Station Showcase with PRX

“Moving to Alabama four years ago was a real eye-opener. Even though the ‘deep south’ has come a long way, the memory of the struggle is still fresh.”
-WBHM reporter and producer Tanya Ott

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Welcome to the NPR Station Showcase with PRX. I’m Aaron Henkin. Each week this podcast highlights an example of the great work that’s being produced locally at hundreds of different public radio stations around the country, and this week we tune in to WBHM in Birmingham, Alabama. That’s where veteran producer and reporter Tanya Ott has worked for the past four years. Tanya recently put together this week’s featured story, a report about the changing reputation of the ‘New’ New South and how it’s transforming the face of Birmingham. Here’s a brief Q & A with Tanya, where she shares some thoughts about what she learned when putting this story together…

In this story, you talk to a man with a 10-year-old son who’s moving from New York to Birmingham. He says that things there are more progressive in the South than they were 30 or 40 years ago… do you think that’s true?

I wasn’t here in the south 30 years ago, but from everything I know and have been told — yes, they are certainly more progressive. Forty years ago in Birmingham we had Klansmen blowing up churches and houses. Today many southern cities, including Birmingham and Atlanta, have African American mayors, school superintendents and the like. One major area of concern today, though, is the effects of “white flight” — and increasingly “middle class black flight” from the city and into the suburbs. Birmingham-proper has lost so much population in recent years that public schools enrollment is down more than 2,000, and schools are closing. This is disrupting many historic neighborhoods in the city.

You allude to a tension within the black community in the South about the idea of African Americans who are moving there from the North… could you expand a bit on what that apprehension is all about?

I wasn’t aware of this tension until one of my interview subjects mentioned it as almost an aside. But it makes perfect sense and there are parallels in the Latino community as well. My source works with a lot of inner-city African American church groups. They feel ignored by newly-relocated middle class blacks from the north, who are often moving into wealthier and “whiter” suburbs because of the better performing schools. I hear similar stories when talking with the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. Recent immigrants, especially working class folks from Mexico, have complained that established Latino professionals (lawyers, doctors, etc) aren’t doing enough promote their concerns. But, as one HICA representative told me: really, why would a Venezuelan doctor feel any sort of kinship or responsibility to a Mexican tomato picker? It’s wonderful if they do, but it shouldn’t be expected just because they both speak Spanish.

Are you a native of the South? What are your own thoughts about the ‘New’ New South and how it compares to its own racial history and the presuppositions of Northerners?

Native? Sort of and not really. I moved from Iowa to Florida when I was 9. Growing up in Iowa, I literally did not know anyone of another race, except for the occasional international student or faculty member at the local college. I moved to Florida and immediately made friends that were black, white, Asian, Hispanic – you name it. But honestly, Florida is very “southern”, so it’s not a good case study. Moving to Alabama four years ago was a real eye-opener. Even though the “deep south” has come a long way, the memory of the struggle is still fresh. People still joke — only half-joking — that it’s not safe for black folks to get dinner or gas along one stretch of our major north-south interstate. Birmingham itself is very diverse, but the further you go into the countryside it’s a different story.

Tell us a bit about your radio background and what brought you to WBHM…

I graduated high school planning on majoring in musical theatre and moving to Broadway, but my folks suggested I might consider something more “practical”. I figured television news was pretty close to performing so I enrolled at the University of Florida with plans to take Barbara Walter’s job. I’m a serious type-A person (working on changing that though!), so I volunteered to work at the public radio station my freshman year. I was assigned the 4 a.m. Monday morning shift, but managed to not only survive it but fall in love with radio — and especially public radio! I discovered that I loved researching and writing and storytelling even more than performing. I continued working at WUFT-FM through my undergrad and grad school, did a brief fellowship-stint at WCBS-AM in NYC, then took an ATC host job at Colorado Public Radio in Denver. Two years later I was back at WUFT-FM as Assistant News Director, managing the day-to-day production of Morning Edition inserts, a 15 minute noon show and 1/2 hour PM newsmagazine with 50+ student reporters/anchors/sportscasters. It was a bit like herding cats, but incredibly rewarding personally and professionally. After five years with WUFT, I ventured out on my own as a full-time freelancer, contributing weekly to Marketplace and occasionally to NPR’s newsmagazines and other programs. But, being that type-A personality, I found that working from home was a blessing and a curse. I loved the freedom but also found I worked round the clock. So, in 2002 I decided to go back to a newsroom so I could “work less”. It’s worked (sort of!). In addition to my duties at WBHM, I’m a NewsWorks trainer for PRNDI (Public Radio News Directors Inc) and mentor for AIR (Association of Independents in Radio) and have served as a consultant on various pubradio projects including the Morning Edition Grad School (MEGS), PRI’s Global Resource Desk, and PRPD Core Values of News.

…WBHM’s Tanya Ott. You can hear more of Tanya’s stories on-line at the Public Radio Exchange. That’s where producers from around the world share their work. Log on, write your own reviews and help influence what ends up on the radio at www.prx.org.

“Are we wiser? Yes. Are our kids safe? Not yet.”
-Producer Rebecca Cressman

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Welcome to the NPR Station Showcase with PRX. I’m Aaron Henkin. This weekly podcast spotlights some of the exceptional productions that come out of the different public radio stations around the country, and this week we’re turning our attention to KBYU in Provo, Utah. In 2005, producer Rebecca Cressman put together a special half-hour documentary for KBYU on the subject of school violence – who’s likely to commit it, why it happens, and what schools need to do to protect against it. Here are some of Rebecca’s reflections on this radio project and what she learned during the making of it…

During this program, we have an opportunity to meet a researcher of school violence, Dr. Richard Long. What did you learn from him that surprised you most about the sorts of kids who are likely to end up perpetrating this kind of violence?

Dr. Richard Long’s research revealed that most often it’s children within mainstream society that pose the greatest risk of violent behavior in school settings. This truly surprised me. It appears that psychological pressures like bullying and peer rejection, rather than socio-economic factors, contribute more directly to this type of revenge-focused violence.

Even in the time since you produced this story, there have been more high-profile school shootings in the news… does it seem like schools are learning lessons from what’s happened in past incidents? Are schools getting wiser when it comes to preparing for the potential for violence?

I do think that schools are getting more adept at creating safe ways for students to report potential threats. This has, most definitely, saved lives. Schools in every district in the country have also augmented their emergency plans and are trying to be more proactive with anti-bullying policies and strategies to identify and support students who are at risk. But, there is still much more to do in prevention and protection. Are we wiser? Yes. Are our kids safe? Not yet.

I wonder what your thoughts are about the way the media has swarmed around recent school shootings… do you think its coverage has a potential to aggravate the problem by fueling the minds of kids with violent thoughts?

I do think that non-stop media coverage of school shootings increases the likelihood that children and teens will learn of these episodes. And, there are some instances where students have tried to imitate school crimes to give themselves momentary power and attention. On the flip-side, these news stories focus society’s attention on school safety and, if schools can become safer as a result, it is worth the media swarm.

Tell us a bit about your radio background and what brought you to KBYU…

I fell in love with storytelling and the diversity of human experience fifteen years ago when I began working in the media. Since then, I’ve enjoyed working in both radio and television as anchor, reporter, and music host in both commercial and public broadcasting. While I currently anchor daily news/talk programs on KSL radio in Salt Lake City, I worked at KBYUFM/TV for five years. It was there that I hosted the morning news drive as part of a Classical music format and worked as News Director for television and radio.

Rebecca Cressman, who produced the program “Lessons Learned: Preventing School Violence,” for KBYU. You can hear other productions from KBYU on-line at the Public Radio Exchange. That’s where producers from around the world share their work. Log on, write your own reviews and help influence what ends up on the radio at www.prx.org.

“The reality is that the role of race fluctuates depending on where we are and who we are with. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t say, ‘Hey I’m black, black, black!’ However, when I am expected to educate people about black history, then race becomes central.”
-WNYC Radio Rookie Allison Jones

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Hi, I’m Aaron Henkin. Welcome to the NPR Station Showcase with PRX. This podcast highlights some of the outstanding local stories being produced at public radio stations around the country, and this week we drop in at WNYC’s “Radio Rookies” initiative. The Radio Rookies program gives a voice to young and talented people like Allison Jones, whose views on the role of race in society are sophisticated, to say the least. While still in high school, she put together this week’s featured story, called “Being Black.” Here’s a Q & A with Allison about her foray into the radio world and her perspectives on race & society …

What got you interested in radio, and how did you end up getting involved with Radio Rookies?

Funny enough it was actually an accident. I was at work and my boss was a big fan of WNYC. I had heard of it before, but he was always playing it and talking about it, so I looked it up online. On the front page there was a link to Radio Rookies so I took a chance and applied. I figured, why not try something new? It was an amazing and challenging experience. The producer and I are good friends and am I always trying to get involved in various radio projects. Right now, I have a monthly radio show focusing on women’s issues at Haverford.

I’ve got to compliment you on the great writing in your radio piece… Does that come naturally to you, or was it a difficult process to get all your thoughts organized and onto paper?

I love to write, and since the story was so personal I found it easy to get all of my thoughts down. But doing a radio piece is about more than writing: I had to conduct interviews (which were really hard!) and edit all of my experiences into a few minutes!

The social pressure you’ve experienced about your racial identity and who your friends are… It’s interesting that you get flak about that not only from your peers, but from your mom, too. What do you think worries her so much?

I think there is a fear of losing respect for my community. Once you go off to elite universities and programs, there is a greater chance of brushing off the struggles of your family and your community that helped you to get there. My family encourages me to develop myself as an individual yet is very community and family oriented. It is great that I have so many opportunities, but what am I doing for others, especially in the face of glaring racial disparities? How am I using these opportunities not just to better my life but the lives of others?

During your time as a student in a predominantly white school, was it ever exhausting or frustrating for you to be part of such a small minority of the student population? You mention the pressure that your friend Sam felt about always needing to be a ‘racial ambassador’… can that take a psychological toll on a person?

It really depends on how you have constructed your identity. For me, I am still wavering on the position of race in my identity. When I wrote the piece, race was on the periphery…almost accidental. However, when I got to college a number of incidents and some people I have met have forced me to more closely examine race and identity. The reality is that the role of race fluctuates depending on where we are and who we are with. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t say, “Hey I’m black, black, black!” However, when I am expected to educate people about black history then race becomes central. Or on Halloween my freshman year, when two white men dressed up as black women my race became central, and I reach for socially constructed cues on how be “black.” I challenge these notions and embrace them. In the end: identity is messy, contradictory, and frustrating. My views on the issue have changed a bit since I made the piece. Rather than dismissing the attitudes and concerns of my peers, I spend a great deal of time exploring them and have realized that many of my experiences are rooted in a lack of knowledge of black history and a dismissal of mainstream American culture that is associated with racism.

During your radio piece, you mention your admiration of Cornell West. What does he have to say that draws you to his ideas?

I admire Cornell West along with Michael Eric Dyson – both draw much of their thoughts from African-American history, and while addressing racism also address the problems within the black community. Their work is inspirational.

What kind of reaction have you gotten from people who’ve heard your story on the air?

The reactions have been amazing. People at Haverford and at my high school have been really supportive, and some have asked me to speak to other students going through the same thing. I wish that this discussion would continue on a national level. I hear people share stories similar to mine, but always in a hush-hush way. Why not address it openly?

…WNYC Radio Rookie Allison Jones. You can hear more stories from WNYC’s Radio Rookies on-line at the Public Radio Exchange. That’s where producers from around the world share their work. Log on, write your own reviews and help influence what ends up on the radio at www.prx.org.

“…the peeling paint, the Art Deco style, even the people standing and waiting or visiting seem to be frozen in time.”
-WKNO Production Manager Candice Ludlow

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Hi, I’m Aaron Henkin, curator for the NPR Station Showcase with PRX, a podcast that roams the country each week in search of interesting and unusual stories from the hundreds of different local public radio stations around the US. This week, our travels take us to the mid-South, where WKNO broadcasts its signal to Memphis, Tennessee. Candice Ludlow is the production manager there, and recently her interest was piqued by an unlikely topic for a radio story: a bus station. Here’s a brief Q & A with Candice about her radio background and her story, “The Half-Way Bus Station”…

This piece takes listeners inside an unlikely venue… what inspired you to make a radio story about a bus station?

I wrestled with The Half Way Bus Station because I wasn’t sure if it was a story. I was in Jackson, Tennessee to record listener testimonials and looked out the window of the building I was recording in and noticed this old, beautiful Art Deco style bus station with folks milling around. I just had to find out more, so I walked downstairs and across the street and next thing I knew I was talking with the owner and his mother about the history of the bus station and who frequents it. Then I walked outside and met some of the people who were standing outside and found that not all of them were bound for somewhere, some were there for community. I think it’s the communal nature of the place that really struck me, and the friendliness of the folks.

You talk to a missionary who likes to frequent the Half-Way bus station – what do you think gives him such an affection for the place?

I think he has an affection for the place because it is a gathering place for the community, some of the less fortunate. He knows the owners, who seem to welcome everyone and realize the significance of the place, and he’s been coming down to the bus station for years to visit and continue with his missionary work.

It sort of sounds like the Half-Way bus station is one of those places that manages to stay frozen in time, sort of like a roller rink or a Laundromat… does that seem like a fair impression?

Yes, the peeling paint, the Art Deco style, even the people standing and waiting or visiting seem to be frozen in time. Jackson, Tennessee, is a city, but the station is located in the old part of town. People of that town seem to be down-to-earth and in some ways share rural life-ways, including a friendliness that is often found within smaller communities.

Tell us a bit about your radio history and what brought you to WKNO…

My love for radio began while in graduate school when a colleague talked me into doing radio. Several years earlier I had almost applied to the journalism internship program at KPFA in Berkeley, California, but I decided to go straight into journalism right out of college, working for a weekly newspaper. I have had a deep concern about what stories are told by the media for a number of years, and while I was in graduate school, a peer (the volunteer coordinator for KHSU-FM at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California) convinced me to start volunteering at the station. At first I hosted “All Things Considered” and PRI’s “The World” on Thursday afternoons. Then she asked me to sit in on the overnight and do a music program. At that moment, I fell in love with radio. I spent 10 years at KHSU in various capacities, both paid and volunteer – everything from hosting national magazine programs, to hosting a popular Americana singer-songwriter weekly program, to co-producing “Native Pulse!,” a weekly 30-minute program on issues affecting Indigenous peoples’ of the Americas, to operations assistant, as well as a stint of being volunteer coordinator the station. I accepted the Production Manager position with WKNO in September 2005, which has brought me full-circle and doing some of the audio projects I had imagined while considering the internship with “Pacifica.” Now I produce listener testimonials, features, and musical remote broadcasts as well as assist with operations.

What kind of a station is WKNO, and what kind of local programming comes out of there?

WKNO-FM provides locally and nationally produced classical programming and NPR’s daily newsmagazines, plus the BBC and hour-long documentaries. Our local programming includes “The Memphis Symphony Radio Hour,” “Checking on the Arts,” and local features and specials.

…Candice Ludlow is the production manager at WKNO in Memphis, Tennessee. You can hear more stories from WKNO on-line at the Public Radio Exchange. That’s where producers from around the world share their work. Log on, write your own reviews and help influence what ends up on the radio at www.prx.org.