From Library Journal:
Looker attempts to show the future potential of National Public Radio (NPR) through a portrayal of its recent past, concentrating on its news division. Peabody award-winning radio journalist, former NPR staffer, and current lecturer in American studies, the author spent six months in 1993 visiting, observing, and interviewing at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. A fourth of the book is devoted to how one day's issue of Morning Edition got on the air. But Looker's primary concern is the undervalued power of radio?and NPR in particular?to add to listeners' lives. Looker contends that precisely because of radio's demand on the intellect and imagination it encourages the very faculties television dulls. More practically, Looker discusses staff dissension on such issues as the proper classification of radio as a medium, language, or a sound and the correct future direction of NPR news and the changes in funding that have added to the difficulties. NPR fans and communications students will enjoy this informative book. For communications collections in public and academic libraries.?Marianne Cawley, Enoch Pratt Free Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Publishers Weekly:
Looker, who created and produced National Public Radio's Peabody Award-winning New England Almanac series, spent six months in 1993 at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he interviewed staff, attended editorial meetings and observed the production of NPR's most popular shows. After the decline of commercial radio in the 1950s and '60s, NPR was founded in 1971 by a staff who believed in the power of radio to engage the imagination and curiosity of listeners by presenting creative programming. Looker details here, in lively and engrossing prose, the dedication and hard work that have gone into producing such shows as Morning Edition and All Things Considered on a shoestring budget. His interviews with NPR staff including Linda Wertheimer, Susan Stamberg and Art Silverman illuminate the current debate at NPR over whether the station should exist primarily as a news source or should produce programming that is unavailable on TV or in newspapers. An engaging backstage tour.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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