Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

For as long as I can remember, I have been one of the 13 million listeners tuning in to enjoy the news, commentary and features of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. As one of NPR’s most coveted programs, Morning Edition combines the key ingredients to producing a fair, entertaining and informative show. The program emulates “good” news values, preserving the dignity and integrity of a magazine show in an age where the broadcast media is saturated with shallow celebrity gossip, skimping on substance and parading unabashed politicized editorials masked news.

Several structural features of Morning Edition contribute to its success as a news outlet. Listeners can absorb their daily dose of news in a multitude of environments. As David Carr asserts in his New York Times column, “you cannot read this story while driving in your carâÂ?¦and you cannot have it on in the background” (Carr, 1). NPR makes excellent use of its technological resources, posting online its complete archives, offering transcripts and providing additional historical context, including graphics, maps and photos. NPR has wisely adopted the technology of “pod casting,” allowing listeners to download pieces onto their music devices and computers, an invaluable tool in expanding their audience,

One of the most contentious stories rocking today’s media is the leak of CIA Agent Valerie Plame’s identity and the subsequent investigation into and the incarceration of journalists who refused to reveal their sources. Since 2003, the scandal has escalated to involve many influential figures, including “the smartest man in politics,” (Gonyea) Karl Rove. The high-profile nature and political impact of this case demands that it is covered as accurately and fairly as possible. One of the most challenging aspects of the story is balancing historical context with new developments, a difficult task that is virtually nonexistent in television broadcasts and reserved for story sidebars in print. “Rove Returns for more Testimony,” by Don Gonyea, does an excellent job of balancing the necessary context with updating the news. NPR’s pieces traditionally run four to five minutes, providing a much longer, more detailed and informative story than its television broadcast counterparts can in the two-minute spots. Gonyea devotes a solid 35 seconds of his 4:46 broadcast to providing sufficient historical context. He successfully conveys the magnitude of influence of this case and the implication of Rove’s potential involvement. Gonyea is valiant in delivering an accurate depiction of events without resorting to slander or personal political commentary. Gonyea addresses the concerns and views of the President, Chief Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald and political analysts. The story covers the most recent revelations in the case and goes the extra mile to discuss the effects of potential outcomes, providing the reader with a clear and thorough understanding of the issues at hand.

One of the strengths of Morning Edition is its ability to delve into international issues and events. The program boasts staff correspondents in thirteen countries and attracts the commentary and freelance work of internationally renowned reporters. In recent weeks, Morning Edition has provided excellent continuing coverage on the devastating earthquake that shattered through Southern Asia. In a story that aired on October 13, 2005, titled “Pakistan Shifts From Rescue to Relief Efforts,” reporter Phillip Reeves examines the effect the relief efforts are having in Pakistan. The ability to convey voices and sounds, a feature that print news lacks, brings the story closer to the reader, better connecting them with the subjects or topics involved. As Reeves begins the story with a recording of a man who is searching for the remains of his sons in the rubble, the sound effects of the rescue efforts (shovels and digging) emanate in the background. Throughout the story he identifies the needs of the relief effort and discusses the progress made in rescue missions. A corresponding story, “Death Toll From South Asia Quake Reaches 79,000,” by Melissa Black, provides eye witness accounts of aid efforts, identifies the problems faced by humanitarian workers, such as the accessibility of the villages, and emphasizes the shift in medical response. Both stories provide a thorough analysis of the crisis at hand, consulting a range of sources, including locals affected by the disaster, international experts and relief workers. Morning Edition’s international resources and reputation allow its reporters to delve deep into such prominent stories, improving the accessibility to understand events happening across the globe to listeners across the country.

Producing a news show is a delicate balancing act. In an age when the public seems to demand sex over substance, networks struggle to create programs that will attract a large audience while preserving journalistic integrity and the credibility. By alternating news and analysis with enriching feature commentaries that bring light to the quirkier inter-workings of the world, Morning Edition gracefully bridges the gap between entertainment and the news without sacrificing the principals that elevate it to such a highly regarded outlet.

Works Cited:
Black, Melissa. “Death Toll From South Asia Quake Reaches 79,000.” Morning Edition. National Public Radio. 10/17/05
Carr, David. “Forget Blogs, Print Needs its Own IPod.” New York Times. 10/10/05
Gonyea, Don. “Rove Returns for More Testimony in CIA Leak Case.” Morning Edition National Public Radio.
Reeves, Phillip. “Pakistan Shifts From Rescue to Relief Efforts” Morning Edition. National Public Radio. 10/13/05