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artmorris
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Posted: Tue Aug 11th, 2009 09:24 pm |
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Public radio doesn't get much 'airtime' on this board, so I have a thought or two.
As an enlightened middle age, educated professional, I'm supposed to be the target demo for NPR. I try on occasion to listen, but I just can't stay with it. And, here's a couple of thoughts -
Why do all of the news and interview programs on NPR sound like they're being conducted in the middle of a public library? All of the voices sound like they're intentionally trying to speak softly. I turn the volume knob up and up, trying to hear what they're saying, but it's difficult.
Do they not believe in mic processors in public radio? I understand the concepts of 'open processing', but to the point that I can't hear the participants?
In commercial radio, perhaps we go too far the other direction with heavily processed mics. But, doesn't it make sense to speak (and process) voices in such a way as to be heard?
Art
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Turner the burner
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Posted: Tue Aug 11th, 2009 10:30 pm |
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| I like PBS but have never been a fan of NPR. My thoughts on NPR in general would be to bring back the fairness doctrine and discontinue funding for NPR. If it is so popular it would resurface somewhere on commercial radio..
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1340-1971
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Posted: Tue Aug 11th, 2009 11:37 pm |
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| You imply that NPR is slanted in one direction. Fair enough if your talking about Garrison Keilor and his show, but if you are talking about their news, please cite examples of that or of other programs the MSU station airs.
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artmorris
Administrator
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Posted: Tue Aug 11th, 2009 11:44 pm |
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I was asking a formatics/programming question. I didn't intend to start another political discussion.
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Buddy Dornster
Member
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Posted: Wed Aug 12th, 2009 01:38 am |
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Perhaps making political remarks is all one can do with NPR. Like you, I cannont tolerate their "too laid back" style. Seems like it came from the late night FM jocks of the late 60's.
I DID put up with the bordome one day long enough to get a FANTASTIC barbeque recipe.
Even without getting political, I've thought for decades that they, as well as PBS, should be defunded. I was always amazed that they had the best technology first in any market, just because of federal funding. Let them WORK for a living, like the rest of us.
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Desdinova the Super Villain of the Ozark
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Posted: Wed Aug 12th, 2009 03:30 am |
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I am a product of NPR. KSMU hired me when every other station, including those in my hometown, gave me the run around and excuses as to why I could work for them. So I don't feel tax money is being wasted. I'd rather see money go toward NPR than building bombs and weapons, but that is what makes me SUPER VILLAIN OF THE OZARKS!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
But on the other hand, Art has a point. They take trying to be different from say T40, country or talk radio to an extreme. Have you ever seen a Saturday Night Live sketch where Alec Baldwin is a pastry expert who brings the two female talk show host some pastries called "sweet balls." Obviously a double-entendree, but the humor is derived from the quite, polite, matter-of-fact tone used on NPR while discussing "your balls."
That is the one problem I have with NPR, however I prefer NPR and CBS radio news style over the ABC Radio News and their screaming "WE ARE LIVE..." at the begining of every report or Fox's "SWOOM!" between every story.
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1340-1971
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Posted: Fri Aug 14th, 2009 06:28 pm |
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The classical music hosts on NPR are indeed "laid back", and many of you may believe the news programs on NPR are also laid back, but to give you pause to consider or reconsider, below from npr.org are stories from but one morning (Aug13) on the NPR news magazine Morning Edition. Stories on health reform, sports, the military, childrens issues, entertainment etc. Hard news reports are broadcast at 1 minute after the hour during the day and evening. In past morning programs I have heard NPR reporters in the field with Special Forces and regular troops (heros all) taking and returning fire in battle. Laid back? If these kind of stories bore you Buddy D, then I wish you luck with your BBQ.
On the local side, I remember a posting on this forum from radio-radio from a year ago congratulating KSMU on its 10th Edward R. Murrow award. Looking at the RTNDA website I see KSMU now has 11. The Murrow is not awarded for laid back reporting. To each his or her own on the funding issue, I have no problem with anyone on their personal opinion on funding NPR or PBS. I do believe though that both networks offer a product that simply can't be found anywhere else, and take the time needed to tell their stories in full. I am not able to hear everything on KSMU, nor am I able to hear everything on other stations I enjoy, (KT, KGBX, Bass, JOCK 99, 104.7) but yes Art, I believe there is a limited amount of processing at play at NPR and KSMU. The result is increased fidelity IMHO.
Economists Say Recession May Be Over
South Florida Hospitals Compete For Foreign Patients
Expert Panel To Advise Obama On Spaceflight
Gilbert-Sullivan Feud Subject Of Children's Book
Missing Ship May Have Been Hijacked
Iran's Post-Election Detainees Likely Tortured Economy
Sugar Prices Near 30-Year Highs
White Pages Look To Go Green
In Crisis, A Call To Return To Old Ways: Usury Laws
Lottery Fever Hits Italy
U.S. General: Taliban 'Comfortable' In Kandahar,
Amsterdam In America?
Flavored Snacks From Pedrick's Keep A Family Happy
PGA Championship Hours Away
Sen. Cardin Feels Heat On Health Care
[Critic: Consumers Don't Drive Health Care Prices
Soccer Player's Excuse Nets Him $850 Ticket
Brazilian TV Host Charged With Murder
Last edited on Fri Aug 14th, 2009 06:40 pm by 1340-1971
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morrisjames
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Posted: Mon Aug 17th, 2009 09:21 pm |
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What I love about NPR is it looks at all sides of a story. It's not a bunch of hype. Yes, it's laid back but at least you are not being bombarded with zingers and overused terms.
I compare NPR to newspaper in that you get a lengthy account of which to draw your OWN opinions.
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AdamWest
Member
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Posted: Sat Aug 22nd, 2009 02:39 pm |
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Art, I am an NPR fan for many years...even when I was the morning jock on KHTO I would listen on the way into work.
I agree the processing is near 0 and the style is laid back however I would also argue that for my older ears and mind, I appreciate the lack of "loudness" to their broadcasts and also the mellow delivery. NPR content can be argued to death but the question is about the sound. I am good with the sound today but I do remember in my younger days (heavily involved in radio) I did not like the sound as much.
I wonder if it's a matter of taste? I struggle with commercial radio. Perhaps it's an age thing.
Adam
Last edited on Sun Aug 23rd, 2009 01:42 am by AdamWest
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Buddy Dornster
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 23rd, 2009 05:09 am |
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Yes, Adam, but my "age" thing with NPR's lack of processing is that sometimes the levels are so low, my old ears cannot make out what they are saying!
Once upon a time, not all that long ago, the FCC required no less than 85% modulation. Now we only have caps, which are ignored by some major commercial outlets.
Last edited on Sun Aug 23rd, 2009 05:11 am by Buddy Dornster
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Jamie Turner
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Posted: Sun Aug 23rd, 2009 06:57 am |
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While most stations have dumped news and--though it's illegal--charge for public service, it's nice to have KSMU in our community. Although, I would prefer music, but that's just me. The artists they do play (when apparently I'm not listening) are artists that customers have turned me onto. Betty LaVette, Booker T (of the MGs), Levon Helm, etc.
That's another thing, they're listeners are loyal. That's what happens when you take care of your listeners. For music I listen to WFUV in New York, KPJC in California (they play Surf), and KDHX in St. Louis.
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