The fact is that underneath its quirky, bohemian image, NPR - which by its own estimation is the biggest producer of news, information and cultural programming in radio - subtly has evolved into something that in many ways resembles a well-run, aggressively entrepreneurial company. Granted, if NPR, which employs about 600 people in the Washington area, were a private company, it would be a fairly humble player in the media business. The network and its sister organization, the NPR Foundation, together are projected to generate about $144 million in revenue this fiscal year - spare change compared to the $4 billion garnered annually by Clear Channel, commercial radio's big Kahuna.