Serial: Serial killer for the public radio market or NPR's new best friend?

'Serial' the explosively popular podcast that reheats a cold 15 year old murder case is changing the listening habits of NPR listeners. As serial is available online on a weekly episode basis, listeners can hear host Sarah Koenig personally read them a cliff hanger bedtime story any time they desire. 'Serial' is personal, intimate, but addictive and wild as the story of Mae Hin Lee and Adnan Syed unfolds. The millions of devout followers of Koenig's creation can thank good 'ole NPR, as 'Serial' is a spin off of the "This American Life" cohort. If it wasn't for NPR, finding justice, or closure for some, would have not been attainable.

If there were no public radio, there would be no WBEZ in Chicago, where “This American Life” began, which means there would be no offshoot like “Serial.” When you listen to Ms. Koenig slowly heating up a cold case, doing interviews that are built on conversations, not sound bites, and taking up to an hour to unfurl a single episode, you are getting aesthetic storytelling that feels like the best of public radio. 

But public radio was not what I was listening to last Thursday, and therein lies the problem for shows like NPR’s “All Things Considered” or American Public Media’s “Marketplace.” For the time being, part of my mindshare belongs to Ms. Koenig and her riveting exploration of a terrible event that took place among a group of friends at a Baltimore-area high school. -David Carr, NY Times

Public radio fuels the thinkers and creative spirits, or truth seeking individuals needed to support a show like 'Serial'. Starting as a modest podcast, using their wild popularity 'Serial' could take their hour long segments to the airwaves, boosting ratings exponentially. David Carr of The New York Times, calls 'Serial', "the best of public radio" but ironically it is only available online. It follows the format of similar NPR programs, however, the subject matter appeals to a larger audience. Ms. Koenig and her colleagues could do wonders for both their brand and the NPR label if they combined forces, serving justice and cooking up success. Your move, NPR.