NPR Community FAQ

Do I have to register to access the site?
Will signing up create a profile?
Do I have to be logged in to comment?
Do I have to log in every time I want to post?
Will my comments appear in search engines?
Will everyone see my e-mail address?
Can I delete a comment I’ve made?
Why do you ask that I use my real name?
Are member names, e-mail addresses and passwords case sensitive?
Can I change the e-mail address for my account?
Can I change my password?
Can I block people from posting on my wall?
What if the nickname I want is already taken?
I forgot my password. What do I do?
What’s the "recommend" button for?
Why are comments closed for a particular story?
How can I report inappropriate content that I see on NPR.org?
Why is there a question about my “areas of expertise” on my profile page?
Where can I find the Community groups?
Is the NPR Community (NPR's online Social Media features) compatible with all browsers?

Do I have to register to access the site?

If you just want to read, listen to or watch NPR stories, there's no need to register. Registration allows users to participate in NPR.org's online communities. By registering, you'll be able to create a personal profile, join discussions and participate in other activities being developed on the site.

Will signing up create a profile?

Yes. As soon as you sign up, a simple profile is created showing your name and nickname. Visitors to NPR.org can view the profile, which will also aggregate the comments you've left around the site. You can have only one profile per email address.

Do I have to be logged in to comment?

Yes.

Do I have to log in every time I want to post?

If you click "remember me on this computer" when you log in, you will be allowed to stay logged in indefinitely. If you don't click it, you will be logged out once you close your browser.

Will my comments appear in search engines?

NPR will not index your comments or profiles, meaning they will not come up when you use a search engine like Google. This does not mean that they won't be visible. Your profile is still public and available for everyone to see.

Will everyone see my e-mail address?

No. Only your name and screen name will be shown.

Can I delete a comment I’ve made?

Unfortunately, no. It’s the reason you should think about what you’re about to post. Once it’s up, it’s there for everyone to see. Your profile page also includes a history of your comments.

Why do you ask that I use my real name?

We’re trying to keep discussion on NPR.org civil, open and smart. We think using real names allows for more human interaction.

Are member names, e-mail addresses and passwords case sensitive?

Member names and e-mail addresses are not case sensitive, but passwords are.

Can I change the e-mail address for my account?

Yes. Just log in to the site, click the “Your Account” tab and type in your new e-mail address in the space provided. We will send you a confirmation e-mail with a link you must visit before the change takes effect.

Can I change my password?

Yes. Just log in and click "Your Profile" on the upper right of any page on the Web site, then click the "Your Account" tab, where you will see a place to change your password and your e-mail address.

Can I block people from posting on my wall?

No, but you can delete any unwanted messages left there. Also, unlike messages you leave on stories, you can delete messages you leave on other people's walls. If someone becomes a nuisance on your wall, go to that user's page and report the person as inappropriate, making sure to explain why you are flagging that person.

What if the nickname I want is already taken?

We recommend you try an alternate spelling, or perhaps add a number/letter combination to make your nickname unique.

I forgot my password. What do I do?

Click on Login on the upper right of any of the pages, then click "Don't know your password?" Enter your e-mail and your password will be sent to you.

What’s the "recommend" button for?

Recommending is a way for you to share with the community any stories, profiles or comments you think are of particular value. When you click the “recommend” icon, you're recommending that piece of content. Once you click, the arrow will turn into a check and the number will go up by one. Comments on any particular page can be sorted by most recommended as well.

Why are comments closed for a particular story?

For the most part, we try our hardest not to close any comment thread. But sometimes, when things get too heated and a conversation has become uncivil, we’ll shut the thread down. Also, comments threads are automatically shut down after 7 days.

How can I report inappropriate content that I see on NPR.org?

Most content on NPR has a "Report Abuse" link. Use that to let our editors know if something objectionable has been posted on the site.

Why is there a question about my “areas of expertise” on my profile page?

Reporters are always on the lookout for new sources. This makes it easy for them to find experts for a story they are reporting and widens the community of experts a reporter can turn to, making our coverage more inclusive and more diverse. If you'd rather not make this information available to reporters, simply leave this field blank.

Where can I find the Community groups?

You can find group pages here. There are also special pages for popular groups such as All Tech Considered or Our Cancer.

Is the NPR Community (NPR's online Social Media features) compatible with all browsers?

We are aware of possible compatibility issues affecting certain Social Media features at NPR.org for users of Google's Chrome browser or Safari version 4.

If you use either of these browsers and you are encountering errors, please contact us with details so that we can track this issue. In the meantime, you may wish to use Firefox, Internet Explorer, or an earlier version of Safari for your best experience at NPR.org.

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