Public Radio Partnership president to step down

"After 11 years as president of the Public Radio Partnership, which runs Louisville's three public radio stations, Gerry Weston is stepping down."
Louisville Courier Journal

Ted Koppel Joins National Public Radio

National Public Radio announced Thursday that the former ABC News "Nightline" veteran will provide commentary about 50 times a year starting in June. Koppel will appear on the programs "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered" and the new midday newsmagazine "Day to Day."
Associated Press
NPR Press release

NPR Listeners Upset by Mine Disaster Coverage

"NPR newscasts and the NPR Web site are the places to go for breaking news. But some listeners found that both handled the West Virginia mine disaster story with some serious missteps."
NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey A. Dvorkin

Columnist: Change at WDET will injure Detroit's cultural future

"There's a reason why a growing number of Detroiters are feeling a huge void, and it's not just the loss of music they mourn. In many ways, it's a whole identity."
Marney Rich Keenan in the Detroit News

Realistic language on imported Canadian radio shows worries American broadcasters?

Given that the very mild sexual references in one of Garrison Keillor's poetry gave a Kentucky NPR station fits, it shouldn't be too surprising that American Public Media, Keillor's syndicator, is sending out warnings to stations regarding CBC's 'Ideas' program. While Canadians are apparently mature enough to hear words like 'bitch' coming out of their radios without going berserk, Americans just can't be trusted to handle it...

'Be advised this program contains strong material and language. The use of some words may be offensive to listeners. This is a powerful story and the scenes described can be intense.

'Used in Context:
"We're moving from the sort of girl as the sweet petite quiet obedient stereotype to a real advocacy that I'm seeing in girls that being a bitch is cool."
Occurs at 00:06:00 PGM Time.

and

"I hope to God they transfer your sorry ass out of this school."
Occurs at 00:39:24 PGM Time.

American Public Media web site

No Breast for the Wicked

On censoring that smut peddler, Garrison Keillor.
San Francisco Chronicle

Parental Advisory for A Keillor Poetry Reading?!

Maybe the end of the world really is at hand. American Public Media has issued a 'Content Advisory' for last Saturday's 'Writer's Almanac' with Garrison Keillor. The offending content? Read on, if your parents approve:

'The lines below may be interpreted as the concept of sexual intercourse.

He said he loved me -- that going into me
He said was going into the world and the sky'

The poem in question is 'Waiting for Icarus' by Muriel Rukeyser.

Perhaps if it was made clear that the individuals involved were married, were one man and one woman, and that no condom was involved.....

Click here to read or hear Garrison read the whole poem. (You have been warned!)

NPR's Tomorrow Radio Initiative Brings Multicasting to Digital Radio

'This summer, NPR will begin offering five programmed music formats to multicasting stations: classical, jazz, electronica, triple-A and folk. Other program offerings NPR is developing for stations with new channels include a news and information service and formats that would serve culturally diverse audiences.'
NPR Press release

NPR's Daniel Zwerdling Wins Investigative Reporters & Editors Top Award For Radio

Press release