Callie Dropping In...
Hello from the Big Chair! Well, I'm not actually sitting in Michel's chair, but rather next door at a desk in the office of the program's Executive Producer Marie Nelson. I've been here at the NPR studios since Tuesday observing how this program comes together.
And in case you're wondering...No, Michel has not suddenly split her personality in two. I'm blogging from her account for the time being. Nevermind the "Michel Martin" attribution at the end of this post.
Now that we've gotten the preliminaries out of the way, a little bit about me: I hail from Boston Massachusetts where I am a television commentator on the WGBH media criticism program Beat the Press, which examines local and national media coverage. Beat the Press has been a fixture on local Boston television for the last ten years. The program has twice been awarded the Arthur Rowse Award for media criticism from the National Press Club.
Most of my career has been in television--I was at ABC News' 20/20 for thirteen years, and I produced two of the segments of the documentary series Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years 1954-1965 I didn't get the Oscar statue for that work, but I do have a nice certificate from the Academy of Arts and Sciences noting my nomination in the documentary category.
Most recently I've been on the radio...occasionally on the Boston talk radio show Eagan and Braude. And you regular NPR listeners may recognize me as the wine-tasting "diva" from Tell Me More's earlier days. You might have heard at some point on News and Notes, or On the Media.
Let me tell you...sitting-in for Michel is a LOT different than being heard as a guest on her show. First of all, this train never stops moving. Once you're here on the fourth floor, in Tell Me More-land, you're pretty much here for better part of the day. So, thank goodness all the staffers are kind, and the guests patient...
(Nevermind lunch; I've had to rely on the kindness of my TMM co-workers who ran out to grab some food.)
And poor MIT Professor Xavier de Souza Briggs. He said nothing while I pronounced his name in several "inventive" ways while talking to him... Our interview was about the surprising research which found that moving poor children to more prosperous neighborhoods did not improve their school performance. It's a topic Professor De Souza Briggs has written about in his book.
And then on to a sobering conversation with freelance journalist Theo Emery, and Kurdish Youth Organization leader Ara Alan about the rise of a small Kurdish gang. The Kurdish Pride Gang, or K.P.G., is based in my home state of Tennessee, in Nashville...of all places.
Is there gang activity in your community? We're also interested in the formation of urban-influenced street gangs in rural areas. Just what does that look like and how does it play out in remote communities?
Politics, unfortunately, is a big part of the AIDS story in South Africa. I sat down with from All Africa.com to talk about the firing of Deputy health minister Nozizwe Madala-Routledge. The big question is: Was she fired for her views on HIV and AIDS?...Views much more progressive than those of South African President Thabo Mbeki?
The Next Big Thing is big, indeed. Big spending on pets, what we call "extreme" pampering. What we're talking about is beyond treats and regular grooming, instead it's high-end trinkets and special services (one store calls it 'spaw' services) that come with a healthy price tag.
Come on. 'Fess up. We're all family here... To what extent have you ever gone to pamper your four-legged pooch? If your story is too embarrassing, you can also tell us about someone you know who pushes the limit of animal love...
Also, I see this program has often explored the intersection of race and media. Did you know that a decade ago, blacks and whites rarely watched the same programs. (Monday Night Football was the exception). Now, information gathered by the Nielsen ratings group reveals that television viewers -- Blacks and everybody else -- are watching most of the same shows...8 out of 10 of the top ten entertainment programs.
And finally, what does a top chef listen to when whipping up his tasty dishes? Chef Rock Harper, the newest winner of FOX's Hell's Kitchen culinary contest shares his favorite tunes.
...And what does he groove to while cooking for his wife? Well, all I can say is umph, umph, umph!...
You'll have to listen...and tell us what you think.
Tomorrow, the Barbershop!
Until then,
Callie (C2)
7:58 PM ET | 08-16-2007 | permalink
