NPR is an independent, nonprofit media organization that was founded on a mission to create a more informed public. Every day, NPR connects with millions of Americans on the air, online, and in person to explore the news, ideas, and what it means to be human. Through its network of member stations, NPR makes local stories national, national stories local, and global stories personal.

The mission of NPR is to collaborate with Member Stations to cultivate an informed public, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures. To achieve this, we produce, acquire, and distribute programming that upholds the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression. We also advocate for our members' shared interests and provide satellite interconnection for the entire public radio system.
NPR Network
NPR Network image

The links between NPR and Member Stations are many and deep. At the core, we share a mission to inform the public, increase understanding of the world and enrich the experience of everyday life. Every day, NPR and its Member stations work together to tell the story of the whole country from everywhere in the country.

No other news organization has the same on-the-ground reach as public media. Approximately 99% of the U.S. population is within the broadcast listening area of one or more public radio stations. This network includes thousands of journalists at nearly 250 NPR Member stations across the country, in addition to the hundreds of journalists working at NPR.
Supported by Listeners

Our work is made possible through the support we receive from people across the country who count on and care about the news and programming we provide. Gifts of any size from our growing audience on-air and online help NPR and Member stations fulfill our shared mission.