Perhaps you've always wondered how public radio gets that smooth, well-crafted sound. Maybe you're thinking about starting a podcast, and want some tips from the pros. Or maybe storytelling has always been a passion of yours, and you want to learn to do it more effectively. Whatever the case--whether you're an avid NPR listener or you aspire to create your own audio, or both-- Sound Reporting: The NPR Guide to Audio Journalism and Production will give you a rare tour of the world of a professional broadcaster. Jonathan Kern, who has trained NPR's on-air staff for years, is a gifted guide, able to narrate a day in the life of a host and lay out the nuts and bolts of production with equal wit and warmth. Along the way, he explains the importance of writing the way you speak, reveals how NPR books guests ranging from world leaders to neighborhood newsmakers, and gives sage advice on everything from proposing stories to editors to maintaining balance and objectivity. Best of all--because NPR wouldn't be NPR without its array of distinctive voices--lively examples from popular shows and colorful anecdotes from favorite personalities animate each chapter. As public radio's audience of millions can attest, NPR's unique guiding principles and technical expertise combine to connect with listeners like no other medium can. With today's technologies allowing more people to turn their home computers into broadcast studios, Sound Reporting couldn't have arrived at a better moment to reveal the secrets behind the story of NPR's success.
If you ever wanted to know why NPR sounds the way it does, has been so successful, or is so hard to emulate, Kern and NPR staffers reveal the secrets to great broadcast journalism.
Couldn
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
This is simply a great book. It is clear, insightful and helpful. Although it is more than four hundred pages long it is not daunting. You can open it up to any part and learn something valuable. Until now newsradio, and NPR especially, was kind of a closed world. There are not too many good books out there on the subject. Most of the ones that are out there are very dry manuals. Sound Reporting focuses less on the technical details of production and chooses instead to teach you the deeper ingredients of good radio journalism. It is not too abstract either, describing different production and reporting situations in general terms. If you are just starting out, you may want to supplement this book with one on nuts and bolts production techniques.
Best audio Journalism Book, ever!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Sound Reporting is the best book so far on the subject of radio reporting. It's written by someone with years of top-level experience. It covers the entire process from field to studio; editorial to editing; writing to recording; and hosting and producing. Top tips from top professional in a very easy to read book. If you are serious about radio, then this book is a must!
Best Journalism how-to book on the market
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
As a working journalist, I found this book thoroughly refreshing and chock full of some of the best advice on how to put together a great radio, broadcast or web story. It's full of detail and fresh real-life examples using real reporters and stories from NPR. Any NPR junkie would love this book. The author has a fresh and easy writing style which should put journalism textbooks to shame. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in how stories come together, or those learning to do it for themselves. I honestly wish I had read this book 10 years ago.
Useful for Professional Journalists
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Jonathan Kern does the profession a favor by capturing and explaining the practices of the best broadcast journalists in America today. The book may serve the interests of many, but I see this as a practical manual for those of us still making radio news -- and trying to do it very well. Excellent use of actual examples. Comfy, readable style. Thanks, Jonathan! -- MM
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