TALK OF THE NATION
You can listen to some of the programs and segments I have produced for Talk of the Nation, NPR's midday news-talk show, hosted by Neal Conan, here. The show airs live, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET, on many public radio member stations. (It is also available as a podcast.)
I also regularly contribute to the show's companion blog.
PIECES
"Poet Lucille Clifton: 'Everything Is Connected'"
Lucille Clifton, a pioneering American poet, passed away on February 13th, of complications from cancer. We want to mark her passing and the works she leaves behind, so NPR's David Gura wrote this appreciation.
"Bess Lomax Hawes, Folklorist, Dies"
Bess Lomax Hawes, a folklorist, musician and teacher, has died. In the 1970s, as the head of the folk arts program at the National Endowment for the Arts, she increased federal funding for traditional music and folk arts across the United States. NPR's David Gura has this remembrance.
"Chef Chang's Momofuku: A Romance With Ramen"
A hip New York chef makes food inspired by his love for fresh, simple ingredients and classic Asian dishes. David Chang has four restaurants in his Momofuku empire and has just published a cookbook. NPR's David Gura has this profile.
"In Solar Decathlon, Schools Build Energy-Efficient Homes"
Recycled blue jeans, solar panels and smart phones all helped make homes more energy efficient in this year's Solar Decathlon. Twenty teams are in the nation's capital, vying for the top prize in architecture, engineering and other fields. Winners will be announced later this week. NPR's David Gura reports.
"Martha's Vineyard Abuzz For Obama Family Vacation"
President Obama and the first family will travel to Martha's Vineyard on Sunday for a weeklong vacation. And business owners on the resort island off the coast of Massachusetts are primed and ready for his visit — and the extra money they hope it will bring. NPR's David Gura reports.
"Online News Organizations Compete For Pulitzers"
Morning Edition, April 20, 2009
Later today, Columbia University will announce the winners of the 2009 Pulitzer Prizes. This year, for the first time, the prizes include online news organizations. (They’re competing in all fourteen journalism categories.) Some of the biggest names in the online news business, though, didn’t bother to apply. NPR’s David Gura reports.
"Saving Folk History, One Recording At A Time"
All Things Considered, January 22, 2009
A small group of musicians is trying to save American folk music, one recording at a time. They're not professional archivists or producers, but they have thousands of old, rare cassettes and reel-to-reel tapes, and they want to introduce those recordings to a new generation of musicians online. NPR's David Gura reports.
"First-Time Novelists Make a Splash on the Web"
All Things Considered, May 18, 2008
The dust-jacket of a novel usually includes a plot summary, an author bio, and blurbs from a few rave reviews. These days, there's usually a web address there too. As NPR's David Gura reports, many writers, especially debut novelists, are using elaborate websites to attract new readers -- and to interact with them.
"Rights Battle Brews over Un-Edited Carver Stories"
All Things Considered, January 7, 2008
The short story writer Raymond Carver was praised for his brevity. Critics were taken with the spare, minimalist style of his work, including the collections Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. A scholar says Carver's stories may have been a little more spare than he wanted. NPR's David Gura explains.
SPOTS
NPR Newscast, April 21, 2009
The winners of the 2009 Pulitzer Prizes for journalism were announced on Monday. Five of the fourteen awards went to The New York Times. NPR's
David Gura has more.
NPR Newscast, April 21, 2009
The winners of the 2009 Pulitzer Prizes for journalism were announced on Monday, and several of the awards went to the staff of The New York Times.
NPR's David Gura reports.
NPR Newscast, April 20, 2009
Columbia University announced the winners of the 2009 Pulitzer Prizes in letters, drama and music today. NPR's David Gura reports.
NPR Newscast, April 20, 2009
The 2009 Pulitzer Prizes for letters, drama, and music were announced earlier today. NPR's David Gura reports.
NPR Newscast, April 20, 2009
The winners of this year's Pulitzer Prizes in letters, drama, music and journalism will be announced this afternoon, at Columbia University. For the first time, online-only news organizations were elgiible to apply for the awards. NPR's David Gura has more.
NPR Newscast, August 29, 2008
Illinois Senator Barack Obama delivered what could be the most important speech of his political career last night, as he accepted the Democratic party's nomination for president. Obama spoke before a capacity crowd at INVESCO Field. From Denver, NPR's David Gura reports.
NPR Newscast, August 28, 2008
About 80,000 people are expected at INVESCO Field in Denver tonight, as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Obama's triumph comes after a bruising primary campaign against Senator Hillary Clinton. Democratic delegates heard from Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton. In his primetime address, Mr. Clinton tried to make good with members of the Democratic Party. From Denver, NPR's David Gura reports.
NPR Newscast, August 28, 2008
Barack Obama delivers his presidential nomination acceptance speech tonight, not at the convention center in Denver, but at the Mile High Stadium there, with some 75,000 people in attendance. And as he does so, he becomes the first black man to head his party's ticket, 45 years to the day after Martin Luther King delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech here, in Washington. Obama is epected to talk about how, as president, he would make a difference in people's lives. Last night, his chosen runningmate, Joe Biden, acepted his nomination. NPR's David Gura has more on that.
NPR Newscast, August 27, 2008
The Democratic National Convention continues today. Delegates will hear today from Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, Illinois Senator Barack Obama's choice for vice president. They'll also hear from former President Bill Clinton, and then they'll officially nominate Obama for president. NPR's David Gura reports.
NPR Newscast, August 23, 2008
Organizers of the Democratic National Convention are busy preparing for the arrival of thousands of delegates and journalists. As NPR's David Gura reports, security continues to be a concern.