Talk of the Nation
Encyclopedia
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.
The show began broadcasting in November 1991. It has been hosted by Neal Conan
since late 2001. Each episode includes special guests involved in the topics discussed on that day. Past regular hosts have included John Hockenberry
, Ira Glass
, Ray Suarez
, and Juan Williams
. Each Friday Ira Flatow
hosts Science Friday, with discussion topics from science and technology. The program invites listeners to pose questions for the guest host or hosts by telephone or e-mail.
In September 2010, Talk of the Nation was broadcast on 328 public radio stations, and had a weekly audience of 3.2 million and an AQH Share
of 605,700.
One hour's topics do not carry into the next hour. This is because many stations carry only one hour of the program. In addition, the host will deliver a concluding "This is Talk of the Nation from NPR News" as a cue to stations that wish to cut away to local programming before the scheduled break.
To coordinate the choice of interview partners in cultural coverage between TOTN and other NPR shows (as of 2010: Morning Edition
, All Things Considered
, and Tell Me More
), NPR set up a "dibs list" system around 2005, whereby the first show to declare interest in a particular guest can "reserve" that person.
1993-1999: Ray Suarez
2000-2001: Juan Williams
2001-Present: Neal Conan
1991-Present: Ira Flatow
- Science Friday
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
program based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, produced by National Public Radio, and is broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Its focus is current events
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
and controversial issues.
The show began broadcasting in November 1991. It has been hosted by Neal Conan
Neal Conan
Neal Conan is an American radio journalist, producer, editor, and correspondent. He is senior host of the National Public Radio talk show Talk of the Nation....
since late 2001. Each episode includes special guests involved in the topics discussed on that day. Past regular hosts have included John Hockenberry
John Hockenberry
John Charles Hockenberry is an American journalist and author. A four-time Emmy Award winner and three-time Peabody Award winner, Hockenberry has worked in media since 1980....
, Ira Glass
Ira Glass
Ira Glass is an American public radio personality, and host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life.- Early life :...
, Ray Suarez
Ray Suarez
Rafael Suarez, Jr. , known as Ray Suarez, is an American broadcast journalist. Suarez joined the PBS NewsHour in 1999 and became a senior correspondent for the evening news program on the PBS television network. He is also host of the international news and analysis public radio program America...
, and Juan Williams
Juan Williams
Juan Williams is an American journalist and political analyst for Fox News Channel, he was born in Panama on April 10, 1954. He also writes for several newspapers including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal and has been published in magazines such as The Atlantic...
. Each Friday Ira Flatow
Ira Flatow
Ira Flatow is a radio and television journalist and author who hosts National Public Radio's popular Science Friday. He is probably best known on TV for hosting Newton's Apple, a television science program for children and their families.-Biography:...
hosts Science Friday, with discussion topics from science and technology. The program invites listeners to pose questions for the guest host or hosts by telephone or e-mail.
In September 2010, Talk of the Nation was broadcast on 328 public radio stations, and had a weekly audience of 3.2 million and an AQH Share
AQH Share
-Definition:AQH is an abbreviation for Average Quarter-Hour Persons , defined by Arbitron as the average number of persons listening to a particular station for at least five minutes during a 15-minute period....
of 605,700.
Format
The show begins with a look ahead to the upcoming topics. Then the regular five-minute NPR newscast occurs. After the newscast, the show generally spends from 30 minutes to the entire show discussing the main topic. If discussion on that topic peters out, or if the guests have to leave, then shorter news interviews similar to those found on the NPR newsmagazines of five to ten minutes air. Sometimes these shorter segments take calls, but often they do not. More controversial issues may have guests and take calls the entire hour.One hour's topics do not carry into the next hour. This is because many stations carry only one hour of the program. In addition, the host will deliver a concluding "This is Talk of the Nation from NPR News" as a cue to stations that wish to cut away to local programming before the scheduled break.
To coordinate the choice of interview partners in cultural coverage between TOTN and other NPR shows (as of 2010: Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
, 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...
, and Tell Me More
Tell Me More
Tell Me More is a National Public Radio daytime interview show hosted by journalist Michel Martin. Tell Me More was first introduced in a novel way; it was made available online in December 2006 through an "open piloting" program called "Rough Cuts." Martin and the show's producers provided a...
), NPR set up a "dibs list" system around 2005, whereby the first show to declare interest in a particular guest can "reserve" that person.
Hosts
1991-1992: John HockenberryJohn Hockenberry
John Charles Hockenberry is an American journalist and author. A four-time Emmy Award winner and three-time Peabody Award winner, Hockenberry has worked in media since 1980....
1993-1999: Ray Suarez
Ray Suarez
Rafael Suarez, Jr. , known as Ray Suarez, is an American broadcast journalist. Suarez joined the PBS NewsHour in 1999 and became a senior correspondent for the evening news program on the PBS television network. He is also host of the international news and analysis public radio program America...
2000-2001: Juan Williams
Juan Williams
Juan Williams is an American journalist and political analyst for Fox News Channel, he was born in Panama on April 10, 1954. He also writes for several newspapers including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal and has been published in magazines such as The Atlantic...
2001-Present: Neal Conan
Neal Conan
Neal Conan is an American radio journalist, producer, editor, and correspondent. He is senior host of the National Public Radio talk show Talk of the Nation....
1991-Present: Ira Flatow
Ira Flatow
Ira Flatow is a radio and television journalist and author who hosts National Public Radio's popular Science Friday. He is probably best known on TV for hosting Newton's Apple, a television science program for children and their families.-Biography:...
- Science Friday