tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7460261811544565282023-11-16T06:04:11.219-05:00WGBH & FriendsPhotos, videos, audios,
essays of, and about,
the pioneers who built WGBHNathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-66189462909169543122015-03-25T19:54:00.002-04:002015-03-25T20:02:56.996-04:00<h1 class="article-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "TradeGothic Bold CondEighteen",sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; max-width: 17em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 666.391px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://news.vice.com/article/leading-scientists-tell-the-nations-museums-to-sever-ties-with-the-koch-brothers-and-other-fossil-fuel-interests?utm_source=vicenewstwitter"><span style="font-size: large;">Leading Scientists Tell the Nation's Museums to Sever Ties with the Koch Brothers</span></a></h1>
<h1 class="article-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "TradeGothic Bold CondEighteen",sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; max-width: 17em; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; width: 666.391px; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<a href="https://news.vice.com/article/leading-scientists-tell-the-nations-museums-to-sever-ties-with-the-koch-brothers-and-other-fossil-fuel-interests?utm_source=vicenewstwitter"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAt8cSPupMexvy62BExy7dtMbA4kG66XHBrvUw5Eossfekc1Msiuz7pd8hyfkAO2yxOsDZJLGVNgcSGlqFYn56izPl44so76MvtsS27wMZq7tqB8sCx_Na18Nu1RZka2v3-pBncVizVcX/s1600/David+Koch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAt8cSPupMexvy62BExy7dtMbA4kG66XHBrvUw5Eossfekc1Msiuz7pd8hyfkAO2yxOsDZJLGVNgcSGlqFYn56izPl44so76MvtsS27wMZq7tqB8sCx_Na18Nu1RZka2v3-pBncVizVcX/s1600/David+Koch2.jpg" height="216" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-89651467130095985702014-05-13T11:46:00.004-04:002014-05-13T11:48:32.780-04:00Bernie Sanders on the Koch Brothers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXWe7fyNRMiAPgmZgCdgNRfKlOe-rGCDo0xbN_8iG_O1FiXqalSVvBbltjNOgoVHDjeEc5of8QRUtSqxk683VU7GycO51bdXxbgypcx7njwY8kQuNSWyEK8NvSeEewzTsU4JuxB6BSzgH/s1600/Sanders+Koch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXWe7fyNRMiAPgmZgCdgNRfKlOe-rGCDo0xbN_8iG_O1FiXqalSVvBbltjNOgoVHDjeEc5of8QRUtSqxk683VU7GycO51bdXxbgypcx7njwY8kQuNSWyEK8NvSeEewzTsU4JuxB6BSzgH/s1600/Sanders+Koch.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.32px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I hold huge respect for Bernie Sanders - an independent Senator. He reminds me of the some of the speakers we used to air on <b>WGBH </b>- Zinn & Chomsky - different personae but with their hearts and minds in the right places.</span></span>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-46778354972732260642014-03-05T12:18:00.005-05:002014-03-05T12:21:34.003-05:00<h1 class="block" style="background-color: white; color: #475c66; font-family: futura-pt,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://pando.com/2014/03/03/more-pbs-conflict-woes-as-activists-move-to-eject-david-koch-from-board-of-nova-station/">More PBS conflict woes as activists move to eject David Koch from board of “NOVA” station</a></span></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYbk0CYFchykTHu5p5YnLCZ_IG_KauXqzIhfJ6o1GO4AVgq-hrQIvPby7XKW1G0Zpj1OQdgLnkUOZrrx1A0UmrI1svluC3vYXRh95bA-vkaT4E3xyqLUMcz1t0hrtDW9CaxaWbz0goRd7/s1600/D+KOCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYbk0CYFchykTHu5p5YnLCZ_IG_KauXqzIhfJ6o1GO4AVgq-hrQIvPby7XKW1G0Zpj1OQdgLnkUOZrrx1A0UmrI1svluC3vYXRh95bA-vkaT4E3xyqLUMcz1t0hrtDW9CaxaWbz0goRd7/s1600/D+KOCH.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 28.5px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">Last month, Pando’s<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://pando.com/2014/02/12/the-wolf-of-sesame-street-revealing-the-secret-corruption-inside-pbss-news-division/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #213b4b; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 28.5px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">“Wolf of Sesame Street” investigation</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 28.5px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>broke the news that one of PBS’s flagship outlets had inked a secret deal with anti-pension billionaire John Arnold. That deal, which was not explicitly disclosed to viewers, was designed to broadcast anti-pension programming on public television stations throughout the country <a href="http://pando.com/2014/03/03/more-pbs-conflict-woes-as-activists-move-to-eject-david-koch-from-board-of-nova-station/">(read more)</a></span>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-43994330221560978222013-12-29T20:00:00.003-05:002013-12-29T20:00:53.386-05:00Happy New Year Alums!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17Izf2tdwIS9e17keOjAA5nwDEdrIj7vI3-j4Of2nEmIXXAgXF7xGIcskR1ES4RMKMsONru_3MiRcaN84fcRJ40PLPjfHyeNdjzzaJiQ9RJ24OJpjxrEjnxdOA-Wyw7Px7GuB3osBqs5t/s1600/family+of+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17Izf2tdwIS9e17keOjAA5nwDEdrIj7vI3-j4Of2nEmIXXAgXF7xGIcskR1ES4RMKMsONru_3MiRcaN84fcRJ40PLPjfHyeNdjzzaJiQ9RJ24OJpjxrEjnxdOA-Wyw7Px7GuB3osBqs5t/s1600/family+of+man.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the spirit of "The Family of Man," a joyous, happy and healthy New Year to all</span>!<br />
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<br />Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-42624333576129500092013-12-23T17:30:00.002-05:002013-12-23T17:33:04.944-05:00WGBH Responds to my letter requesting David Koch be removed from the BoardDear Nat,
<br />
<br />
Thank you for writing to share your views about David Koch. Susan Ulbrich shared your letter with Henry Becton and Jon Abbott, and I am responding on their behalf. We appreciate hearing from ‘GBH alums on all topics of interest.<br />
<br />
As I’m sure you know from your years here, we uphold strict standards and safeguards for our editorial content. Trustees do not have a role overseeing any WGBH programming, and donors/funders have no involvement with the editorial content of programs.
<br />
<br />
In our programming we do not take positions on the activities and beliefs of others; we air a full spectrum of topics and perspectives, allowing our viewers and listeners to reach their own conclusions. In the same way, we do not require a uniformity of belief among our Trustees. <br />
<br />
So in keeping with that approach, David Koch will continue as a member of the Board.
Over more than a decade, in a dozen documentaries and investigative reports, WGBH has presented the science and facts about climate change in our award winning documentary series NOVA and Frontline, as well as on the Living Lab radio reports on WGBH News. <br />
<br />
We will continue to cover the full dimensions of this topic.
<br />
<br />
We appreciate and respect your views, and value the exchange of ideas that comes from open expression with others.
<br />
<br />
Again, thank you for taking the time to be in touch.
<br />
<br />
Best,
Jeanne
--
Jeanne Hopkins
VP, Communications & Government Relations
WGBH Boston
Office 617.300.4363
Cell 617.417.1383
Jeanne_hopkins@wgbh.org
Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-90910684690293641402013-12-23T10:35:00.000-05:002013-12-24T10:40:37.385-05:00My response to WGBH Board Letter Reply<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0].[0]">In its heyday, WGBH functioned under a system reminiscent of enlightened absolutism, or benevolent despotism. This worked very well for some of us who believed we had talent and a voice to express that energy. In olden times, we got away with murder (y</span></span><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3]"><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[0]">ou know who you are) and thus a whole lot of wonderful things happened at 125 Western Avenue.</span><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[1]" /><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[2]" /><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[3]">Then came the Reformation (I recall arguing with Hartford Gunn about this before he left for DC) and having similar discussions with Fred Friendly and James Day in New York after the Huns had moved in to WGBH (around 1980)</span><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[4]" /><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[5]" /><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[6]">Inevitably, benevolent academicians were replaced by uncaring big business as WGBH and PBS became irrevocably corporate. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that David Koch weaseled his way onto the boards at WNET and now at WGBH where, alas, he has found his happy home. </span><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[7]" /><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[8]" /><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[9]">The End</span><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[10]" /><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[11]" /><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[12]">Some Light reading:</span><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[13]" /><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[14]">PBS – Behind the Scenes by Laurence Jarvik</span><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[15]" /><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[16]">The Vanishing Vision – The Inside Story of Public Television by James Day</span><br data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[17]" /><span data-reactid=".r[3flri].[1][3][1]{comment10152502113169128_10152502737734128}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[18]">NPR by Michael P. McCauley</span></span></span></span></span>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-67631100814596782582013-11-07T17:59:00.001-05:002013-11-07T18:00:54.481-05:0046th Anniversary46 years ago this week, I joined WGBH. At the time, there were 100 people on staff. I was given the triple-role of producer, announcer and audio engineer. My boss, Bill Busiek, had heard me on WBCN-FM and suggested I apply for any announcing opportunities, which I did. A few shots quickly gathered for the occaision<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaWTSH6pCzDPUVbDmo6IBU3wKILGpx8Ch5BDW_7YqEITko8R6lsEIPAR0ZnasM3RDG2bOfCgpH4BT-WWdVkeu96Az3o9308IyaDu6-lLpzeTYlN3MVghSAn77Mbw2VIsIVx_iubAy62LC/s1600/NSJ_WBCN_reduced.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaWTSH6pCzDPUVbDmo6IBU3wKILGpx8Ch5BDW_7YqEITko8R6lsEIPAR0ZnasM3RDG2bOfCgpH4BT-WWdVkeu96Az3o9308IyaDu6-lLpzeTYlN3MVghSAn77Mbw2VIsIVx_iubAy62LC/s320/NSJ_WBCN_reduced.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Me at WBCN in 1966</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP6vuIoGvAnQyT8HM-y6ixqeRRL_RMK_oP-o2Psz6jPV9RHAA7eRxq9IeJ5A3paCWvIh_OFRkmHbnQknU95B9LCTsTdzLW0JXyYVJzeVzrOnw9FF1J-5yGOJRSMtgXlN59r6ThioPXwcV/s1600/Cavness+studio4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP6vuIoGvAnQyT8HM-y6ixqeRRL_RMK_oP-o2Psz6jPV9RHAA7eRxq9IeJ5A3paCWvIh_OFRkmHbnQknU95B9LCTsTdzLW0JXyYVJzeVzrOnw9FF1J-5yGOJRSMtgXlN59r6ThioPXwcV/s320/Cavness+studio4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bill Canvess in the same studio I began in at WGBH</div>
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Me and a friend in Master Control, WGBH Radio</div>
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Me, Ed Thoman and Dee Dee Doren in FM Sub-Master Control</div>
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Me and Paula Apsell at WGBH Radio</div>
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(Looking back, that moustache was really, really bad, wasn't it)!</div>
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Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-34271709914934881752013-10-10T17:58:00.002-04:002013-10-10T17:58:13.931-04:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="userContent">The Cover Page of Today's Boston Herald</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEic8DCt77v0lUyatNN-m8s_s1EfORqnhe6rI0zER1cslH9Dc-i-YsA-tm6hdQNlecaPpa_8v2lQHPAs2zfF9Lbk_C9YeneOJ73caxTPIVetNzoRx48Yod8Z8Vj9hegmmHfLfZrCEWqao/s1600/Elmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEic8DCt77v0lUyatNN-m8s_s1EfORqnhe6rI0zER1cslH9Dc-i-YsA-tm6hdQNlecaPpa_8v2lQHPAs2zfF9Lbk_C9YeneOJ73caxTPIVetNzoRx48Yod8Z8Vj9hegmmHfLfZrCEWqao/s400/Elmo.jpg" width="378" /></a></div>
<span class="userContent"></span>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-12905526447338040752013-10-06T11:54:00.000-04:002013-10-06T11:57:23.920-04:00Koch Fart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikbSkROBzPeDwC93bGFeFB5ENz8V6cvRLW1I9WpBlMRD9KyPgmCMvUfIW9cRBu2o1XRZC0-IwKinP5y40SFwkjH4lIEhpw5mSm8tQGJPDrnMRcPIMuQvRnNM8BU-A3fKSqJAHfUIzmoN8/s1600/Shot+on+Koch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikbSkROBzPeDwC93bGFeFB5ENz8V6cvRLW1I9WpBlMRD9KyPgmCMvUfIW9cRBu2o1XRZC0-IwKinP5y40SFwkjH4lIEhpw5mSm8tQGJPDrnMRcPIMuQvRnNM8BU-A3fKSqJAHfUIzmoN8/s320/Shot+on+Koch.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://twitpic.com/dg6enp" title="I've updated this ancient poster of John Bull farting at... on Twitpic"></a>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-81354442165574625192013-10-04T18:36:00.001-04:002013-10-04T18:36:03.433-04:00Remove David Koch from the Board of Trustees at WGBH
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<img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.forecastthefacts.org/images/pbs_kochHorizontal.jpg" /><br />
David Koch, the oil and gas billionaire who has spent millions funding climate change denial, does not belong on the Board of Trustees at Boston's PBS affiliate, WGBH.
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WGBH is the largest producer of national content for PBS, including the science program NOVA. David Koch has donated millions to climate change denial think tanks, proactively seeking to misinform Americans and undermine accurate scientific reporting. Someone with his anti-science track record should not have any role overseeing NOVA, or any other WGBH programming.
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Until recently, David Koch also sat on the board of WNET, New York City’s PBS affiliate. While he was on the board, Koch was offered an opportunity to write a statement rebutting a film that criticized Koch's wealth, and WNET televised that statement immediately after the broadcast—an unheard of consideration. Not only that, the agency of public television ITVS pulled its funding from another film that featured David and Charles Koch, "Citizen Koch", apparently due to concerns that it would upset WNET and David Koch.
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This clear example of how Koch’s oversight can lead to journalistic self-censorship, together with Koch’s long history of devoting millions to misinform Americans about climate change, can only lead to one conclusion: David Koch does not belong on the WGBH board.
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http://act.forecastthefacts.org/act/wgbh_koch_petition Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-21923011790911889632013-10-03T18:02:00.002-04:002013-10-03T18:02:35.636-04:00Elmo says...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgSouacyBpoekzspa_bAbxkWQJjs-U5yZeiv1tA0LF6DR9KcYvjgzTEQ_BHjK6Z7z-QAg70rBNuqTYXkiWOxP7taHTZXbuC0kAMpQmTXcEr-mvXM0AbIm9FRJmpVmQXjxc6PKe8bRyLq/s1600/Koch+Free.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgSouacyBpoekzspa_bAbxkWQJjs-U5yZeiv1tA0LF6DR9KcYvjgzTEQ_BHjK6Z7z-QAg70rBNuqTYXkiWOxP7taHTZXbuC0kAMpQmTXcEr-mvXM0AbIm9FRJmpVmQXjxc6PKe8bRyLq/s320/Koch+Free.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-19378217780178113232013-08-04T13:39:00.001-04:002013-08-04T13:39:41.625-04:00Remembering Joan Wilson & Masterpiece Theatre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7PSl4e1xN_7yhXSWz8e5263SXOiRq_Vi_AyFukQwx9sP9sURth0GBeG1Tje7WsSC3D26YxZO2yWgVtEF-8rOL1-te9effabr92v5Ry1wt18xlVgJ7i1iClHLHcxUN40XTRG4CAOc3ysl/s1600/MPT004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7PSl4e1xN_7yhXSWz8e5263SXOiRq_Vi_AyFukQwx9sP9sURth0GBeG1Tje7WsSC3D26YxZO2yWgVtEF-8rOL1-te9effabr92v5Ry1wt18xlVgJ7i1iClHLHcxUN40XTRG4CAOc3ysl/s320/MPT004.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-13727264822139057362013-07-22T21:25:00.001-04:002013-08-24T18:50:37.835-04:00The Master Singers - Remastered and Reissued for Connie White (wherever he is)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a nice story behind these curious recordings and a
good reason I am posting them to the WGBH Alumni Facebook page. In 1966, one
year before I joined WGBH, I was music director and a program announcer for
WBCN-FM in Boston – at that time the principal or ‘home’ station of the Concert
Network – a consortium of east-coast classical music stations from New
Hampshire down to Virginia. The call letters “BCN” stood for “Boston Concert
Network.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1966, I was still in school, studying at the Longy School
and Emerson College. One of my Longy music instructors, having just returned
from a concert tour of the UK and Europe, phoned me at WBCN to say he had
brought home with him a comical 45 RPM recording of English ‘highway road rules,’
plus a typical UK weather forecast, the words of both having been set to
Anglican Chant. The album made that same year – clever, unusual, and beautifully
performed – had become a big hit in the UK and my teacher was sure it would go
over well here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was correct. The next evening, during a program of
standard symphonic music, without a word of warning and with little introduction,
I played both “The Highway Code” and “Weather Forecast.” The phones rang all
night long with requests from listeners asking me to play it again and again,
and for information, please, where they could buy the record. I had to tell
everyone that it was a 45-RPM produced in England and not available in the USA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later that evening, I had one final call – from a very nice man
at WGBH (I knew no one there at the time) who asked if I could please make him
a tape copy and that he would gladly pay any expenses. I told him I would make
him a tape at no charge, not wanting to get into legal hassles. He then gave me
the address to which the tape should be mailed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">His name was Connie White.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So here it is, Connie, wherever you are . . . an encore . .
. 47 years later.</span><br />
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<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="200" src="https://app.box.com/embed/vkfmfqunq9xwric.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" wmode="opaque"></embed><br />
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="200" src="https://app.box.com/embed/r250e72rqop30c9.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" wmode="opaque"></embed><br />Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-19495690750031606802013-02-05T19:40:00.003-05:002013-02-05T19:40:47.695-05:00Remembering Hartford Gunn From my scrapbook: Remembering Hartford Gunn (Boston Globe)<br />
Author: Edgar J. Driscoll Jr., Globe Staff Jan 3, 1986<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgV7DrYSfXc0jo901rCdKl4KTVnBclwHO8LbikSPQBVwkZnbgSAriK3grZU-Gj_6v9WVzl629S0mPFJHg0SMFtX0_zX8WCtDhy_ONSsONvZryoFNr56sK8SFYT28Vyhv6XsfAaasLs74o/s1600/Gunn+obit+1002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgV7DrYSfXc0jo901rCdKl4KTVnBclwHO8LbikSPQBVwkZnbgSAriK3grZU-Gj_6v9WVzl629S0mPFJHg0SMFtX0_zX8WCtDhy_ONSsONvZryoFNr56sK8SFYT28Vyhv6XsfAaasLs74o/s640/Gunn+obit+1002.jpg" width="257" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZlLsD0Q-Nda_zzxCjDk2QhaFU9V-VIEN-HomtsqvoTziCHctK7bPwjVISs1RR8T0fnByrEkvWM5091C-pTNtCqDCVA0oAcI-g4xGPf4Yguvz7AM5Lw9YRLGh4cMv8SneGPwhdgY-dGMN/s1600/Gunn+obit+2001_fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZlLsD0Q-Nda_zzxCjDk2QhaFU9V-VIEN-HomtsqvoTziCHctK7bPwjVISs1RR8T0fnByrEkvWM5091C-pTNtCqDCVA0oAcI-g4xGPf4Yguvz7AM5Lw9YRLGh4cMv8SneGPwhdgY-dGMN/s640/Gunn+obit+2001_fixed.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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CLICK TO ENLARGE</div>
Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-35845118787476287252013-01-15T20:58:00.002-05:002013-01-15T20:58:10.824-05:00Seems odd that so few people have commented on the passing of Doug Devitt, videotape and audio engineer at WGBH.<br />
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Here's the link for those who might want to leave a comment or a thought.<br />
<a href="http://wgbhalumni.org/2012/11/28/doug-devitt-62-audio-engineer/">http://wgbhalumni.org/2012/11/28/doug-devitt-62-audio-engineer/</a><br />
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<img alt="" height="270" id="fancybox-img" src="http://wgbhalumni.org/files/2012/11/Screen-Shot-2012-11-28-at-10.34.37-AM.png" width="400" />Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-61440173761188638422012-08-20T12:33:00.002-04:002012-08-20T12:34:29.937-04:00Cataloging WGBH “firsts"<h1 class="entry-title">Help us catalog WGBH “firsts” in national public media</h1><div class="entry-meta"><span class="entry-date"><abbr class="published" title="2012-08-12T15:38:05+0000">August 12, 2012</abbr></span> | Posted by <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://wgbhalumni.org/author/jcollier/" title="View all posts by Jay Collier">Jay Collier</a></span></div><div class="entry-content"><strong>Dear WGBH Alumni:</strong><br />
<img alt="Help us catalog WGBH firsts in national public media" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-8239" height="195" src="http://wgbhalumni.org/files/2012/08/wgbh-logo-1980s-260x195.jpg" title="wgbh-logo-1980s" width="260" /><br />
PBS is putting together a list of significant national “firsts” for PBS and public media. We already have a timeline covering WGBH from <a href="http://wgbhalumni.org/2007/01/01/wgbh-timeline-1946-1978/">1946 to 1978</a>, and many entries include national innovations. <br />
Now, we’re looking for your recommendations and verifications for more!<br />
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Please remember, the following are not yet verified, so add your recommendations, corrections, and confirmations in the comments box at the bottom of this post.<br />
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<a href="http://wgbhalumni.org/2012/08/12/wgbh-firsts/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://wgbhalumni.org/2012/08/12/wgbh-firsts/</span></a></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-65765669664280277362012-08-15T09:52:00.003-04:002012-08-15T09:56:49.568-04:00Google Celebrates Julia Child's 100th Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96ZAiNOcIxTwcr2Ycc0XSAbBf4_Z1Gv5Yd6As4NrCxHyUECL8Mvw1HahDc-Tw4qwWEuOGllUIGTavqdLJwiQSRA_cnNgpaS9T0EfsWps0kUP-0aSSpGZ_A0g76FzzS6XBR-V7_HDDJ_el/s1600/Julia_Child-2012-hp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96ZAiNOcIxTwcr2Ycc0XSAbBf4_Z1Gv5Yd6As4NrCxHyUECL8Mvw1HahDc-Tw4qwWEuOGllUIGTavqdLJwiQSRA_cnNgpaS9T0EfsWps0kUP-0aSSpGZ_A0g76FzzS6XBR-V7_HDDJ_el/s400/Julia_Child-2012-hp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How lucky were we who knew and loved her!</span></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-49968852785550240802012-08-04T11:35:00.006-04:002012-09-08T12:14:14.441-04:00Fred Calland, a 'Founding Voice' of NPR<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday, burrowing through a file cabinet packed with letters, clippings, notes, and Christmas and Valentine and birthday cards – from a period when these documents could not have arrived electronically – I discovered this note from Fred Calland, sent to me at WGBH, date unknown, sometime during my incumbency as host of Morning Pro Musica</span>.</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhom-h2nwuIKKhhq5AwyiewV2lJe-fwD_BPXAdGiojqlkLWh2N9CWVn8Jq3tNTg7UnJHtbStclXr6FqA0eSsvP6StHX4_AnfF3WjW9A92-Du_ww9TCFdiST1I0X62Z-Wmb1Mc66_DleOtJU/s1600/Calland+Letter001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhom-h2nwuIKKhhq5AwyiewV2lJe-fwD_BPXAdGiojqlkLWh2N9CWVn8Jq3tNTg7UnJHtbStclXr6FqA0eSsvP6StHX4_AnfF3WjW9A92-Du_ww9TCFdiST1I0X62Z-Wmb1Mc66_DleOtJU/s400/Calland+Letter001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><strong>(CLICK to enlarge)</strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For a time, Fred was music director at our sister station at WFCR in Amherst, later he became NPR’s first music producer. More importantly, Fred was a splendid character – a real gentleman, an avid record collector and music enthusiast,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a delightful throwback to a bygone era when radio hosts were more passionate about their subject then themselves. His note to me reveals something of the Calland persona, but this commemoration </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1065714"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">NPR's Fred Calland Remembered</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> tells much more...(click on <em><u>RealMedia</u></em><strong>)</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As I started this remembrance, a waterfall of partially submerged recollections began to tumble forth: An evening of listening to treasures on shellac with Fred and Diana in Amherst promoted by the famous Calland Martini – very large and very dry – guaranteed to render you seated while more and even more records were produced. “I’ll bet you’ve never heard this one...” </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here is an amusing selection of Fred Calland outtakes, assembled by his colleagues at WFCR:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="200" src="https://www.box.com/embed/gbx2ggk6n9eju40.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" wmode="opaque"></embed></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Of all the Calland experiences, nothing could be more unforgettable than our ill-fated interview with tenor Roland Hayes<span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">, </span><span class="st1"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">the </span></span><span class="st1"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">first African American man to win international fame as a concert performer</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. </span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Fred, having arranged the entire event, picked me up at WGBH, along</span> with a Nagra and my tote bag filled with mike gear, and we drove to Brookline, excited by what was to be an exclusive interview with the now reclusive Roland Hayes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We arrived at a large home in Brookline; inside, the house was cool and dark and filled with a pleasant musty scent. A tall, black man, attired in what looked like formal dress, led us to the living room where Roland Hayes stood waiting for us. It is always exhilarating to come face to face to face with a legend, and even more so when you feel as though history is about to be made.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After we sat and chatted for a few minutes, Fred signaled it was time to begin. However, as I opened the Nagra and began to attach mike cables, Mr. Hayes held up his hand. “What’s this?” he asked. Fred explained this was a tape recorder we used for interviews. “No recording,” replied Mr. Hayes, in a subdued tone. So, I packed up the Nagra and the interview continued, undocumented. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the ride home, Fred apologized for getting everyone’s hopes up, but I assured him it was no matter. After all, we had met </span><a href="http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1671"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Roland Hayes</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4159435"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fred Calland, a 'Founding Voice' of NPR</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFOsVxQ_SmY"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Roland Hayes" Were You There"</span></a></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-54502442972605844322012-05-24T15:37:00.003-04:002012-05-24T15:38:07.057-04:00Stop the War on Public MediaSaveTheNews.Org<br />
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Sen. Jim DeMint and Rep. Doug Lamborn have it in for public media. Over the years, both men have introduced numerous bills and written countless editorials attacking NPR and PBS.<br />
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<strong>Right now, they’re lobbying their fellow members of Congress to block funding for NPR, PBS and your local public media station.</strong><br />
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"We face many hard choices ahead," the letter to their colleagues says, "but defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting should be one of the easier decisions to make." <br />
<br />
<a href="http://act2.freepress.net/sign/public_media_demint_lamborn/?akid=3547.9925216.XR30rN&rd=1&t=3">Please sign our petition</a> telling Sen. DeMint and Rep. Lamborn that public media supporters are watching and we think enough is enough.<strong> We'll deliver your signatures directly to their offices alongside a GIANT banner that says: It's time to defend, not defund, public media</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZdV3rY6rGx2cqOJOGp6yCLYvwjBqG7x8aqTcLiIfwoujhsiQDJD_eipIgff62Z2frDElhHU4i7kX2A2LD8FThSURhrWsEHcEEdjywSm9NgDyRP-IGTmzEAhalUj_-2S8geHdgJWH4Yr6/s1600/defend-public-media-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZdV3rY6rGx2cqOJOGp6yCLYvwjBqG7x8aqTcLiIfwoujhsiQDJD_eipIgff62Z2frDElhHU4i7kX2A2LD8FThSURhrWsEHcEEdjywSm9NgDyRP-IGTmzEAhalUj_-2S8geHdgJWH4Yr6/s400/defend-public-media-banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-89759575695114655872012-05-17T14:05:00.002-04:002012-05-17T14:07:51.910-04:00NPR sees sharp downturn in advertising revenue, leading to talk of cuts<a href="http://wapo.st/Jx5NI6"><span style="font-size: large;">NPR’s new chief executive is signaling that there may be some static ahead for the radio and digital news organization.</span></a><br />
<h1 property="dc.title"><a href="http://wapo.st/Jx5NI6"><img alt="" src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_404h/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/05/16/Style/Images/Michel%20Martin%20High%20Res.jpg" /></a></h1><div class="relative primary-slot padding-top img-border photo-wrapper photo-wrapper"><div class="captionWrap caption"><span class="photo-credit credit">Stephen Voss - </span> Michel Martin, host of NPR's "Tell Me More."</div></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-32490718133638970182012-04-07T15:29:00.004-04:002012-04-16T20:15:08.539-04:00Tommy Makem "Live at The Harp & Bard" (c.1969)<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This project was Joan Wilson Sullivan's idea: Record Tommy Makem "Live at the Harp & Bard" in Danvers, Mass. Later, bring him to the studio and record his favorite songs. We did both The live concert was a lot of fun, as you will hear in this 10-minute segment, Nancy Troland was the producer, I was the lucky engineer.</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDtTqGraXEBRq6NKHRmS5MmCe4SBQD0AX2vzVA_311Mw4mNfc1abCI8KVBYNLjgTTDQkF85m5C_Zf8BBGthabxpXM0NQX4ZdBuZrjM3M0FYjkqm0aqqDuJt2rpDdBzBVFo8VjljndjmnC/s1600/makem+harp+and+bard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDtTqGraXEBRq6NKHRmS5MmCe4SBQD0AX2vzVA_311Mw4mNfc1abCI8KVBYNLjgTTDQkF85m5C_Zf8BBGthabxpXM0NQX4ZdBuZrjM3M0FYjkqm0aqqDuJt2rpDdBzBVFo8VjljndjmnC/s400/makem+harp+and+bard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tommy Makem with Eugene Byrne, guitar</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" src="http://www.box.com/embed/0v9hl2bkyczj9xy.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="opaque"></embed></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-69609219949072877322012-04-01T21:09:00.003-04:002012-04-01T21:13:33.072-04:00Crazy Radio Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoNiZbxh3ZZMvCO22JXcWDs6GBViL3WgljvN0_EeQXDqdooG3YdBJMgU1ZACOB1nZ1Ef5S9PgV9wOaD6Bcxzse0kuZqAVDaT_0bXAt8T9kwr2HrE1qqmxX5tSOgdqkvFIqi2An1LsDxrd/s1600/NSJ001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoNiZbxh3ZZMvCO22JXcWDs6GBViL3WgljvN0_EeQXDqdooG3YdBJMgU1ZACOB1nZ1Ef5S9PgV9wOaD6Bcxzse0kuZqAVDaT_0bXAt8T9kwr2HrE1qqmxX5tSOgdqkvFIqi2An1LsDxrd/s400/NSJ001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Photo by Jock Gill (c.1970)</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Most of my Radio Days, the hundreds of yawning hours I produced and hosted at WGBH Radio and for NPR, were relatively unremarkable and almost certainly immemorable. Live radio, however, could be an adventurous and risky business – especially going solo, without a rescue net. One never knows, of course, whom, if indeed anyone at all, is listening at any given moment, particularly on a Sunday morning around eight o’clock when regular people are watching the weather forecast on TV, eating breakfast with their family, or sensibly sleeping-in.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was on just such a sleepy Sunday in the late 1960’s at WGBH-FM, when calamity struck. It was the inaugural week of our brand-new FM Studio 4 (a combo operation without engineer) that I had the privilege of baptizing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had programmed two hours of Bach’s works that morning, principally Brandenburg Concertos, comparing back-to-back, standard performances of Bach’s works with jazz renditions of the same pieces – played alternately by the Modern Jazz Quartet and the Jacques Loussier Trio. I had titled the segment, “Bach-To-Bach,” and for the first half-hour </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">or so, all went uneventfully. While sitting back nonchalantly, editing my rip-and-read teletype copy for the noon newscast, the unthinkable occurred: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>THUMP. SCCRRRAATCH.</em> Then, total silence. I whirled around to stare at the on-air turntable, not believing what had happened, and simply sat for a moment, stunned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Dead Air. Better say <em>something</em>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“Uh, ladies and gentlemen, believe it or not, the sky has fallen – fallen-in on our brand new studio – fallen in the form of a piece of ceiling acoustical tile that has just landed on our turntable, knocking the tone arm clear off the record!” (Long pause) “Clearly, the Gods are displeased – angered with my irreverence for jazzing-up Bach on a Sunday morning. Well, we better make amends – so here is the same Brandenburg Concerto, played properly now by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, conducted by Neville Marriner.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Two minutes later, the studio phone rang. “Nat, it’s Michael Rice. That was brilliant – just brilliant! Well done! I’m still laughing!” A quick moment of relief. The ‘GBH FM Station Manager was pleased, even amused. I was not going to lose my gig, and the Gods were appeased!</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There would, naturally, be More <em>Crazy Radio Days</em> . . . forthcoming</span>.</span></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-65210155246777316222012-02-08T20:30:00.007-05:002012-02-08T20:42:45.885-05:00Producing Favorite Themes from "Masterpiece Theatre"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3938oEsrZypA5lLCE0qg9y4D_vSwQ_NVN5a70bIGzeGbyf126vEt2Evsd3du7NjUOJyzLiYD_3xG_AdAfAm2oa3UaDI9m5SNlAGIC45caR5eoVb2FBaf3X5iZ-rVaW0wILR_qrAHWKpo/s1600/I+claudius002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3938oEsrZypA5lLCE0qg9y4D_vSwQ_NVN5a70bIGzeGbyf126vEt2Evsd3du7NjUOJyzLiYD_3xG_AdAfAm2oa3UaDI9m5SNlAGIC45caR5eoVb2FBaf3X5iZ-rVaW0wILR_qrAHWKpo/s640/I+claudius002.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>One of the most gratifying aspects producing and recording this album was meeting and working with two magnificent composers: Wilfrid Josephs ("I, Claudius) and Kenyon Emrys-Roberts ("Poldark"), both of whom I commissioned to extend their themes especially for our Masterpiece Theatre album.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_oiq608iif8Iy4L9nNXpP6F_crAVEjIH3CDTALZknY9RpJwpsz4CVNg46KcTIz43U-C_owQSB9uQHqce6qQF54JXitDn5_szkgPEIg2SfKXmEx7w7ETQKytPLfLJ6YgEqXVKWX2hjAry/s1600/I+claudius001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_oiq608iif8Iy4L9nNXpP6F_crAVEjIH3CDTALZknY9RpJwpsz4CVNg46KcTIz43U-C_owQSB9uQHqce6qQF54JXitDn5_szkgPEIg2SfKXmEx7w7ETQKytPLfLJ6YgEqXVKWX2hjAry/s640/I+claudius001.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><a href="http://wgbholdtimers.blogspot.com/2010/12/producing-and-recording-favorite-themes.html"><strong>(Read the full story)</strong></a></span><br />
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</div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-48341756225987344472011-10-25T19:28:00.002-04:002011-10-25T19:32:18.181-04:00NPR's Slow Slide to the RightThe timing could not have been worse for the latest in a series of controversies to hit the nation’s scandal-prone public radio network. But the fact that it was pledge week didn’t prevent NPR from caving in to conservative pressure and canceling their distribution of “The World of Opera,” last Friday after it was revealed that host, Lisa Simeone, had taken part in Occupy DC, a spinoff of Occupy Wall Street movement, a protest against corporate greed which is spreading to cities nationwide. Simeone, an independent producer, was also sacked from the public radio documentary series “Sound Print” for her political activities.(MORE)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/10/25-5"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUs6yoJ1L7K805u-Q8twfSvYNPBGsCpjShMTizy73JDSqnuRh1RXzN5TywJ0pNPzE0GT05h7Exc8XjxKxshhsqzXccIfmLBa-GSKX-tbag4OhAqOtdQ6f-nMx99ef35V1krE7zgBk_Jyz/s400/common-dreams.png" width="400" /><span id="goog_1645680854"></span></a></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-746026181154456528.post-53197588331480753602011-09-30T11:21:00.002-04:002011-09-30T11:25:59.573-04:00House GOP Unveils Plan To Cut NPR<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/house-gop-budget-cuts_n_987445.html?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=093011&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NewsEntry&utm_term=Daily+Brief&ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=381685,b=facebook">House GOP Unveils Plan To Cut NPR, Job Training And Education Programs</a> (Via Huffington Post)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/house-gop-budget-cuts_n_987445.html?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=093011&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NewsEntry&utm_term=Daily+Brief&ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=381685,b=facebook"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfofRDwGTWtWUneTiG9CzcjT5tBsgqg4iZEkQs5A8yzrR-DUGAshvybgN0zi5HCdxVzPenOZiEGhrY4yzk8O2zK6EboI0Es8pekO4dsSz4uA-f9jWQPOd6CtwZmPx4IHaEP0Km0Y-tGjs/s400/r-HOUSE-REPUBLICAN-CUTS-large570.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nathaniel Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08932544884532251068noreply@blogger.com0