I love NPR (National Public Radio, for our international friends). I love the quirky game shows with perfectly fitting quirky hosts, I love the crisp sound quality of "RadioLab" and "This American Life", not to mention that NPR seemingly bridges the gap between being a fun online publication and reputable news source with its surprisingly entertaining website, with cute bits like "Sandwich Mondays." But what I can't stand, is that the general public won't ever appreciate any of it because the only NPR they know is that of the old white guy variety, or if you're lucky the NPR that the Prius driving, Ivy League hipster listens to.
I am unfortunately stuck with the first option. In retirement paradise, otherwise known as South Florida, the land of which I call home, the NPR station is by the Old, of the Old, for the Old. The regular programming revolves around topics of gardening, antique restoration, local art fairs, and play by plays of charity galas, topped off with "A Prairie Home Companion" and 1940s jazz on "Night Train." Only Friday through Sunday afternoon is NPR enticing to a wide audience as national programs such as "Wait, Wait! Don't Tell Me" and "Ask Me Another" does the station receive a dip in the age of the average listener.
While working in Los Angeles over the summer, I occasionally logged onto NPR's online broadcasts to update myself on what was happening back east at home, when I noticed the station I was listening to was too young, too fresh to be NPR. It was only playing indie rock and world music from urban underground artists, yet it was owned by NPR, supported by the People, for the People, of the People. I couldn't believe my ears, yet I wasn't surprised. NPR does take the local flavor of its listeners, and this was the local flavor of L.A.
If all NPR stations were this way, we wouldn't be hunting for decent free radio on the internet, or even paying a premium to SiriusXM to listen to NPR's New York studio. Unfortunately the taste of our local area dictates the whole station. In South Florida, that will all change as the audience is dying out, a new era will be ushered in.
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I could not agree more with you on this topic. It would definitely be interesting to see the new era and the South Florida population more involved in the community. It amazes me how different two communities can be when you mentioned how diverse the L.A station was compared to the one here. There are not so many active listeners of NPR in our age group that I know of personally or who even know what it is which I find shocking and embarrassing.
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