What’s NPR and what’s not
A recent interview in the Wall Street Journal with Sarah Vowell, the writer, attributed the radio program she contributes to, “This American Life,” t
o National Public Radio. That’s incorrect. It’s distributed by Public Radio International, a competitor to NPR. Today, in Jim Fusilli’s review of the Old Crow Medical Show (I couldn’t find a non-$ link for that one), he says “A Prarie Home Companion,” Garrison Keillor’s long-running variety show, is NPR’s as well. It’s not; it started at Minnesota Public Radio and is distributed by Public Radio International also, was a PRI show and is now distributed by American Public Media, a cousin company to PRI.
The fault lies with the papers, of course, which shouldn’t be publishing inaccuracies, but, as I wrote about in great detail here, also with the public broadcasting world, which for a variety of internal political reasons doesn’t explain to viewers important distinctions about the source of their programming.
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Given your fastidious devotion to the facts, Mr. Bill, on this subject and on all others, Keillor actually is distributed by American Public Media, the third major content-provider/syndicator in the public radio world’s three-headed competition (NPR, PRI, APM).
APM — based in St. Paul, while PRI is in Minneapolis; they care about those distinctions the brainpower state — also distributes a fine little show called “Sound Opinions.” And “Marketplace,” and “Weekend America,” and “Speaking of Faith,” among others.
But your larger point stands: Public Radio ought to explain this sort of thing to its audience, since the alphabet soup is hard to parse even for those who work/worked there!
Thanks Jim. PRI used to distribute PHC, of course, and the companies share roots.
I want to read your critique of the lousy job PBS is making of this election. Who are those weird guys standing outside the convention talking in strange voices and why don’t they tell us something we don’t already know?
Isn’t it Old Crow MEDICINE show?