Robert Siegel
Encyclopedia
Robert Siegel is an American
radio
journalist
best known as host of the National Public Radio evening news broadcast All Things Considered
.
in Babylon, New York
where he "did morning newscasts and a show that was part phone-ins, part Top Forty, all under the pseudonym Bob Charles." After a year at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
, Siegel left academia for good and worked for WRVR
in New York from 1971 to 1976.
Siegel was hired as a newscaster for NPR in Washington, D.C.
, in 1976, and he has held various news and production jobs at NPR since then. Since 1987, he has been a host of All Things Considered. He took a short break in 1992 to host Talk of the Nation
, NPR's call-in talk show.
In 2009, Siegel appeared in director James Kerwin
's scifi noir
film
Yesterday Was a Lie
.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, Siegel was presented with Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism
by the Journalism School of Columbia University
.
, the son of Joseph, a commercial education teacher, and Edith, a secretary at Stuyvesant High School
. After graduating in 1964 from Stuyvesant, Siegel studied at Columbia University
, graduating in 1968. During this time he was an anchor for the reporting of the 1968 Columbia demonstrations
at the college radio station, WKCR-FM.
Siegel is married to Jane Siegel, who works for the United States Department of Commerce
; they are the parents of two daughters, Erica Anne Siegel and musician Leah Siegel
.
Siegel has stated on All Things Considered
that his favorite movie is The Bridge on the River Kwai
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
best known as host of the National Public Radio evening news broadcast All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
.
Career
Siegel's first professional broadcasting job was at WGLIWGLI
WGLI is a radio station broadcasting a rock music format. Licensed to Hancock, Michigan, it first began broadcasting in 2003. The station is owned and operated by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community of the Lake Superior Bands of Chippewa Indians, based at the L'Anse Indian Reservation.Primarily...
in Babylon, New York
Babylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
where he "did morning newscasts and a show that was part phone-ins, part Top Forty, all under the pseudonym Bob Charles." After a year at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
, Siegel left academia for good and worked for WRVR
WLTW
WLTW is a radio station with an Adult Contemporary format in New York City.The station is often number one or close to it in Arbitron ratings for New York City. From 2002 to 2004, the station generated more revenue than any other radio station in the New York market...
in New York from 1971 to 1976.
Siegel was hired as a newscaster for NPR in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in 1976, and he has held various news and production jobs at NPR since then. Since 1987, he has been a host of All Things Considered. He took a short break in 1992 to host Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation is a talk radio program based in the United States, produced by National Public Radio, and is broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Its focus is current events and controversial issues....
, NPR's call-in talk show.
In 2009, Siegel appeared in director James Kerwin
James Kerwin
James Kerwin is an American film and theatre director.Kerwin, who attended Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, has been noted for his Shakespearean adaptations of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cardenio and Venus and Adonis...
's scifi noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Yesterday Was a Lie
Yesterday Was a Lie
Yesterday Was a Lie is a 2009 neo-noir film written and directed by James Kerwin and starring Kipleigh Brown, Chase Masterson, John Newton, and Mik Scriba...
.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010, Siegel was presented with Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism
John Chancellor Award
John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism is an annual award of $25,000, selected by a panel of journalists, for quality reporting.Established in 1995, the award was formerly administered by the University of Pennsylvania, and is administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of...
by the Journalism School of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Personal life
Siegel grew up in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Joseph, a commercial education teacher, and Edith, a secretary at Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School , commonly referred to as Stuy , is a New York City public high school that specializes in mathematics and science. The school opened in 1904 on Manhattan's East Side and moved to a new building in Battery Park City in 1992. Stuyvesant is noted for its strong academic...
. After graduating in 1964 from Stuyvesant, Siegel studied at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, graduating in 1968. During this time he was an anchor for the reporting of the 1968 Columbia demonstrations
Columbia University protests of 1968
The Columbia University protests of 1968 were among the many student demonstrations that occurred around the world in that year. The Columbia protests erupted over the spring of that year after students discovered links between the university and the institutional apparatus supporting the United...
at the college radio station, WKCR-FM.
Siegel is married to Jane Siegel, who works for the United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
; they are the parents of two daughters, Erica Anne Siegel and musician Leah Siegel
Leah Siegel
Leah Siegel, is an American musician, singer, songwriter. She is the daughter of Robert Siegel and Jane Siegel.Siegel wrote a song for a Topsy Foundation commercial. The commercial won a Clio Award, Grand LIA and award at Cannes, in addition to being named an "ad worth spreading" by the nonprofit...
.
Siegel has stated on All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
that his favorite movie is The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 British World War II film by David Lean based on The Bridge over the River Kwai by French writer Pierre Boulle. The film is a work of fiction but borrows the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942–43 for its historical setting. It stars William...
.
External links
- Biography from NPR