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Laura Sydell

Thursday

All Things Considered

Smart Billboards Catching On

Electronic billboards that can "read" the radio stations tuned-in by passing drivers and display messages geared to the station's listeners are being installed in Northern California. The billboards will tap into a vast databank of information about people who typically listen to those stations. The electronic ads will then change to fit listener profiles. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Smart Billboards Catching On

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Monday

Culture

Dickens' Classic Revived for Christmas

Victorians received the first installment of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations in December 1860. Now, Stanford University has serialized the story and is mailing out chapters to readers every two weeks. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Dickens' Classic Revived for Christmas

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Wednesday

All Things Considered

Disney Creates A Star?

For weeks, the song I Can't Wait by Hillary Duff has been in the top three on Radio Disney stations across the country, but elsewhere the song hasn't even made it to the top 50. How can this be? Some critics say that's what happens when a company controls the recording artist, the record label and the radio network. Others say it's just good marketing. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Disney Creates A Star?

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Wednesday

All Things Considered

Journalists and The Hague

Former Washington Post reporter Jonathan Randal won a landmark legal battle today. Randal had been subpoenaed by the War Crimes Tribunal to testify about an interview with a Bosnian Serb official accused of ethnic cleansing. The decision gives war correspondents some protection from being compelled to testify in the international court. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Journalists and The Hague

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Friday

Morning Edition

BET's Move to Shed Two News Programs Makes Some Wary

Black Entertainment Television plans to cut two of its regular news programs by the end of December. Viewers and critics are concerned that the decision will further diminish BET's service to blacks. Network officials say BET is not getting out of the news business. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

BET's Move to Shed Two News Programs Makes Some Wary

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Wednesday

Business

Justice Department Probes Alternative Newspaper Deal

The Justice Department investigates a deal between the country's two largest alternative newspaper chains, Village Voice Media and New Times Media. Some experts say the chains may have violated federal antitrust laws by dividing up the Los Angeles and Cleveland markets. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Justice Department Probes Alternative Newspaper Deal

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Friday

All Things Considered

Skinwalkers

The first American work in the 22-year history of Mystery!" series is an adaptation of Tony Hillerman's "Skinwalkers." "Skinwalkers" is one of 13 Hillerman mysteries featuring Native American detectives Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police. Laura Sydell has a report.

Skinwalkers

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Saturday

Culture

Black Theater Pioneer Carroll Remembered

Influential stage director Vinnette Carroll died this week at the age of 80. She was the first black woman to direct a Broadway production -- and the first to earn a Tony nomination for directing. NPR's Laura Sydell offers a remembrance.

Black Theater Pioneer Carroll Remembered

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Tuesday

Business

Investors Turning to Bond Funds Find New Risks

Bond funds have become more attractive to investors as the stock market struggles. But there are risks involved with bond funds, too. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Investors Turning to Bond Funds Find New Risks

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Thursday

Business

Holiday Shopping Outlook Glum, Analysts Say

Some Wall Street analysts warn of a "dismal" holiday shopping season. But others point to the 3.1-percent economic growth rate and say the predictions are overly pessimistic. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Holiday Shopping Outlook Glum, Analysts Say

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Monday

Thursday

Morning Edition

Carriers Claim Port Slowdown Deliberate

NPR'S Laura Sydell reports on court documents filed by cargo carriers alleging that the dockworkers union is deliberately slowing down the work pace. Two weeks ago the Bush Administration asked a federal judge to order dockworkers back to work after a lock-out shut down ports earlier this month. But a contract still has not been hammered out between the dockworkers and the carriers, and the economy may still suffer from the conflict.

Carriers Claim Port Slowdown Deliberate

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Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

All Things Considered

West Coast Port Lockout

John Ydstie talks with NPR's Laura Sydell about a U.S. District Court restraining order forcing shipping companies to end the lockout of West Coast port workers and allow them to return to work.

West Coast Port Lockout

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