television

Is Journalism's "Golden Age" A Myth?

Virginia Prescott — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:34:26 +0000

After every errant tweet from another major news outlet, or the announcement of fresh layoffs from another print newsroom, many shake their heads and talk about the good old days, before false reports of WMD’s and internet news aggregators. We remember a time when Edward R. Murrow and other icons of objectivity were our revered national watchdogs, serving up the truth...one newspaper column or TV broadcast at a time. But what if our idealistic view of American journalism's "golden age" is nothing but a nostalgic myth? Todd Gitlin teaches journalism and communications at Columbia University. His recent article “The Myth of Journalism’s Golden Age” was recently featured in the Utne Reader.

Word Of Mouth 05.11.2013

Rebecca Lavoie — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

In this special edition of Word of Mouth: Girl Power Interrupted.

Word Of Mouth 05.04.2013

Rebecca Lavoie — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:47:19 +0000

In this special edition of Word of Mouth: are we catching up with technology? This week we'll explore the very human way we interact with technology; resistance is futile.

Jews In Toons: A Simpsons Writer On Cartoons and Religion

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:59:33 +0000

Springfield’s evangelical Ned Flanders and Hindu Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu are frequent foils to satirize and explore religious belief systems on The Simpsons -- America’s longest running scripted TV show. Mike Reiss, four-time emmy winning writer for The Simpsons is interested in teasing out another brand of animated spirituality – Judaism. He’s presenting “Jews in Toons” -- discovering Jewish themes across Springfield’s twenty-four year history. His talk takes place at the New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival at Concord’s Red River Theatres on April 14^th.

Word of Mouth 01.26.2013

Rebecca Lavoie — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:26:42 +0000

Word of Mouth's weekly show that wraps up the best of our content in one great-to-listen-to package.

Remembering Rex Trailer, the Cowboy from Boston's "Boomtown"

Brady Carlson — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 23:53:49 +0000

Northern New England has lost its most famous cowboy. Rex Trailer died this week at his home in Florida. He was 84.

For decades Trailer hosted the children’s TV show “Boomtown” from Boston’s WBZ-TV. To look back at his life and career we turn to Boston filmmaker Michael Bavaro. He worked with Rex Trailer for a number of years and filmed a documentary about his career. He talks with NHPR's Brady Carlson about Trailer's life and career.

5 Shows We Hate-Watched in 2012

Rebecca Lavoie — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:39:04 +0000

A new TV trend has emerged, "hate-watching," or staying true to shows that make you feel a little bit bad about yourself the morning.

This year we found hate-watch blogs on TV Guide, The Root, and TV.com, among other places. We've also compiled our own list, curated by Senior Producer and resident television addict Rebecca Lavoie.

Your TV is Talking to YOU. Yes, YOU.

Virginia Prescott — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:50:23 +0000

Personalized, addressable ads are finally hitting our televisions. Ad Age's Brian Steinberg explains how they're doing something that seems a little too Minority Report to be true.

And, some feedback about a listener about our coverage of the non-coverage of the Paralympics.

Word of Mouth 9.08.2012

Virginia Prescott — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Part 1: The Science of Changing Your Mind/Sex and Religion

Dan Huiting. Check it Out.

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:05:56 +0000

Dan Huiting is a music video director, filmmaker, and senior producer of the City of Music series on Pitchfork.

Fresh Air Weekend: Carl Zimmer, The Three Stooges

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 07:08:00 +0000

Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors, and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:

The Race To Create The Best Antiviral Drugs: Researchers want to create a widely effective drug that targets viruses much in the same way that penicillin kills a wide range of bacteria.

'Airbender' Creators Reclaim Their World In 'Korra'

Neda Ulaby — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:17:10 +0000

When M.

D'Oh! Springfield In 'Simpsons' Was Based On Town In Oregon All Along

Krishnadev Calamur — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:58:00 +0000

Ay Caramba! Simpsons creator Matt Groening has revealed the location of the real Springfield: It's in Oregon.

In an interview with Smithsonian magazine, posted online Tuesday, Groening credits the name to the hit TV show Father Knows Best.

The show "took place in the town of Springfield, and I was thrilled because I imagined that it was the town next to Portland, my hometown," he says. "When I grew up, I realized it was just a fictitious name.

Lena Dunham's 'Girls': Still Sex, Still The City, Different Show

Linda Holmes — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:57:00 +0000

Lena Dunham's new series Girls debuts on HBO on April 15. Dunham, who got quite a bit of attention for being the star, director and writer of the 2010 indie film Tiny Furniture, fills the same three roles in this ensemble show about four young women in New York.

Of course, it's not HBO's first time out with an ensemble show about four women in New York, and as Dunham tells weekends on All Things Considered guest host Laura Sullivan, the shows are very different in tone and content, but there's a relationship nevertheless.

With 'Scandal,' ABC Targets Black Female Viewers

Eric Deggans — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:30:00 +0000

On Thursday night, ABC's Scandal will step out as a rarity on TV: a show developed by one of the most powerful black women in TV, Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rimes, depicting a powerful black woman in Washington, D.C.: Olivia Pope, a top-flight crisis manager.

She's a "fixer" so impressive, she can negotiate down payments with the Ukrainian mob in a burst of rapid-fire dialogue.