PublicRadioBlog

Public Radio Partnership president to step down

2006-01-14T13:05:00.000-05:00

"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

2006-01-12T20:24:00.000-05:00

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

2006-01-12T06:56:00.000-05:00

"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

2006-01-12T06:50:00.000-05:00

"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?

2005-08-22T20:06:00.000-04:00

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

2005-08-21T18:04:00.000-04:00

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

Parental Advisory for A Keillor Poetry Reading?!

2005-04-22T21:37:00.000-04:00

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

2005-04-20T06:10:00.000-04:00

'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

2005-04-08T06:19:00.000-04:00

Press release

The Future of Radio

2005-04-02T08:31:00.000-05:00

Interview with NPR CEO Kevin Klose
Boise Weekly

WNET New York acquiring Florida radio and TV stations

2005-04-02T08:23:00.000-05:00

'The owner of public television stations in New York is acquiring all rights to WXEL-TV and WXEL-FM from Barry University, and will run the stations in conjunction with a community foundation, it was announced on Friday.'
South Florida Sun Sentinel

NPR Hits Record Listenership

2005-03-29T06:43:00.000-05:00

I Love Radio.org

Bob Edwards says dissent stifled

2005-03-23T06:55:00.000-05:00

'Former National Public Radio newsman Bob Edwards says the United States is in a McCarthy-like era in which the government stifles political dissent while the news media and the public fail to speak out in opposition.'
Vermont Guardian

International Datacasting Wins $2.7 Million Contract With National Public Radio for New Streaming Audio Network

2005-03-23T06:53:00.000-05:00

Press release

BBC cuts aim to reduce 'silly' duplication

2005-03-22T06:57:00.000-05:00

'BBC News programmes and services will be forced to work more closely together and cut out duplication in order to produce the same output with fewer people, following the loss of 420 jobs.'
The Guardian

When Will Public Radio Deliver Podcasting?

2005-03-21T19:38:00.000-05:00

'Adam Curry is ruining radio. For me, anyway. About a month ago, I downloaded the former MTV host’s podcast aggregator, iPodder, and now I’m a regular podcast demon.'
Wade Roush on the Technology Review Daily weblog

BBC to cut even more jobs

2005-03-20T19:50:00.000-05:00

I Love Radio.org

NPR presents This I Believe

2005-03-17T19:49:00.000-05:00

'NPR's® This I Believe, a national project that presents America's core beliefs and values through the voices of its most famous citizens and everyday Americans, will debut on more than 600 public radio stations and NPR.org on April 4, 2005... This I Believe is based on the popular 1950s radio show of the same name, which was hosted by iconic journalist Edward R. Murrow.'
NPR press release

Change brings mixed reception for WDET

2005-03-16T05:22:00.000-05:00

'Few topics engage or inflame radio listeners as much as the state of public radio. Talk to listeners whose favorite show was dumped by Detroit Public Radio WDET-FM (101.9) in last September's purge, and they sincerely believe that dropping a variety of local music shows is putting 'DET on the path to becoming just another corporate adult contemporary station. But to others, WDET is still one of the few Detroit outlets that consistently plays local music, jazz, blues and techno as part of a diverse mix of music.'
Detroit News

WBEZ to spin off full-time music station

2005-03-16T05:18:00.000-05:00

'The biggest expansion of public radio in Chicago ever -- one that would virtually double the output of WBEZ-FM (91.5) and its satellites -- could be just 18 months away. If all goes as planned, Chicago Public Radio will operate two full-time services, turning WBEZ into a 24-hour news and talk station and launching a second 24-hour format of music programming.'
Chicago Sun Times

CBC Chair Carole Taylor Resigns

2005-03-14T21:52:00.000-05:00

I Love Radio .org

WCCO: New Radio Station Aims For Younger Ears

2005-03-13T09:43:00.000-05:00

'The playlist of a new Twin Cities radio station called The Current runs from the well-known White Stripes to aboriginal music called didgeridoo that's played on plastic pipes. But while eclectic playlists are often heard on low-wattage college stations, The Current is notable for its high-wattage corporate parent -- Minnesota Public Radio.'
WCCO TV Minneapolis - St Paul

WGUC buys WVXU stations for $15 million

2005-03-13T08:49:00.000-05:00

'Cincinnati classical station WGUC-FM (90.9) announced it is purchasing WVXU-FM (91.7) and the seven stations in its X-Star network, which extends from Ohio to Indiana and Michigan, for $15 million. Changes will be slow, at least at first. The deal allows WGUC to shift its news and public affairs programming to WVXU, essentially becoming a classical music juke box.'
The Cincinnati Post

Tavis Smiley returning to public radio

2005-03-11T06:40:00.000-05:00

Tavis Smiley, who left NPR in December in a contract dispute, will join PRI with a weekend discussion show next month.
Associated Press via mercurynews.com

Miami: WLRN board tunes out district proposal

2005-03-10T19:10:00.000-05:00

'The community advisory board for WLRN public radio and TV voted to oppose changes that would give the owners, the Miami-Dade school district, more control.'
Miami Herald

FCC: Educational radio stations don't have to share airtime

2005-03-10T19:09:00.000-05:00

'Several educational radio stations across Indiana will not have to share their airtime with Hoosier Public Radio, a federal agency ruled. The Federal Communications Commission has rejected six attempts by Marty Hensley, director of Hoosier radio, based in Greenfield, to force the stations to share with his nonprofit company. ... An FCC rule allows one broadcaster to use another's frequency for part of the day if the educational station's owner uses less than 12 hours of airtime.
The rulings affect the student-run stations at four Indianapolis-area high schools, a religious broadcaster in Vincennes, and a National Public Radio station owned by Western Kentucky University.'

Associated Press via Indystar.com

Nina Totenberg Wins Carr Van Anda Award

2005-03-09T19:33:00.000-05:00

NPR Press Release

UML to Produce National Christopher Lydon Radio Show

2005-03-09T06:39:00.000-05:00

'The University of Massachusetts Lowell today announced that it will co-produce the national Christopher Lydon show – “Open Source” – in association with WGBH Radio.'
Press release

A Thank You to Public Radio Engineers

2005-03-09T06:38:00.000-05:00

'Huzzah, public radio engineers. Let's take a moment to acknowledge something that has, in fact, been true for some time: Technical innovation in U.S. radio broadcasting is being led by public radio.'
RWonline

NPR Ombudsman: Is It Too Late to Ask for Some E-mail Etiquette?

2005-03-08T19:04:00.000-05:00

The NPR Ombudsman gets some nasty emails...

CBC Radio bolsters drama commitment

2005-03-04T07:05:00.000-05:00

Tod Maffin's I Love Radio .org

Alaska congressman wants to cut public radio funding

2005-03-03T07:03:00.000-05:00

'Arguing that public radio advances its own political agenda, Rep. Jim Holm, R-Fairbanks, sought to use his chairmanship of a state House of Representatives budget subcommittee to eliminate funding increases for public radio and television proposed by Gov. Frank Murkowski.'
Fairbanks News-Miner

The New Radio Revolution

2005-03-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

'From satellite to podcasts, programming is exploding -- but the fight for profits will be ferocious.'
Business Week

Radio on the download

2005-03-01T16:45:00.000-05:00

KCRW to start podcasting selected shows.
Tim Grobaty in The Press-Telegram of Long Beach

HD technology may help Public Radio strike a balance

2005-03-01T16:42:00.000-05:00

'Listeners tuning into Michigan Public Radio in Ann Arbor will find lots of talk, but not much music. On public radio in Jacksonville, talk dominates the daytime on WJCT and classical-music fans have to wait to the midnight to 5 a.m. time slot to get their weekday dose from the symphony hall. In Tallahassee, listeners have a choice, WFSU delivers the talk, while WFSQ, its 100,000-watt sister station, provides hours and hours of classical music. In Gainesville, Classic 89 tries to strike a balance, but it's not easy. The new technology of HD radio may offer a solution.'
Gainesville Sun

Andi Sporkin Joins NPR as Vice President, Communications

2005-02-28T05:51:00.000-05:00

NPR Press release

Programmer hones strategy for public radio

2005-02-28T05:50:00.000-05:00

'Jim Russell recently was named head of new-program development at American Public Media, the program-distribution arm of Minnesota Public Radio (MPR)... In a recent conversation, Russell talked about public radio, its challenges and how he wants APM's programming to meet them.'
Minneapolis Star Tribune

Public radio turns off the music

2005-02-26T08:27:00.000-05:00

'Chopin is on the chopping block. Public radio stations in Washington and other cities are dropping classical music from their lineups, replacing it with news and talk shows, especially the increasingly popular offerings from National Public Radio.'
Washington Times
... see also the article 'Diminuendo: Weak audience and income blamed in classical fade' published in the February 16 issue of Current.

Ira Glass takes 'This American Life' from the air to the stage

2005-02-25T06:25:00.000-05:00

New Orleans Times Picayune

CBC gets C$60m budget rise

2005-02-24T08:54:00.000-05:00

The Canadian public broadcaster CBC has seen its budget boosted by C$60m (US$48m) for 2005-2006, as finance minister Ralph Goodale responds to producers' pressure to put Canadian culture at centre stage.
C21Media

NPR boots the play

2005-02-24T08:40:00.000-05:00

'It's against the critic's credo to criticize something you haven't seen. Doesn't make sense, somehow. Today, let's make an exception. We're talking about National Public Radio, which just announced plans to broadcast a series of reports on the nation's regional theaters...'
Remote Control Weblog
San Diego Union-Tribune television critic Robert Laurence's observations on television

UMass battles over control of college radio station

2005-02-23T07:54:00.000-05:00

'A storm brewing at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell's venerable radio station, WUML-FM (91.9), pits students trying to keep control of airtime against administrators looking to bring in minor league baseball and former public radio talker Christopher Lydon.'
Boston Herald

Editorial: Time for National Private Radio

2005-02-23T07:51:00.000-05:00

'Something big is happening here, in other words, without fanfare, and with only token public deliberation. Public radio in the United States is remaking itself according to a wholly new sense of its mission.'
The Weekly Standard

CBC Radio and Podcasting: An Update

2005-02-22T19:41:00.000-05:00

Tod Maffin's I Love Radio.org

A new life for radio at the end of the road

2005-02-21T18:44:00.000-05:00

'A new chapter is opening for one of Minnesota's quirkier radio stations. WELY is known as End of the Road Radio, serving the small town of Ely, at the edge of the Boundary Waters. WELY was owned a few years ago by Charles Kuralt, and it's soon to be owned by a local band of Ojibwe Indians. Band officials say they'll keep the station pretty much as it is.'
Minnesota Public Radio

Meeting Scheduled for Possible Iowa Public Radio Network

2005-02-21T16:05:00.000-05:00

KCRG TV Cedar Rapids

Podcast boosts NPR show's audience

2005-02-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

CyberJournalist.net

CBC Radio 3 Re-evaluates It's Reach

2005-02-19T14:46:00.000-05:00

'Fulfilling their mission to bring our stretched-out borders closer together in hopes of holding Canadian underground music up to the light, CBC Radio 3 is set to take the next step in its relatively short life. Not so much an actual national radio station as a show that crops up on CBC Radio 2 every once in a while, Radio 3 is getting down to serious business, reorganizing and expanding its content.'
soulshine.ca

The great Canadian book brawl

2005-02-19T14:45:00.000-05:00

It's been four years since the radio and TV program Canada Reads made its debut, and Canada is still complaining.
The Globe and Mail

Classical Music Belongs in Washington

2005-02-19T10:45:00.000-05:00

In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post, WETA's founding manager, Fred Flaxman, responds to the station's format change.

PublicRadioFeeds.com

2005-02-17T22:19:00.000-05:00

A new guide to public radio podcasts from Tod Maffin.

Jacking in to podcasts

2005-02-17T20:16:00.000-05:00

'So far, podcasting is mostly the province of tech-savvy early adopters. But pubcasters believe that it could in time raise their profile among listeners and draw younger web surfers who are letting their radios gather dust. '
Current.org

A Week of Insults on NPR

2005-02-16T16:47:00.000-05:00

An essay sure to send you to the Google translation tool...
NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey A. Dvorkin

Edwards talking, but who's listening?

2005-02-14T17:28:00.000-05:00

'The pipes still work. If you haven't heard from Bob Edwards in a while, too bad. His deep, smoky baritone hasn't faded a bit since he bolted National Public Radio last year to join XM Satellite Radio, an upstart subscription service.'
The Washington Times

Mulroney warns CBC on Airbus 'hoax'

2005-02-14T06:43:00.000-05:00

Canadian Press

WETA, Facing the Music (or Lack Thereof)

2005-02-13T08:13:00.000-05:00

'If you're looking to blame someone for the demise of classical music on WETA and other public radio stations around the country, here are some bogeymen: former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich and his 1994 Contract With America team; David Giovannoni, the father of public radio's descent into market-research-driven programming decisions; and the producers of National Public Radio's news programs.'
Washington Post

'Progressive Call to Action: Boycott NPR Pledge Drives'

2005-02-12T14:06:00.000-05:00

'Over the past year, I've become increasingly distressed by the shift in editorial direction at National Public Radio (NPR). The first apparent shift in direction occurred last year, when Bob Edwards (then-host of Morning Edition) was given his walking papers. In the subsequent runup to the election, it became increasingly clear to me that NPR was taking great pains to shift from a neutral-to-left editorial slant to neutral-to-right.'
The All Spin Zone

Do Too Many Listener Complaints Turn off NPR?

2005-02-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

'NPR's Scott Simon raises an interesting issue this week about whether all listener complaints are valid:

Jeffrey, I think we had an illustration of an interesting and valuable point today. We had on a three-person singing group called Innocence Mission who has recorded an album of lullabies. The e-mail response we received was overwhelmingly hostile. People didn't write just to say, "I don't care for that kind of music," but disparaged the singers, our taste in music, and our waste of their resources of time and support in airing such treacle. Of course, several vowed, "I am never giving another dime to W*#& again...."

NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey A. Dvorkin's column at NPR.org

For Click And Clack, There's No Putting On The Brakes

2005-02-12T07:49:00.000-05:00

'Now in its 18th year of syndication, “Car Talk,” the weekly National Public Radio show starring Cambridge homeboys Tom and Ray Magliozzi, a.k.a. Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, has never been more popular — or better positioned to win new fans, with an animated TV show in the works and more merchandise for sale than you can shake a stick shift at.'
TheDay.com, New London, CT

Prairie Home to hit silver screen

2005-02-11T19:24:00.000-05:00

London's Mirror says 'The Player director Robert Altman always manages to secure top casts for peanuts. Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Kline Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin have already signed up to A Prairie Home Companion. The film goes behind the scenes of the real madcap radio show, American institution, hosted by writer Garrison Keillor.'
See also PlanetOut.com (scroll down), and Cinema Blend

A breath of 'Fresh Air'

2005-02-11T19:18:00.000-05:00

'A book version of the Q&A format seemed inevitable, even though the award-winning, ever-busy and always prepared Gross put off the project for several years. Now the first of what one assumes will be several volumes is out. It is all one might expect - and less.'
Madison Capital Times

Podcasting brings radio production to masses

2005-02-11T19:15:00.000-05:00

Associated Press

WETA Board Approves Switch To News-Talk Format

2005-02-11T19:07:00.000-05:00

'WETA-FM listeners who had hoped to prevent the widely anticipated decision by the public broadcasting station's board of directors to drop classical music programs left its Shirlington offices disappointed last night. By an overwhelming majority, the board approved a resolution to focus on news and public-affairs programming.'
Washington Post
see also Board of Washington's WETA Votes to Drop Classical Music from Playbill Arts

'American' home companion

2005-02-10T20:03:00.000-05:00

Ira Glass lets you peek behind the curtain at the making of his weekly radio show.
San Diego Union Tribune