As NPR gracefully, or not so gracefully, ages in the 21st century some cosmetic changes must be made. The most noticeable, a full on face lift of their online presence. When NPR first came into the internet domain, it was to expand the platforms for which their normal content could be streamed. A library of podcasts and extended versions of their regular programming. That NPR.org does not exist anymore, but merely shadows of what it once was. The current NPR.org may as well be NPR magazine, a hipster's paradise to report on virtually anything possible. With this mindset, the Chicago office created "Sandwich Monday."
As the population of amateur foodies is on the rise so is the need to document food. The Chicago office does this with flare. Younger generations aren't interested in African politics or small town governments coming under fire. They want entertainment, tailored to the trends of today, and "Sandwich Monday" satisfies their appetite.
Similar to a college paper feature "Sandwich Monday" is a room full of fresh college grads and young interns chomping down on the latest food trends. Even better, they offer a dry, sardonic commentary that adds the perfect dash of snark in the morning. But is it enough to save NPR? The question I find myself asking each week. It seems pretty drastic for NPR to create a food blog like this, considering the upper crust inherent pompousness of "The American Table" feeds right into NPR's upper crust audience. "Sandwich Monday" is fresh, made to order, and somewhat like a late night snack, what young people want in their media.
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