NPR: The Trials and Triumphs of National Public Radio

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Columbia University Press, Jun 14, 2005 - Performing Arts - 216 pages
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The people who shaped America's public broadcasting system thought it should be "a civilized voice in a civilized community"—a clear alternative to commercial broadcasting. This book tells the story of how NPR has tried to embody this idea. Michael P. McCauley describes NPR's evolution from virtual obscurity in the early 1970s, when it was riddled with difficulties—political battles, unseasoned leadership, funding problems—to a first-rate broadcast organization.

The book draws on a wealth of primary evidence, including fifty-seven interviews with people who have been central to the NPR story, and it places the network within the historical context of the wider U.S. radio industry. Since the late 1970s, NPR has worked hard to understand the characteristics of its audience. Because of this, its content is now targeted toward its most loyal listeners—highly educated baby-boomers, for the most part—who help support their local stations through pledges and fund drives.

 

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NPR: the trials and triumphs of National Public Radio

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Any history of a large corporation must cover finances and bureaucracy to some degree, but McCauley's account of NPR's past rarely ventures beyond these subjects. The author, who worked in radio for ... Read full review

Selected pages

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Very First Brush Strokes
The Price of Fame
Phoenix Rising
A Civilized Voice in a New Media Environment
Copyright

Other editions - View all

NPR: The Trials and Triumphs of National Public Radio
Michael P. McCauley
Limited preview - 2005
NPR: The Trials and Triumphs of National Public Radio
Michael P. McCauley
No preview available - 2005

Common terms and phrases

American Arbitron Audience Research Analysis audio August began Board of Directors Bornstein Brooke Gladstone budget Buzenberg commercial Conciatore Corporation for Public coverage CPB’s Current David Giovannoni debt crisis developed Educational Broadcasters educational radio federal Files Frank Mankiewicz funds helped History host interview by author Jack Mitchell Jeff Rosenberg journalists July June Kevin Klose Lee Frischknecht Lewis Linda Wertheimer listeners member stations message to author Mike Janssen million Minnesota Public Radio Morning Edition National Public Broadcasting National Public Radio noncommercial November NPBA MSS NPR Board NPR OHC NPR Press Release NPR programs NPR’s organization percent political president producers Public Broadcasting Archives public radio stations public radio system public television Quayle Report Robert Scott Simon September Siemering Siemering’s Sirius Satellite Radio staff station managers stories Susan Stamberg tape recording Tavis Smiley telephone interview Things Considered transcript University wanted Washington Post Wisconsin Public Radio York

About the author (2005)

Michael P. McCauley, a former radio journalist, is associate professor of communication and journalism at the University of Maine. The lead editor of Public Broadcasting and the Public Interest, he lives in Bangor, Maine.
McCauley's meticulous research is presented with a human face.

Bibliographic information

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TitleNPR: The Trials and Triumphs of National Public Radio
AuthorMichael P. McCauley
Editionillustrated
PublisherColumbia University Press, 2005
ISBN0231509952, 9780231509954
Length216 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Performing Arts / Radio / General
Social Science / Media Studies
  
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