Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

5-1990

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Communication

Major Professor

Paul Ashdown

Committee Members

Herb Howard, Barbara Moore, Bruce Wheeler, Raymond Shirley

Abstract

The National Public Radio news magazine "All Things Considered” aired May 1, 1971, it differed from other commercial broadcast fare in a number of ways. The show's long sound-oriented features and mini-documentaries on social issues set it apart from other commercial broadcast news productions of the times. The show was also a far cry from the previous "classical music juke box" or "classroom of the air" programming found on non-commercial radio stations. While A.T.C. presented news in a unique fashion, the real impor-tance of the show was that it redirected the programming of non-commercial radio in the 70's. An extensive review of early historical documents such as The Carnegie Commission Report, The Land Report and The Public Broadcasting Act presented some suggestion of an expanded role for public radio in the area of public affairs, interviews with show personnel suggested that the actual show was based on a concept from a number of regional public radio shows as well as the Canadian Broadcasting Network and B.B.C. productions. In addition, the network's first programming director, William Siemering, can be given a good deal of credit for developing the show's philosophy of emphasizing sound, providing a voice to the common man and preparing listeners to be active participants in a democracy. Siemering brought together a non-traditional broadcast staff and gave them a great deal of freedom in creating the news, arts and public affairs segments that were combined to form the show. The resulting product was a very liberal and off-beat presentation of topics ranging from "Welfare parents" to "An orchestration of a sunrise." The show was probably not considered ideal by the old guard educational radio representatives particularly concerning political content and decentralization of the programming. However, critiques by member station representatives suggest the show was accepted as a given and a starting point for the new network, Thus, the network's first show, All Things Considered, marked a pivotal point in the programming and goals of "educational radio" as it was transformed into "public radio."

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