On the style of Ira Glass and that of other public radio shows’ powerful storytelling style:
The best ones came to be called “driveway moments,” because listeners were so hooked that they would linger in their cars to hear the end of a piece even once they’d gotten home.
Interestingly:
In polls, public radio is rated as the most trusted source of news in the nation. The audience for most of its programs dwarfs the number of subscribers to the The New York Times or The New Yorker, or the number of people who read even the biggest best sellers.
Says Jad Abumrad of Radiolab, “I remember when the show began, I’d get this comment all the time: ‘I really can’t wash the dishes when I listen to you guys.’” In my house, the 1973 bong-bong-bong-bong bong-bong-bong-bong of the All Things Considered theme song signified dinner was almost ready. I was always good at avoiding dishes moments later on.
