As a journalism organization, Michigan Radio strives to cover news stories as objectively as possible. Our policy regarding corporate sponsorship is that a decision to reject funding from an established business based on a specific issue involving that company would create the appearance that Michigan Radio has taken an official position on that issue. We believe that our role as an independent news organization should be to report on the issues and let listeners draw their own conclusions, and not take an official position on those issues ourselves. We realize that this policy may not always be popular with all of our listeners but we feel it is the best way to remain as objective as possible. Michigan Radio also does not endorse political candidates or ballot initiatives, in part for this same reason.
At a public radio station like Michigan Radio, business sponsors do not influence editorial coverage in any way. Funding decisions involving corporate sponsors are completely separate from the editorial decision making process in our newsroom, as well as NPR’s. In association with our news managers, our reporters, editors, and producers decide what stories to cover and how to report them, with no input or influence from our business sponsors or corporate support team.
We believe that this policy ensures Michigan Radio’s ability to remain the independent news organization that our listeners value and have come to rely upon.
