NPR’s Neil Coonan talks about his 11 years of internet hosting Speak of the nation And because of a few of the present’s most influential contributors alongside the way in which. After 36 years at NPR, Conan indicators on.
Neil Coonan, host:
Now it is time to say goodbye. You recognize, that is, after 21 years, the final broadcast of TALK OF THE NATION, and after 36 years, my final day at NPR.
Earlier than I am going on, there are some individuals who deserve my thanks. Firstly, my predecessors on this chair: John Hockenberry, Ray Suarez, Juan Williams and several other substitutes who’ve allowed us to take break day.
There have been dozens of staff through the years, individuals whose names I heard after Tuesday’s letters, individuals who made this program. I am unable to start to listing all of them, however I need to thank the workers who’ve accompanied me by way of the previous few troublesome months. Tenbet Ermias, Libby Franklin, Monica Bushman, Laura Lee, AD Quigg, Jessica Reddy, Prisca Neely, Our Editor Sarah Handel, Director Gwen Ooten, Senior Producer Scott Cameron, Senior Supervising Producer Carlyn Watson. And we do not get on the air or get off the air with out our know-how.
Once more, we will not start to listing all of them, however on their behalf, our thanks go to Creative Director Melissa Marquez. And naturally, I am unable to recover from the political junkie Ken Rudin.
There have been solely two government producers in my time on the present. So let me thank Leith Bishop, wherever she is, and particularly Sue Goodwin. On this program and others, she and I labored collectively for a few years. She, greater than anybody else, can declare credit score for our successes. I’ll miss her a lot.
I need to thank the presidents who determined to start out and preserve this present for greater than 20 years. I need to thank the member stations, not simply the 400+ who’ve carried this program, however all of them, all of these stations that collectively help NPR and permit us to borrow their shops to speak to individuals all around the nation.
And I must thanks. We have been instructed that over 3.6 million of you hear each week. This places TALK OF THE NATION among the many prime 10 speak exhibits within the nation. The foreign money of broadcasting is that quantity, the quantity of eyes and ears that may be turned over to cleaning soap makers and automotive makers. To be sincere, we perform a little little bit of that on public radio, too.
However on TALK OF THE NATION particularly, listeners have voices, too. This program works finest after we discover methods to interact your tales about your jobs and your children, your fears and your successes, about what occurred within the drought, within the hurricane, within the fireplace, within the hospital, at work, in school, in Iraq or Vietnam.
All through my time at NPR, I’ve served as a reporter, editor, and producer. And as a lot as I beloved all of these jobs, for the previous 11 and a half years, this one has been the perfect. It has been an honor to talk with you on daily basis.
I counted them: 600 weeks. Give break day, add all of the particular protection, let’s spherical it as much as 5000 hours. There’s nonetheless rather a lot to speak about, however that will probably be sufficient.
So, in a minute or so, I am going again to the place I began in public broadcasting. I will be one in every of you once more, listening. Sure, a pastor listener, but in addition a listening critic. I’ll cry and chortle and scream on the radio. We listeners have a significant job. It’s our mission to carry member stations and NPR accountable.
So, right here I’ve fashioned my settlement with NPR and my member stations. I am going to hear, and sure, I am going to open my checkbook, however I would like some favors in return. Go inform me the tales behind the whole lot that occurred on the planet immediately. Clarify why this occurred, and the way it affected our lives. Try this on daily basis. Inform me what’s necessary, and do not waste my time with silly issues.
bye bye. SIGNING FOR TALK OF THE NATION AND NPR NEWS, I am Neil Coonan from Washington.
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