Twitter has labelled National Public Radio as "U.S. state-affiliated media" on its main account, a move the head of the media company called&nbsp;"unacceptable."&nbsp;

It was unclear why Twitter made the move. The&nbsp;label appeared on NPR's main Twitter account on Tuesday.

Twitter's owner, Elon Musk, quoted a definition of state-affiliated media in the company's guidelines as "outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution."

"Seems accurate," Musk tweeted in a reply to NPR.

Some predicted an imminent death for Twitter. It's still here. Can Elon Musk keep it alive?

Back in mid-November, speculation ran rampant whether the lights would soon be turned off at the offices of Elon Musk's $44-billion acquisition. Months later, however, Twitter has so far defied those who were eulogizing the company, chugging along but still facing significant challenges.

Man with brown hair and wearing suit and tie walks outside an office building and looks in the distance.

Back in mid November, with reports of hundreds of Twitter employees fleeing the troubled social media platform, speculation ran rampant whether the lights would soon be turned off Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition. Months later, however, Twitter has so far defied those who were eulogizing the company, chugging along, but still facing significant challenges.

Emirates Elon Musk

Back in mid-November, with reports of hundreds of Twitter employees fleeing the troubled social media platform, speculation ran rampant about the future of Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition. Months later, Twitter has so far defied those who were eulogizing the company, but is still facing significant challenges.

NPR has asked for the label to be removed.

"NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding the powerful accountable," its&nbsp;president and CEO, John Lansing, said in a statement. "It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy."

NPR does receive U.S. government funding through grants from federal agencies and departments, along with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The company said it accounts for less than one per cent&nbsp;of NPR's annual operating budget.

But until Wednesday, the Twitter guidelines said that "state-financed media organizations with editorial independence, like the BBC in the U.K.&nbsp;or NPR in the United States, are not defined as state-affiliated media for the purposes of this policy."

NPR has now been removed from that sentence on Twitter's website.

Asked for comment, Twitter's press office responded with an automated poop emoji.

The move came just days after Twitter stripped The New York Times of its verification check mark.

"NPR and our member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide," Lansing said. "NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding the powerful accountable."

The literary organization PEN America, in calling for Twitter to reverse the move, underlined that NPR "assiduously maintains editorial independence."

Liz Woolery, PEN America's digital policy leader, said Twitter's decision was "a dangerous move that could further undermine public confidence in reliable news sources."&nbsp;

The headquarters of National Public Radio in Washington, D.C., is seen in this April 2013 photo. NPR wants a 'U.S. state-affiliated media' label removed from its main Twitter account after the social media company put it on earlier this week.

Twitter puts 'state-affiliated media' label on NPR account

Check mark pulled

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