Iraq Contractors
From: This American Life
Series: TAL Fall 2004 No-Premium Fundraising Materials
Length: 18:48
- Playing
- Iraq Contractors
- From
- This American Life
IN: "It's This American Life, I'm Ira Glass, this ... "
OC: "... So, here's the number to all. And if you want to see a sneak preview of the DVD movie we're offering this hour, go to www.thisamerican.life.org/DVD."
After the Iraq Contractors story, try pointing out what an unusual piece of journalism it was: taking us into a part of the story of the Iraq war that other reporter really haven’t covered this way, making the people in the story seem human, having moments that are funny and emotional—plus, of course, the analysis of what’s going on that public radio’s best at.
Public radio takes you behind the headlines and gives you vivid stories of real people that put the news in context. That's true for the daily news shows and for This American Life. These human stories make what's going on in faraway places seem vivid and real, and not just a bunch of "soundbites."
Nancy recorded dozens of hours, and it took her and a producer hundreds of hours to go through all that tape and turn it into a radio show. Simply getting Nancy in and out of Iraq safely cost thousands of dollars.
One of the missions of public broadcasting is to provide a new perspective on what's going on in the world. Of course, you get that from all the news shows on public radio. In a different way, you also get that from the stories on This American Life-in stories like the one you just heard. This American Life is doing a kind of radio story that's different from what you hear on other shows.
[Complete TAL pledge drive instructions included in attached Word doc, tal_2004_pledge.doc]
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
IN: "It's This American Life, I'm Ira Glass, this ... " OC: "... So, here's the number to all. And if you want to see a sneak preview of the DVD movie we're offering this hour, go to www.thisamerican.life.org/DVD." After the Iraq Contractors story, try pointing out what an unusual piece of journalism it was: taking us into a part of the story of the Iraq war that other reporter really haven’t covered this way, making the people in the story seem human, having moments that are funny and emotional—plus, of course, the analysis of what’s going on that public radio’s best at. Public radio takes you behind the headlines and gives you vivid stories of real people that put the news in context. That's true for the daily news shows and for This American Life. These human stories make what's going on in faraway places seem vivid and real, and not just a bunch of "soundbites." Nancy recorded dozens of hours, and it took her and a producer hundreds of hours to go through all that tape and turn it into a radio show. Simply getting Nancy in and out of Iraq safely cost thousands of dollars. One of the missions of public broadcasting is to provide a new perspective on what's going on in the world. Of course, you get that from all the news shows on public radio. In a different way, you also get that from the stories on This American Life-in stories like the one you just heard. This American Life is doing a kind of radio story that's different from what you hear on other shows. [Complete TAL pledge drive instructions included in attached Word doc, tal_2004_pledge.doc]
Timing and Cues
IN: "It's This American Life, I'm Ira Glass, this ... "
OC: "... So, here's the number to all. And if you want to see a sneak preview of the DVD movie we're offering this hour, go to www.thisamerican.life.org/DVD."
Note that after Track 04, you'll probably want to talk about the story in Track 04 for a while, and then play one of the little "Bonus" Tracks below - 06, 08 or 07, to push the DVD.
[Complete TAL pledge drive instructions included in attached Word doc, tal_2004_pledge.doc]
Additional Files
- Complete pledge drive instructions (tal2004pledgenp.doc.doc)
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Hans Anderson
Posted on October 15, 2004 at 06:08 PM | Permalink
Review of Iraq Contractors
When I heard this piece on TAL earlier this year I remember thinking that it wasn't exactly what I was used to hearing on TAL. But, it fit the show it was in, and it is definitely a good piece.
I learned a lot about how we are handling this war and how the job that used to belong to an underpaid soldier is now being performed by a much-better-paid (but not necessarily overpaid) civilian "contrator" (the word sounds like it's just some inexperienced Joe from the streets, but these guys are all ex- something, and generally know what they are getting into).
With all of the kidnappings and violence, the gruesome photos and videos on web sites, this piece fits *anywhere* right now. PD's, make some room for it! And also, PD's -- this is a special pledge drive cut.