Presenting the Past Episode 6: National Public Radio with Bill Siemering

Описание: The sixth episode of “Presenting the Past” features Bill Siemering, a radio innovator and advocate, who was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in October 2021. As a founding member of the NPR Board of Directors, Siemering wrote NPR's original mission and goals, and as NPR’s first director of programming, led the development of All Things Considered. Siemering developed Fresh Air with Terry Gross at WHYY in Philadelphia, managed WBFO in Buffalo, NY, and KCCM in Moorhead, MN, was the executive producer of the documentary series Sound Print, worked with the Open Society Foundation, focusing on Eastern Europe, Africa and Mongolia, and founded Developing Radio Partners to enrich the programming of local stations in Africa. In this discussion, he reflects on the influences that helped shape his ideas and approaches to public radio programming throughout his career.

Highlighted in this program are clips from Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), including the inaugural FM broadcast in 1947, the Peabody Award winning series Afield with Ranger Mac, and the write-in radio program Dear Sirs. Be sure to also listen to “Strasburg, North Dakota” (1977) from Minnesota Public Radio. Co-produced by Siemering, it highlights his interest in incorporating soundscapes and compelling storytelling into radio programming.

This discussion is led by Neil Verma, assistant professor of sound studies in Radio/TV/Film at Northwestern University, and a member of the AAPB Scholar Advisory Committee.

Credits:
Hosted by Neil Verma
Recorded and edited by Christine Becker
Produced by Ryn Marchese
Post-production and theme music by Todd Thompson

Content mentioned in this episode:
Aca-Media, a podcast offering an academic perspective on media, from the Society for Cinema and Media Studies
National Public Radio Purposes (1970)
Wisconsin Public Radio Collection
Inaugural FM Program (WHA, 1947)
Wisconsin School of the Air; Afield with Ranger Mac (WHA, ca. 1942)
Dear Sirs (WHA, 1961)
Minnesota Public Radio Collection
“Strasburg, North Dakota” (MPR, 1977)

Explore more content from the AAPB here: https://americanarchive.org

Keep up with GBH on social media:
Facebook: https://bit.ly/facebookGBH
Twitter: https://bit.ly/twitterGBH
Instagram: https://bit.ly/instagramGBH

#NPR #PublicMedia #podcast