National Public Radio (NPR) aired its first broadcast on May 3, 1971, marking the debut of its flagship news program “All Things Considered.” The format was a radical departure from commercial radio at the time, and featured immersive audio design and a narrative-driven, conversational approach. The program opened with a 24-minute audio portrait of a massive anti-Vietnam War protest in Washington, D.C., and was followed by an eclectic mix of segments — including a conversation between Allen Ginsberg and his father about LSD and youth counterculture. Thus, the first NPR program was born.
In a new book about NPR’s 50-year history, called “On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR,” journalist Steve Oney traces pivotal moments in the organization’s history. The book, which took Oney 14 years to research and write, examines how NPR’s leadership shaped the organization, from founding program director Bill Siemering, creator of “All Things Considered,” to NPR president Frank Mankiewicz, who was at the helm for both the network’s expansion and its brush with near financial ruin. Oney details the network’s near-collapse in 1983, recounting how journalists Cokie Roberts, Nina Totenberg, and Linda Wertheimer — often referred to by colleagues as “the troika” — helped secure a multi-million dollar bailout from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The book chronicles NPR’s impact on the industry, from its pioneering of the distribution of longform podcasting, to its efforts to adapt to a changing digital news landscape. It also features stories of behind-the-mic drama and newsroom tensions, like the controversial removal of NPR host Bob Edwards from anchoring “Morning Edition,” to a long-standing rumor about an engineer on staff dealing cocaine to colleagues.
Oney, a 1982 Nieman Fellow, has written for Esquire, GQ, and The New York Times Magazine. He spoke with Nieman Reports about the making of “On Air”, the evolution of NPR through the decades, and the network’s lasting impact on American journalism.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
The post ‘A Great Subject Hiding in Plain Sight’: Steve Oney’s “On Air” is a deep dive into the history of NPR appeared first on Nieman Reports.
National Public Radio (NPR) aired its first broadcast on May 3, 1971, marking the debut of its flagship news program “All Things Considered.” The format was a radical departure from commercial radio at the time, and featured immersive audio design and a narrative-driven, conversational approach. The program opened with a 24-minute audio portrait of a massive anti-Vietnam War protest in Washington, D.C., and was followed by an eclectic mix of segments — including a conversation between Allen Ginsberg and his father about LSD and youth counterculture. Thus, the first NPR program was born. In a new book about NPR’s 50-year history, called “On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR,” journalist Steve Oney traces pivotal moments in the organization’s history. The book, which took Oney 14 years to research and write, examines how NPR’s leadership shaped the organization, from founding program director Bill Siemering, creator of “All Things Considered,” to NPR president Frank Mankiewicz, who was at the helm for both the network’s expansion and its brush with near financial ruin. Oney details the network’s near-collapse in 1983, recounting how journalists Cokie Roberts, Nina Totenberg, and Linda Wertheimer — often referred to by colleagues as “the troika” — helped secure a multi-million dollar bailout from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Author and journalist Steve Oney Casey Nelson The book chronicles NPR’s impact on the industry, from its pioneering of the distribution of longform podcasting, to its efforts to adapt to a changing digital news landscape. It also features stories of behind-the-mic drama and newsroom tensions, like the controversial removal of NPR host Bob Edwards from anchoring “Morning Edition,” to a long-standing rumor about an engineer on staff dealing cocaine to colleagues. Oney, a 1982 Nieman Fellow, has written for Esquire, GQ, and The New York Times Magazine. He spoke with Nieman Reports about the making of “On Air”, the evolution of NPR through the decades, and the network’s lasting impact on American journalism. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. The post ‘A Great Subject Hiding in Plain Sight’: Steve Oney’s “On Air” is a deep dive into the history of NPR appeared first on Nieman Reports. Read More