By claiming no opinion NPR inherently has an opinion

Jeff Jarvis nails the problem with NPR limiting attendance at the Stewart and Colbert rallies to staff assigned to cover the event.

In its effort to be hyperjournalistic NPR is being unjournalistic. Journalists, properly empowered, are curious. They want to know things. NPR is telling them not to ask questions.

It’s ironic that a journalistic institution, seeking to uphold ideals of public service, would issue such a totalitarian order. Journalists are people. People have opinions. An internal memo is not going to change that. Nor will it make us forget that the next time an NPR show comes on the air.