Audio production tricks behind the NPR curtain

WNYC's On The Media broadcast this story, Pulling Back the Curtain, a couple of years ago, then came back to it in May 2007 and put the full 13-minute audio into its podcast stream, with a summary and a transcript on the Web.

Now the OTM site even lets folks like me (or you) publish a player for the segment, so click and give it a listen. It's a great behind-the-scenes look at National Public Radio news production techniques -- which show how today's digital audio is almost as seamlessly "editable" as text in a word processor. I think every NPR listener should hear this program.

I used to be in awe of how articulate NPR reporters were; now I'm in awe of how well they trim, splice and spruce up their material -- not just to sound articulate, but to tell a story more dramatically, clearly and concisely. It's also clear from the story that less-responsible audio producers could put the same techniques to more deceptive work. In this age of digital manipulation, listeners as well as viewers need to know what's possible.

In case that player doesn't work for you, here's a link to the On The Media page:

Pulling Back the Curtain  Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes here at OTM? (Hint: Not everybody speaks as cleanly as it might seem.) A few years ago, we invited reporter John Solomon backstage to see how the sausage is made...

© Copyright 2009 Bob Stepno. Last update: 7/27/09; 3:57:45 AM.