What Makes It Special?
One of the most dubiously exciting things about working for Talk of the Nation, is that sometimes the "Talk" won't wait 'til two o'clock. Today, for instance, we'll be on air at 11:30 this morning covering President Bush's statement on the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. So Neal will be on the air as "Special Coverage from NPR News" to anchor the statement. Special Coverage can range from a presidential press conference to breaking news on the level of 9/11; either way it means assembling scripts, technical direction, and wrangling guests on very short notice. Honestly, though, we're so used to shifting around our day for Special Coverage that it's pretty calm around here ... like many people, we're mostly just trying to figure out what the president will say. If you work with daily, short deadlines, chances are you might be an adrenaline junkie ... and I'd have to say the staff of Talk of the Nation really, really thrives on days like this, when carefully laid plans go out the window. Plus, when you've got a host like Neal (his rap name would be Special C.) ... there's nothing to worry about anyway. Just another play-by-play for the pro.
10:42 AM ET | 03-19-2007 | permalink
