Public Radio Exchange &#187; Station Newsletters

Presidents’ Day

Exclusive Weeklies

The Moth Radio Hour

Season 5 still available. Don’t miss these stories.

How to Do Everything

Half advice show, half survival guide.

State of the Re:Union

Stories from The Bronx, Miss. Gulf, Wyo., Cleveland, and Sacramento.

Sound Opinions

Jim and Greg rock weekly. Valentine’s show coming this week.

American Routes

Amazing musical Americana of all kinds.

Snap Judgment

Fate, fights, gratitude, Snap.

LA Theatre Works

Contemporary radio drama.

Vinyl Cafe

Stories about the world’s smallest record store.

Help fund local journalism that matters.

Public Radio Remix

Are you listening yet?

PRX Podcasts

	HowSound: The backstory behind great radio.
	YouthCast: The next generation of sound.

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PRX, Inc. is a non-profit corporation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. PRX was created through a collaboration of the Station Resource Group and Atlantic Public Media, and continues to receive support from public radio stations and producers, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Knight Foundation and Google Grants.

Valentine’s Day image by clarescupcakes.co.uk. Black History Month image by YesterPrints.

“Watson, come here. I need PRX…”

John — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:31:23 +0000

More than a newsletter, our weekly station communication highlights exclusive weeklies on PRX, timely content, and unique specials you may not have heard of. Check them out below.

Want to get weekly station newsletters via email? Subscribe.

February 1, 2012

“Watson, come here. I need PRX…”

Hi friend of PRX,

Thomas Alva Edison is a hero for anyone who works with audio. Recorded sound? He’s the guy. So, when archivists found some old wax cylinders with the voices of Bismarck and other long-dead Germans hidden at Edison’s place in NJ, we had one thought: audio archives RULE.

If you’re in radio, you have ‘em. Blank on Blank is pioneering work with this sort of stuff. Check out the Kitchen Sisters’ and Jay Allison’s Lost and Found Sound, a PERFECT example of rich archives.

You don’t need the gems of a scratchy old German voice. You have a goldmine of your own somewhere. Put some of it on PRX…

Ja!
-John

Black History Month

Make it special

Explore two eras of Harlem history:

Adapted for radio from LA Theatre Works, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men is an American classic about life in Harlem in the 1960s. (1:57:58)
The Harlem Renaissance: Music, Religion, and the Politics of Race is a two-part special that tells the story of the powerful interconnections among music, religion, spirituality and politics during the vibrant 1920s. (59:00 each)

Much more for Black History Month under Timely Picks above and to the right.

Pet Projects

Give ‘em a home

Ned Ryerson wants you to air the free Memories of Groundhog Day. Do it and he’ll stop trying to sell you insurance. (52:05)

Cluck — Of course Portlandia has many homes with backyard chicken coops! Destination DIY has the tale. (5:35)

A man and his dog, plus a law. A personal story about the pitbull ban in Miami. (9:01)

Recorded Folklore

Happy Birthday, Alan Lomax

Open Source host Christopher Lydon explores a new biography of Alan Lomax. (7:47)

Blues Unlimited features hidden music and performers uncovered and recorded by Lomax’s efforts. (1:58:59)

Other Good Stuff

Congrats to all of AIR’s Localore winners. Lots of PRX stations and producers are in there — can’t wait to see your work on PRX!

Follow Us for the Latest

PRX Podcasts

	HowSound: Latest episode features NPR Baghdad correspondent Kelly McEvers.
	YouthCast: The next generation of sound.

Timely Picks

Presidents’ Day

Exclusive Weeklies

The Moth Radio Hour

Season 5 still available. Don’t miss these stories.

How to Do Everything

Who lets in bad presidential jokes?

State of the Re:Union

Stories from The Bronx, Miss. Gulf, Wyo., Cleveland, and Sacramento.

Sound Opinions

Jim and Greg rock weekly. Shows free to all.

American Routes

Amazing musical Americana of all kinds.

Snap Judgment

Fate, fights, gratitude, Snap.

LA Theatre Works

Contemporary radio drama.

Vinyl Cafe

Stories about the world’s smallest record store.

Help fund local journalism that matters.

Public Radio Remix

Are you listening yet?

Forward to a friend

Got questions about PRX?
Talk to a friendly human!

This newsletter is a weekly communication to provide programming suggestions and other relevant information to the staff of stations that use PRX.

PRX Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe

Original old timey image from soundofthehound.com. Harlem image from aawomeninhr.blogspot.com.

PRX’s Red Carpet

John — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:31:36 +0000

On PRX this week: Voices from Tahrir, Memories of Groundhog Day, and How To Do Everything.

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January 24, 2012

PRX’s Red Carpet

Hi friend of PRX,

The Oscar noms are out. Yawn. We all know the best images are on the radio! Here are a few choice pieces of radio art that rival what you see on the screen:

The Twilight movies? Eric Molinsky takes that whole conceit to the next level…a mock news story about vampires in Connecticut!
The Right Stuff? Think again. Jonathan Mitchell’s all-too-realistic depiction of the crash of Apollo 11 on the moon is chilling and poignant. The Truth is full of cinematic radio.

You want amazing acting? Try Rupa Lucien, Child of Romania, a true story dramatized by the British producer Chris Templeton for the BBC.
Biopic? Jack’s Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac.
Short films…try the amazing mix of noir and radio only as ZBS can do it. Wow! Each one is only 2-minutes long.

All right, Mr. DeMille. I’m ready for my close up,
John

Voices from Tahrir

Jan. 25 marks 1 year since the uprising

In this new one-hour special, participants in the people’s revolution in Egypt give first-hand accounts of their historic 18 days in Tahrir Square and discuss the challenges they face in a post-Mubarak Egypt.

Human Rights Watch and Barrett Golding/Hearing Voices offer this dramatic program for free.

Memories of Groundhog Day

Movie magic for around Feb. 2

“Ned… Ryerson!”

If you remember that name, you probably remember the movie Groundhog Day and actor Stephen Tobolowsky, who pushes insurance and friendship on Bill Murray’s character daily on the street.

Stephen — an extraordinary storyteller — shares his Memories of Groundhog Day, in a FREE special from the series The Tobolowsky Files.

“When we test-piloted [The Tobolowsky Files] in the evening we received more positive response than with any other new program we’ve tested. We then chose to air it Sunday afternoons at 1:00…” -KUOW/Seattle PD Jeff Hansen

The Oscar nominations are announced — a great time to try another show about the movies, too: Behind the Scenes from Andrea Chase.

How to Do Everything…

On the radio

How to Do Everything is a new podcast from NPR, now available for broadcast. It’s half advice show, half survival guide.

Learn something new each week, like how to make your own Twinkies, become a sniper, and avoid asteroids.

HTDE is exclusively on PRX in 3- to 7-min. segments perfect for dropping into your station’s programs.

Announcements

PRX’s Jake Shapiro on Why Public Media Needs an Accelerator.

This Week’s Newsletter

Timely Picks

Presidents’ Day

Public Radio Remix

Are you listening yet?

PRX’s Signature Shows

The Moth Radio Hour

More true, amazing stories.

State of the Re:Union

New cities and connections.

Sound Opinions

Jim and Greg rock weekly.

Snap Judgment

Are you hip enough for this show?

Help fund local journalism that matters.

PRX Podcasts

	HowSound: Subscribe to the “new” podcast.
	YouthCast: The next generation of sound.

Forward to a friend

Got questions about PRX?
Talk to a friendly human!

This newsletter is a weekly communication to provide programming suggestions and other relevant information to the staff of stations that use PRX.

PRX Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe

Original Hollywood sign image by adrianblack. Tahrir image by Platon for Human Rights Watch.

PRX Time Continuum

John — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:21:02 +0000

We’re highlighting picks for Black History Month. Plus, get some movie magic right before Sundance, and listen in to new music specials of all kinds.

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January 17, 2012

PRX Time Continuum

Hi friend of PRX,

We’re in the midst of a presidential campaign, some parts of the Internets might go dark for a protest, and there are signs of an even newer iPad this Spring. The future is upon us!

And today Betty White and Mary Tyler Moore are the two TOP search items on Google. Whaaat?? Two sit-com stars who actually shared a series back before those new fangled VCRs.

PRX knows that whatever is older is new again — it’s why the PRX catalog totally rules: new relevance, new connections, fresh meaning.

We know Sue Ann Nivens and Mary Richards would totally love PRX.

-John

Black History Month

Ideas for February

Try these and other ideas for Black History Month. Look to the right under Timely Picks.

91-year-old Ruth Ballard talks about moving to Tuskegee, Alabama during World War II, after her husband was drafted. (StoryCorps | 1:49)
Say it Loud: Great Speeches on Civil Rights and African American Identity traces the last 50 years of black history through stirring, historically important speeches by African Americans from across the political spectrum. (American RadioWorks | 59:00)
Race and the Space Race: How the greatest technical achievement in the last 50 years advanced civil rights. Narrated by Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. (Richard Paul/Soundprint | 59:18)

Movie Magic

Get your popcorn

With the Golden Globes behind us and Sundance coming right up, here are some picks about movies:

Filmspotting is an hour-long weekly program about film that includes movie reviews, interviews, top five lists, listener feedback and insightful film talk. (WBEZ)

One of Sundance’s documentaries is based off lectures available on PRX: In Debt: Payback and the Shadow Side of Wealth, novelist, poet, and essayist Margaret Atwood delivers a surprising look at the topic of debt. (CBC | series of hours)
Three film critics dissect how directors have twisted time in Memento, Run Lola Run, and Timecode. (Jonathan Mitchell | 6:45)

Sing, Swing, Listen In

New hours of great music

If you missed it in person, Savannah Music Festival Live just added 10 new hours to their series of music from the 2010 event.

Hear one of the most exciting young pianists in jazz, Gerald Clayton, performing with Hareesh Ragovan on bass and Justin Brown on drums.
The arid, landlocked nation of Mali is a cultural colossus. Listen to one of Mali’s most renowned musicians, Bassekou Kouyate, performing with his group Ngoni Ba.
Highlights from a special concert in which the esteemed faculty of Swing Central High School Jazz Band Competition & Workshop perform in an All-Star Swing Summit.

Full series

Announcements

Teens these days… are making great radio. Listen to the Best Youth-Made Radio of 2011 as compiled by Generation PRX.

This Week’s Newsletter

Timely Picks

MLK and Black History Month

Public Radio Remix

Are you listening yet?

PRX’s Signature Shows

The Moth Radio Hour

More true, amazing stories.

State of the Re:Union

New cities and connections.

Sound Opinions

Jim and Greg rock weekly.

Snap Judgment

Are you hip enough for this show?

Help fund local journalism that matters.

PRX Podcasts

	HowSound: Subscribe to the “new” podcast.
	YouthCast: The next generation of sound.

Forward to a friend

Got questions about PRX?
Talk to a friendly human!

This newsletter is a weekly communication to provide programming suggestions and other relevant information to the staff of stations that use PRX.

PRX Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe

Black History Month image from the Library of Congress.

PRX Ponders Twinkie

John — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:07:46 +0000

Moyers & Company coming soon — get all the details. Plus, ideas for Black History Month and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

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January 10, 2012

PRX Ponders Twinkie

Hi friend of PRX,

Bankrupt? Say it ain’t so, Twinkie! Times are tough for the sweet concoction that almost never goes stale.

Rising prices for the ingredients, at least the ones we know of, are being blamed in part for a possible second bankruptcy filing by Twinkie’s owners.

PRX, by contrast, is always fresh. Our ingredients are updated constantly — lots of new radio pieces show up daily. And, almost all of them are nutritious. Plus, we show you what’s inside every piece before you buy.

Ring Ding!
-John

Moyers is Back

Coming this week

Bill Moyers is back, this time on public radio with a new weekly program available free to PRX member stations.

Just in time for the election year and starting Jan. 13, the first hour-long programs will probe the reasons for financial inequality in America.

Listen to a sample segment.
See what’s coming in the first three programs under “Show full description”.

Also new: America’s Test Kitchen Radio.

Voices and Stories

For MLK Day and Black History Month

Who Is This Man?: The “I Have a Dream” speech may not have been heard if it weren’t for Bayard Rustin.

Explore the life and legacy of Mr. Rustin, a black, gay, Quaker who brought non-violent protest to the Civil Rights movement in America. (State of the Re:Union | 58:23)

State of Siege: Mississippi Whites and the Civil Rights Movement: This program brings to light the extraordinary tactics whites in Mississippi used to battle integration, and the lasting impact of that battle on American politics today. (American RadioWorks | 59:00)
More from American RadioWorks for BHM
Rethinking Religion – The Harlem Renaissance: Feel the music, spirituality, and politics of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance in this new special. Part 2 is coming Friday. (Jim Luce | 59:00)

Many more choices above and to the right under Timely Picks.

Coachella 2012

Radiohead is a headliner

Coachella, the California music festival that gets bigger by the year, announced its lineup today.

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke guest DJs All Songs Considered. (NPR | 28:57)
The Best Worst Day Ever: A Radiohead journey that ends at Waffle House. (Eric Winick | 15:24)

Announcements

What else have we been doing besides writing fabulous station newsletters? Find out in our Monthly Update.
Meet Laitan, a Modern Culture and Media student at Brown University who is helping us over her winter break.

This Week’s Newsletter

Moyers is Back

Coachella 2012

Announcements

Timely Picks

MLK and Black History Month

Public Radio Remix

Are you listening yet?

PRX’s Signature Shows

The Moth Radio Hour

More true, amazing stories.

State of the Re:Union

New cities and connections.

Sound Opinions

Jim and Greg rock weekly.

Snap Judgment

Are you hip enough for this show?

Help fund local journalism that matters.

PRX Podcasts

	HowSound: Subscribe to the “new” podcast.
	YouthCast: The next generation of sound.

Forward to a friend

Got questions about PRX?
Talk to a friendly human!

This newsletter is a weekly communication to provide programming suggestions and other relevant information to the staff of stations that use PRX.

PRX Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe

Original Twinkie image by Christian Cable.

IOWAPRXIOWA

John — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:26:22 +0000

This week’s station newsletter introduces two new shows coming soon: America’s Test Kitchen Radio and Moyers & Company with Bill Moyers. We also list some great ideas for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Black History Month. Check them out after the jump.

Want to get weekly station newsletters via email? Subscribe.

January 3, 2012

IOWAPRXIOWA

Hi friend of PRX,

By next week the every-four-year obsession with the Hawkeye State will be over. Unless you live in Iowa.

The state is almost 92% white but it has pockets of amazing diversity. Visit the only Muslim in Elkader, Iowa. This classic State of the Re:Union profiles Iraqis and gay men in Des Moines.

We’re sure to hear a speech like the one Barack Obama gave in 2008 when he won there.

Do you think native son Ashton Kutcher knows this fun fact? What’s the geographic center of Iowa? Story City!

We like that,
John

New Weekly Shows

Coming this month

A recipe to delight listeners: new weekly series America’s Test Kitchen Radio is available for broadcast starting Thursday, Jan. 5. Listen to some not-for-broadcast previews to get a taste of what the show will be like.

Bill Moyers comes to public radio starting Jan. 13. Moyers & Company will showcase his hard hitting, topical interviews just in time for the election year. Hear a special message from Bill to PDs.

Vibrant Voices

For MLK Day and Black History Month

Try these for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan. 16) and Black History Month (Feb.). More choices above and to the right under Timely Picks.

The names of many of Rev. Martin Luther King’s associates are well known. But one of his most important confidants, a Jewish businessman from New York named Stanley Levison, has remained largely hidden from public view. (WNYC | 07:38)

New Letters on the Air features Isabel Wilkerson, author of The Warmth of Other Suns, the Pulitzer-winning book about the Black migration from the South. (29:00)

Former boxer Rubin Carter reflects on moving from bitterness to a deeper spirituality, after being falsely imprisoned in a notorious case made famous by Bob Dylan. (Humankind | 59:00)

Don’t Look Back

Except to listen to this

Before 2011 slips away, Peter Bochan recaps the last year as only HE can in this incredible hour-long montage, A Shortcut Through 2011.

Announcements

Congrats to Stuart McLean, host of CBC’s Vinyl Cafe, for being appointed to the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honor.
Try Vinyl Cafe on your station!
We’re proud to be The Moth’s official distributor to the iTunes Store. What this means for you: The Best of the Moth, Vols. 1-20.
Classical fans love our WQXR app for iPhone. Now we’ve brought WQXR to Android, too!

This Week’s Newsletter

New Weekly Shows

Don’t Look Back

Announcements

Timely Picks

Public Radio Remix

Are you listening yet?

PRX’s Signature Shows

The Moth Radio Hour

More true, amazing stories.

State of the Re:Union

New cities and connections.

Sound Opinions

Jim and Greg rock weekly.

Snap Judgment

Are you hip enough for this show?

Help fund local journalism that matters.

PRX Podcasts

	HowSound: Subscribe to the “new” podcast.
	YouthCast: The next generation of sound.

Forward to a friend

Got questions about PRX?
Talk to a friendly human!

This newsletter is a weekly communication to provide programming suggestions and other relevant information to the staff of stations that use PRX.

PRX Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe

Original guy-in-tractor image by mahalie. Dessert image by maewe.

PRX Mourns

John — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:41:33 +0000

Looking back, moving forward.

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December 20, 2011

PRX Mourns

Hi friend of PRX,

It only seems like a few months ago that Jake Shapiro said there would be a special guest at the PRX staff retreat. One morning over granola and herbal tea, this funny little man in a parka and sunglasses showed up. Jake said “The Dear Leader is a huge fan of PRX. He is our only listener in North Korea.” We clapped politely. DL shared his playlist of favorites. He critiqued the Public Radio Player app. Big Moth fan; he mentioned he would like to tell a story someday.

And now, well, he’s gone. All we have is this nice photo. He suggested selling PRX a plutonium enrichment plant. That will never happen now.

-John

Xmas and Hanukkah Picks

Holiday magic

Get in the spirit with these and more under Timely Picks to the right and down.

WNYC’s Holiday Standard Time is a celebration of the American holiday songbook, with rarely heard recordings from Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Louis Prima, and Donny Hathaway, and featuring Michael Feinstein performing three holiday favorites. (58:27)
The History Guys trace the evolution of Christmas from a rowdy festival of misbehavior to the domestic, child-centered holiday that it is today. (54:00)
Classics for Kids presents the music of many Jewish composers to celebrate Hanukkah. (6:00)

10, 9, 8…

New Year’s Eve picks

Ring in the new year for your listeners with these and more New Year’s picks.

Count down with jazz and spoken word from the Night Lights New Year’s Eve Jam. (59:01)
Guided by science and science fiction, All In Time traverses the mystery of time itself. This soundscape won a Gold World Medal for Best Sound at the New York Festivals Radio Programming Awards. (25:01)
As another year ends, think of your first memories with WBEZ’s Clever Apes. (8:22)

New Year, New Ideas

Good listening

Some programs and pieces we like, for something different in the new year.

Live Wire! Radio IS live..and funny, creative, edgy — and it sure attracts some great musicians.
Blank on Blank mines the gems in audio outtakes. Fascinating stuff.
How to Do Everything. Sniper? Open a wine bottle without an opener? Cool podcast from NPR.
99% Invisible. Yes, it is our family. But wow, is it great.
WTF. We took a chance with Marc Maron’s series. Why don’t you?
Amazing radio drama: Rupa Lucian, Child of Romania. Acting, production, sound.

Announcements

America’s Test Kitchen Radio is coming in January. Preview now.

This Week’s Newsletter

Timely Picks

Hanukkah

Christmas

Holiday Music Specials

Happy New Year

Public Radio Remix

Are you listening yet?

PRX’s Signature Shows

The Moth Radio Hour

More true, amazing stories for Fall.

State of the Re:Union

New cities and connections.

Sound Opinions

Jim and Greg rock weekly. Try the best albums of 2011 and a Christmas spectacular.

Snap Judgment

Are you hip enough for this show?

Help fund local journalism that matters.

PRX Podcasts

	HowSound: Subscribe to the “new” podcast.
	YouthCast: The next generation of sound.

Forward to a friend

Got questions about PRX?
Talk to a friendly human!

This newsletter is a weekly communication to provide programming suggestions and other relevant information to the staff of stations that use PRX.

PRX Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe

Snowman image by Thomas Hawk. Champagne image by rachel is coconut&lime.

PRX is Sick of It

John — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:38:43 +0000

Almost everyone at the PRX office is sick, but we promise to only infect you with programming picks for December.

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December 13, 2011

PRX is Sick of It

Hi friend of PRX,

If you’re like us, stay away. Whatever this cold/flu/plague/son-of-H1N1 is, we have it. And the timing could NOT be better what with all the fun public media parties on tap.

Thank goodness PRX is virtual — you can grab and go at PRX.org and never put your health at risk. Hygiene and great radio.

Does egg nog help a cough?
-John

Live Wire! Radio

Live, dangerous, the next hit…

It comes out of the Northwest each week. Great musical acts, crazy wit, engaging interviews and all of it LIVE in front of an enthusiastic audience.

Ask KUOW and Jefferson Public Radio why this works for them and check out the latest episodes:

Episode 169: Rob Forbes, founder of Design Within Reach; Tinker Hatfield, creator of the Air Jordan Shoe; stand-up Comic Dwight Slade; and musical guests On The Rocks.
Episode 168: Author Brian Doyle, storyteller Amber Jo, and musical guests Fruit Bats.

Procrastinator’s Delight

Holiday picks galore

If you’re like us, Dec 23rd is the first shopping day of the season! Last-minute, here’s what’s happening:

Humankind profiles people from different backgrounds who seek to get past the consumer frenzy of the holidays.
Quicksilver Radio Theater takes on A Christmas Carol.
Two from the CBC: a special on Hope and Stories from a Christmas Stocking.
How about some world holiday music from Global Village?
Peace in a time of war. Revisit two amazing historical events that give hope.

Find even more choices, from spoken word to music, under Timely Picks above and to the right!

Timely & Newsy

Try these

Climate One brings together top thinkers and doers from business, government, academia and advocacy. New pieces are up, including Crops, Cattle, and Carbon and a Ford exec concerned about too many cars.

US relations with Pakistan are especially complex and troubled; the country is, in modern parlance, a frenemy.

Radio Open Source traveled to Pakistan and provides valuable context and storytelling in the two-part Pakistan Aslant.

Announcements

Changing media for good. PRX and The Knight Foundation announce the Public Media Accelerator.

Learn more about Accelerator in this Nieman Lab article and interview with PRX CEO Jake Shapiro.

This Week’s Newsletter

Live Wire! Radio

Procrastinator’s Delight

Timely & Newsy

Announcements

Timely Picks

Hanukkah

Christmas

Holiday Music Specials

Happy New Year