Friday, April 29, 2016

PRESENTING 61 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC RADIO TALK & INTERVIEW PROGRAMS – PLEASE HELP ME FIND MORE


THIS IS THE FIFTH OF A FIVE-PART SERIES ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC RADIO TALK & INTERVIEW PROGRAMS

This week we have been taking a closer look at station-based talk and interview programs primarily on NPR News Stations. We believe this genre of programming has been (in some cases) an overlooked and misunderstood genre. Because these programs are often not given the respect they deserve, many stations have not pursued them.  This is a missed opportunity.  Done properly, local talk and interview programs can become  distinguishing brand attributes with powerful pitch points. They also generate originl content that can be used on all platforms.

The number of station-based talk and interview programs has dropped 37% between 2007 and 2015. In most cases these programs have been replaced by syndicated programming, particularly WBUR/NPR’s Here and Now or WNYC/PRI’s The Takeaway.

The loss of “local service” is obvious. Beyond that, stations lost an opportunity for in-the-moment live programming. The ability to be “live” instantly is one of radio’s best assets. It is also an essential part of the news mix because what happens on these programs can become news itself.

I have a received quite a few compliments but most people want to hear more specifics.  Before more station managers will embrace talk and interview they need to know specifics: How these programs perform in pledging, underwriting, ratings, etc. Most importantly, are they sustainable?

Finding this information is my next quest. Today I am sharing my list of talk and interview programs that air locally between the “tent poles,” typically 9am to 4pm. (Shows that air a minimum of three days per week are required to make my list.)

The charts below contain information about 61 talk and interview programs. I’m sure I haven’t included all of the programs, particularly new ones.  Some information may also be dated.  If you don’t see your program on the list, or if key info has changed, please let me know.  My email is publicradio@hotmail.com. Thank you.




If you don’t see your program on the list, or if key info has changed, please let me know.  My email is publicradio@hotmail.com. Thank you.

If you don’t see your program on the list, or if key info has changed, please let me know.  My email is publicradio@hotmail.com. Thank you.



 If you don’t see your program on the list, or if key info has changed, please let me know.  My email is publicradio@hotmail.com. Thank you.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

IOWA PUBLIC RADIO’S TWO TALK SHOWS ARE ESSENTIAL TO IPR’S UNIQUE IDENTITY


THIS IS THE FOURTH OF A FIVE-PART SERIES ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC RADIO TALK & INTERVIEW PROGRAMS

Katherine Perkins

What distinguishes Iowa Public Radio (IPR) from NPR and other NPR News stations?  Two daily talk shows: Talk of Iowa and River to River.


Katherine Perkins, Executive Producer of IPR’s talk shows says the two programs are essential to the organization’s brand and identity. “You can hear NPR from lots of different sources but these programs are available only from IPR. It is one of our major pitch points."





INSIDE THE TWO PROGRAMS

 Talk of Iowa is heard weekdays at 10:00am plus a repeat play at 9:00pm. The host is Charity Nebbe, a native Iowan who left for big-city lights and then returned in 2010. 

Nebbe was the co-host and co-founder of Chinwag Theater with Daniel Pinkwater. She is also an author of children’s books and appears on Iowa Public Television.


River to River is heard weekdays at Noon please a repeat play at 10:00pm. Ben Kieffer is the host. Kieffer has hosted talk shows on IPR since 2000. Another native Iowan, Kieffer gained his report chops when he worked as a freelance reporter in Europe for more than a decade. He reported on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Velvet Revolution in Prague.

River to River is the “newsier” of the two programs. When Iowa’s legislature is in session, River to River provides deep coverage of state issues and politics. Talk of Iowa specializes in cultural and lifestyle topics. Parker considers both programs to be news: “There is an Iowa thread in every story.

Both shows are produced at WSUI/KSUI, IPR’s program hub in Iowa City.  They share four production and editorial staff. The programs are mostly live and originate from locations outside the studios whenever possible.

SUSTAINABILITY WITH STRONG MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

Iowa Public Radio is a work-in-progress. Until 2004, WSUI in Iowa City, WOI in Ames and KUNI in Cedar Falls were fierce competitors.  They were merged in a “shotgun wedding” and have been working out the details ever since. Now IPR is humming as an almost statewide network. Talk of Iowa and River to River have helped bring IPR together.

According to Perkins, the essential metrics of both shows are solid: “Our two talk shows are highly tated programs. Pledging is going very, very well. We have high fund drive goals and often surpass them. IPR knows the value of what we do.  We more than pay our own way.  And we provide a unique bridge to Iowa businesses, educators and nonprofit organizations.”

INTANGIBLES ALSO MATTER

Talk of Iowa and River to River often win national awards.  Under the rules of the Public Radio News Director’s (PRNDI) annual awards, IPR competes with the biggest shops in public radio: WNYC, KQED, WBUR, WAMU, etc.  IPR programs have beaten all of these stations in PRNDI’s Best Talk Show category.   

{DISCLOSURE: I was a one of the judges.] Here are comments about IPR's winning entries in recent years:

2014 CATEGORY “A” SECOND PLACE

  
2013 CATEGORY “A” HONORABLE MENTION

2009 CATEGORY “A”  SECOND PLACE


Wednesday, April 27, 2016

CELESTE HEADLEE: “LIVE AUDIO IS ONE OF PUBLIC RADIO’S MOST POTENT TOOLS”


THIS IS THE THIRD OF A FIVE-PART SERIES ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC RADIO TALK & INTERVIEW PROGRAMS
 
Celeste Headlee

  Celeste Headlee is the Executive Producer and Host of On Second Thought (OST) from Georgia Public Radio (GPB), part of the new generation of public radio talk shows we are saluting this week. It airs weekdays from 9am to 10am [link] on GPB’s statewide network now including WRAS in Atlanta.






Live is important to Headlee and her team because of the in-the-moment urgency it brings. When live audio is captured it can be multi-versioned into podcasts plus digital and social media platforms.

“Live audio is heard on about 80% of the show,” Headlee said. “We consider the on-air folks the be human beings, like you and me. Occasional mistakes are allowed because they are real human moments.”

PROGRAM CLOCK REQUIRES PRECISE TIMING




Several of the out-state GPB stations use automation that requires a strict  clock with “hard posts.” As you can see in the rundown template at right, OST has three major segments. There are typically five, and a minimum of three, topics per day. 

The show has several reoccurring
features: Georgia Playlist, a Desert-Island-Disc segment where guest’s Georgia-oriented tunes are played; and, The Breakroom where a Friday panel of guests and insiders dissect the week’s news and listen to live music.

Cultural and arts topics are frequently included, but according to Headlee “They must have a news peg because the bottom line is that we are a news program.”

An example is OST’s recent coverage [link] of Savanna’s tribute to an Elvis Presley concert held in the city 60 years ago. “The anniversary and the opening of a related photo exhibit made it relevant, something happening new that our listeners might want to attend.”

Here is how GPB promoted it: 


Sixty years ago, a pair of blue suede shoes touched down in Georgia.  Savannah played host to Elvis Presley's first concert in that city in June 1956.  The concert hall was packed with fans, mostly teenagers.  One of those was 14-year-old Dee Sutlive, who is now covering the show for the Savannah Morning News.

Be there or be square.




SO FAR, SO GOOD

OST  (as well as GPB’s Atlanta station) began less than two years. Both are evolving. For instance, OST currently has a larger staff – four people – that the entire Atlanta station’s newsroom.

Since then Atlanta station WRAS is gaining momentum and listeners. As we reported in last March [link], in Fall 2015 Nielsen Audio PPM ratings WRAS was the fasted growing NPR News station in the nation.


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

WNPR’S JOHN DANKOSKY: "WE USE OUR TALK SHOWS TO BREAK NEWS"


THIS IS THE SECOND OF A FIVE-PART SERIES ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE PUBLIC RADIO TALK & INTERVIEW PROGRAMS.

John Dankosky, Vice President of News at the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN) knows why his shop has made substantial investments in talk and interview programming: “They generate valuable content that can be used across all of our platforms.”

John Dankosky
 Dankosky has been working in public media news for more than two and a half decades.  He hosts Where We Live [link], one of CPBN’s two daily talk shows. Where We Live has been recognized several times as the best station-based talk programs in the nation. WNPR’s other local talk shows are The Colin McEnroe Show {link] and the weekly Faith Middleton’s Food Schmooze® [link].

WNPR has integrated their talk programs into all aspects of their news coverage, community engagement and social media. According to Dankosky, talk and interview programs have increased the value of CPBN for listeners and community leaders: “They are an important part of CPBN’s (and public media’s) future.”

ARE CPBN’S TALK SHOWS SUSTAINABLE?

Dankosky says: “Yes, that’s why we are making new investments in them. By any metric they are successful. They pledge well and underwriting avails are often sold out.”

Dankosky acknowledges that station-based talk shows typically cost more than national news magazines. “Talk shows are hard to do and challenging to make great everyday. But they are worth the time and investment because they make CPBN essential.”

The ability to be “live” is also important. Dankosky: Live coverage is one of the most important tactical weapons radio has. Few other types of media on any platform have the ability to be ‘live’ immediately.  It is not something news magazines typically do.”

PLANS INCLUDE A REGIONAL TALK PROGRAM

CPBN led and organized the New England News Collaborative (NENC). Last February, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) pledged more than $600,000 to launch the NENC. Other partner stations in NENC are WBUR, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, New Hampshire Public Radio, Vermont Public Radio, New England Public Radio, Rhode Island Public Radio, and WSHU Public Radio. Collaborations are also planned with Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here & Now, and other public media programs in New England.
Lucy Nalpathanchill

Dankosky is now in the process of creating a weekly regional talk show as part of NENC.  He is in transition from his current duties at WNPR to become the head of NENC. The new host of Where We Live is WNPR reporter Lucy Nalpathanchill.

Dankosky believes the NENC is important for the entire region:


“We realized that New England states share common geography and history, political organization and people. We think the New England News Collective will help to tell the stories of this connected and rapidly changing region.”

YOU CAN JOIN THE EFFORT: FOUR JOBS ARE OPEN NOW

CPBN is now adding staff for all of its talk programs. These gigs are now open for applications:

• Talk Show Producer (New England News Collaborative)

Help launch WNPR’s new weekly news program and podcast, exploring issues across New England. Work with an award-winning team that is dedicated to creating engaging and thoughtful programming for a regional audience.

• Talk Show Producer (Where We Live)

• Talk Show Producer (The Colin McEnroe Show)

Become part of the team that produces The Colin McEnroe Show, one of WNPR’s signature programs. “Possibly the best local show in public media.,” says Adam Ragusea, host of Current newspaper’s podcast The Pub.


Assists in the planning and production of  WNPR’s weekly flagship food and lifestyle program, Faith Middleton’s Food Schmooze®

More information is available at [link].





Monday, April 25, 2016

COMMENTARY: PUBIC RADIO NEEDS MORE LIVE LOCAL TALK & INTERVIEW PROGRAMS


A few years ago I was at the PRPD conference and I attended the annual meeting of the News/Talk Group. Jeff Hansen, then PD at KUOW, Seattle and Dave Kanzeg, then PD at WCPN, Cleveland started the News/Talk meeting around 2000. 

George Baily, Walrus Research

The News/Talk Group brings together the best minds from NPR News stations, representatives of NPR, APM, PRX and PRI and consultants with valuable data and perspective. That year, as usual, the session was packed. Researcher George Baily made a big impression when he said [paraphrasing]:

“Talk shows don’t work. Get rid of them.”

George Baily’s research has helped shape public radio.  But, I think Baily is wrong this time.

Public radio needs more Talk/Interview programming because, done correctly, Talk/Interview programming enhances the value, depth and urgency of public radio news. It is time to look at what is working and replicate it on the local, regional and national levels.

THE DECLINE OF LOCAL TALK/INTERVIEW PROGRAMS

When NPR cancelled Talk of the Nation in 2013, the signal it sent to stations was that Talk/Interview programming didn’t work. Despite questions from some observers about Talk of the Nation’s performance, it provided a model and standard for similar station-based shows.

The rap on Talk/Interview shows is that they are too expensive and don't please listeners as much as national news magazines. In many cases this is true.  But, not always.

The number of News/Interview programs has dropped dramatically in the past decade. In February, 2015, when reported [link] on a then just-released study that found the number of local News/Interview shows declined 37% between 3007 and 2015.

In 2007, there were 99 local talk and interview programs between Morning Edition and All Things Considered.  In 2015, using the same criteria, there were 62 programs remaining, a decline of 37.4% in eight years. 
  
Where did these programs go? In most cases they were replaced by syndicated programming, particularly WBUR/NPR’s Here and Now or WNYC/PRI’s The Takeaway.

The loss of “local service” is obvious. Beyond that, stations have lost an opportunity for in-the-moment live programming. The ability to be “live” instantly is one of radio’s best assets. It is also an essential part of the news mix because what happens on these programs can become news itself.

The good news is that some NPR News stations see the value of live and local talk and interview programs. Examples of the new generation of station-based Talk/Interview programs include Where We Live from Connecticut Public Radio [link], On Second Thought from Georgia Public Broadcasting [link] and Texas Standard from KUT, Austin, which is now heard statewide.

We will be reporting on these and other programs this week – how they work, whether they are sustainable and best practices others can use.