% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 52 Votes: 57.69% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 58 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 130 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 793 Votes: 43.13% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 427 Votes: 48.71% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 119 Votes: 41.18% Annoying