PRX » Playlists » News Station Picks for October

Playlist: News Station Picks for October

Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/stitch/">Jimmy Hilario</a>

Image by: Jimmy Hilario

Curated Playlist

Here are the October picks for news stations from PRX News Format Curator Naomi Starobin.

A note from Naomi about this month's picks:

"This month's picks have a theme: words. 'Words?!' you say? I'm talking about pieces about words...the funny sounding ones, the curses, the ones we heard as a kid but still don't understand, the challenges in translating, and how culture defines the words we use."

Learn about what Naomi listens for in news programming or nominate a piece for Naomi to consider.

Hide notes

Stuck on a Word

From Patricia Priest | 00:03:31

This commentary comes from independent producer Patricia Priest of Athens, Georgia. A perfectly polite sounding woman, Priest is a self-described "good Southern girl," but can't seem to stop herself from cursing, literally, at the ills of society. Your listeners are asked to share her outrage by cursing along with her. Could be whiny, but it's a little too fun for that.

A Way with Words: Words With K in Them Are Funny (#1261)

From A Way with Words | Part of the A Way with Words series | 00:54:00

This is one of a series of the call-in show, "A Way with Words," with hosts Author Martha Barnette and dictionary editor Grant Barrett. The pace is lively, and your word-lovin' pubic radio audience (the sames ones who correct your English, or consider doing it) will listen to the hour program with great interest.

Aside from call-in questions, there's a word quiz and host back-and-forth about word issues.
Think "Car Guys," but about words, and without the snorts and laughing.

Check out the others in the series on PRX, and email Barrett if you want updates about new episodes and advice on repeating the older episodes.

${title}

He'll Always Get the Last Word In

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | 00:05:31

Paul DiMatteo is the last in a long line of gravestone carvers. This is about the words and images he puts on gravestones. It's mostly his reflection on what he does, and the narrator describing the details. The feel is intimate. It would fit nicely in a magazine segment, paired with something related or standing on its own.

This comes from the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, by producer Dan Gordon.

P.S. Gotta love the name of this piece: "He'll Always Get the Last Word In."

The "N" Word: It Represents Hatred

From Radio Rookies | 00:06:27

Wow...an inside look at why the "N" word is used and not used, from a teen Rookie Reporter Veralyn Williams. It's thoughtful and brings in the voices of a few people around her. She's got good access to the varying opinions in her community. And Williams herself is open about her reaction to the opinions she gathers. Really nice piece by a young reporter.

This one of the many great pieces coming out of Radio Rookies in New York City.

THE PLEASURES OF INTERPRETING: An interview with Thupten Jinpa, translator for the Dalai Lama

From The Tibet Connection | 00:14:40

Thupten Jinpa is the Dalai Lama's translator. What comes through in this profile is his thoughtfulness and eloquence, as well as some insider anecdotes that are amusing and illuminating. For instance, Jinpa talks about the time the Dalai Lama switched from speaking in Tibetan to English, and Jinpa kept going with his translation, from English to English!

This comes from The Tibetan Connection, and is produced by Julie Adler. Adler steps back in the piece, and we predominantly hear from Jinpa.

Sound quality alert: There are occasional plosives coming from the reporter and the subject.

Oxford, UK & Oxford, GA: Divided by a Common Tongue

From David Barasoain | 00:03:39

Great idea here...comparing accents from Oxford, England and Oxford, Georgia. Listeners are taken back and forth between the US and England, and we meet some colorful and funny characters who have a lot to say about how they talk!

David Barasoain is the reporter. He's an independent reporter/producer out of Atlanta, Georgia. He himself has a great voice and a solid editing touch.

This would fit nicely in the four-minute slot in ME or ATC.