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‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

nytimes.com

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Re: ‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

#11

Post by maxerickson »

louisphilippe wrote: post #2

A result is the suggestion of spontaneous speech and unadulterated emotion. The irony is that such presentations are highly rehearsed, with each caesura calculated and every syllable stressed in advance. This is actually a major problem with the entire TV and radio age. People who seem awkward or fake in front of a camera are actually normal people. It is simply not natural to talk directly to a camera lens as if it…

I was recently impressed when I watched Nightly Business Report, which is now produced by CNBC. A wide range of their staff appear to effortlessly change their delivery for the different audience.

Re: ‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

#12

Post by flatline »

mc32 wrote: post #5

I wish it would go away. When they interview they show emotion and drive emotion as well as lead the speaker interviewee. Please stop. I want to infer my own emotions, not yours NPR. I prefer even speech, one which does not add judgement into the story. Irksome is when they interview a pathetic subject and start with an apology. Like I'm very sorry for the things I think are awful you're going through, but let's have…

There must be some acceptable middle ground. Have you ever listened to BBC news radio? It's dry as chalk.

Re: ‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

#13

Post by hcrisp »

drdeadringer wrote: post #3
louisphilippe wrote: post #2

A result is the suggestion of spontaneous speech and unadulterated emotion. The irony is that such presentations are highly rehearsed, with each caesura calculated and every syllable stressed in advance. This is actually a major problem with the entire TV and radio age. People who seem awkward or fake in front of a camera are actually normal people. It is simply not natural to talk directly to a camera lens as if it…

It occurs to me that a decent segment of the public figure that politicians and public figures have acting skills. Can you expand on why acting authentic, and the authentic seeming the opposite, in front of the camera is "a major problem with the entire TV and radio age"?

If you really want to hear about it, this isn't the first time a unique voice was used to convey authenticity. It might have involved his informal rambling and all, and how his crazy life was falling apart, and all that kind of stuff, but I don't feel like going into it if you want to know the truth.

Re: ‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

#14

Post by mikeash »

flatline wrote: post #12
mc32 wrote: post #5

I wish it would go away. When they interview they show emotion and drive emotion as well as lead the speaker interviewee. Please stop. I want to infer my own emotions, not yours NPR. I prefer even speech, one which does not add judgement into the story. Irksome is when they interview a pathetic subject and start with an apology. Like I'm very sorry for the things I think are awful you're going through, but let's have…

There must be some acceptable middle ground. Have you ever listened to BBC news radio? It's dry as chalk.

The BBC news I listen to (the News Hour they play on my local NPR station every morning) is much more emotional than NPR. This is especially true in the interviews, where they hit hard and are not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions, whereas NPR interviewers tend to be very accommodating and mostly exist to set up the interviewee to say what they want to say.

Re: ‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

#15

Post by keane »

The suggestion of "spontaneous speech" comes from not only a "highly rehearsed" intonation but is perhaps primarily the result of extreme editing, as discussed in this revealing audio post looking at the practice by On the Media:

http://lk.tumblr.com/post/5435349794/public-radio-production

Really eye-opening to learn that the NPR anchors, reporters, and guest interview subjects are not nearly as quick-thinking and well-spoken as they are made to sound in the final product.

Re: ‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

#16

Post by nosuchthing »

mikeash wrote: post #14
flatline wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There must be some acceptable middle ground. Have you ever listened to BBC news radio? It's dry as chalk.

The BBC news I listen to (the News Hour they play on my local NPR station every morning) is much more emotional than NPR. This is especially true in the interviews, where they hit hard and are not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions, whereas NPR interviewers tend to be very accommodating and mostly exist to set up the interviewee to say what they want to say.

try BBC world service, it's dehydrated.

Re: ‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

#17

Post by mjklin »

gdubs wrote: post #4

I have referred to NPR, for some time now, as the Bureau of Silly Voices (in homage to Monty Python's Bureau of Silly Walks).

Not to mention Silly Names. Looking at you, Sunari Glinton, Neda Ulaby, and Olfebia Quist-Arcton.

Speaking of names, why do the anchors pronounce the Egypt-based correspondent's name "Layla Fadel" while she pronounces her own name "Layla Faldin"? This irritates me no end!

Re: ‘NPR Voice’ Has Taken Over the Airwaves

#19

Post by danboarder »

I actually like the more casual, conversational storytelling that NPR is known for. I find the NPR style of delivery to be innovative and calling this "NPR Voice" might just be a negative dig from media traditionalists.

Ira Glass is one of the most recognizable NPR reporters and explains it like this, from the linked article:

“Back when we were kids, authority came from enunciation, precision,” Mr. Glass said. “But a whole generation of people feel like that character is obviously a phony — like the newscaster on ‘The Simpsons’ — with a deep voice and gravitas.”

For his more intimate storytelling, Mr. Glass “went in the other direction,” he said. “Any story hits you harder if the person delivering it doesn’t sound like a news robot but, in fact, sounds like a real person having the reactions a real person would.”

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