I wonder how much of that is riding the wave vs. being the wave though.
Contemporary with NPR and NYT talking about racism and sexism more is Twitter and other social media getting a lot more vocal about such topics (while #metoo really hit its stride in 2017, it started in 2006, for instance. Likewise, Black Lives Matter got its start in 2013), where individuals are sharing their stories a lot more.
That's not to say that I don't think it was a deliberate move on their part, but rather I think the move was part of a feedback loop that already existed.
Contemporary with NPR and NYT talking about racism and sexism more is Twitter and other social media getting a lot more vocal about such topics (while #metoo really hit its stride in 2017, it started in 2006, for instance. Likewise, Black Lives Matter got its start in 2013), where individuals are sharing their stories a lot more.
That's not to say that I don't think it was a deliberate move on their part, but rather I think the move was part of a feedback loop that already existed.