NPR Annual Report | 2001 annual report2001 Our Mission major individual gifts, our member Testimony to NPR’s high-quality NPR works in partnership with stations receive tremendous financial news and entertainment member stations to create an support from their extraordinarily programming are the dozens of informed public that is challenged loyal listeners. honors and awards we receive from and invigorated by a deeper national and local journalism and Once considered an alternative to understanding and appreciation cultural organizations each year. Just the major television and radio of events, ideas, and cultures. this past year, these included: The networks, NPR has become a We produce, acquire, and distribute Overseas Press Club 2001 Lowell dominant intellectual force in programming that meets the highest Thomas Award for Best Radio News America and a primary source of standards of public service in or Interpretation of International news coverage. It is estimated that journalism and cultural presentations; Affairs for coverage of September 11 one in seven adults in the U.S. listens we represent our members in matters and its aftermath; three Alfred I to NPR. Our programming reaches of their mutual interest; and we duPont-Columbia University Awards; nearly 20 million listeners a week in provide satellite interconnection The Scripps Howard Foundation’s the U.S. — up 19 percent in the last for the entire public radio system. National Journalism Award for year. NPR listeners now outnumber Journalistic Excellence in Electronic the combined circulation of the top Media; and two George Foster NPR is… 35 U.S. daily newspapers. Audiences Peabody Awards, presented to NPR is a privately supported, are tuning in around the world via NPR for the NPR 100 series and for not-for-profit, membership more than 150 foreign radio stations, “Witness to an Execution” on All organization that produces and cable, satellite, and the Armed Forces Things Considered. distributes non-commercial radio Network, which brings NPR programming. NPR is not a radio programs to every U.S. military During the Overseas Press Club station. We serve nearly 700 installation at home and abroad. awards ceremony, the judges praised independently operated community- Just about anywhere you find NPR for “the best coverage of based public radio stations and yourself, you’ll find NPR. September 11 and the best radio multiple satellite broadcasters coverage we have ever heard.” NPR’s flagship morning and evening around the world. Our member newsmagazines, Morning Edition stations, in turn, serve their listeners and All Things Considered, are the with a diverse combination of national most widely distributed public radio and locally produced programs. programs and among the most- Just as NPR is privately supported, listened-to radio shows in America. with 40-50 percent of the annual They stand out in their breadth operating budget coming from and depth of global reporting, corporate underwriting, grants, and commentary, and storytelling. NPR Annual Report 2001 | 1 letter from our president Extraordinary events in America and the world beyond redefined our service to the nation in unexpected ways this past year. Throughout, we delivered programming that reinforced our mission to educate and engage audiences around the world. On September 11, 2001, our mission and the power of our medium crystallized. Along with our member stations, we were there for millions of people, in a capacity of connection and context. Weaving the calamitous cascade of news with personal stories, music, poetry, and compelling talk, we brought listeners facts, analysis, and insightful commentary as no other media could. The value of our service to the nation echoed in the thousands of listener letters, phone calls, and e-mails we received after the terrorist attacks. Again and again, listeners told us that our serious journalism and music programming were their lifelines, bringing solace and comfort to them and their communities. Also in this past year, audiences came in unprecedented numbers to public radio stations across the country. This growth occurred across all programming genres — newsmagazines, talk, and entertainment. Audiences tuned in to hear radio that anticipated their questions, rewarded their curiosities, and touched their spirits. We strongly believe in the power of public radio to help citizens in the act of daily democracy through high-quality radio programming. We treat listeners as equal companions in a continuum of values and ideas that can enlighten, enliven, and entertain us on our journeys as citizens in times both troubled and peaceful. We thank you and hope you will continue to listen and support us in our important public service work. Sincerely, Kevin Klose President and CEO NPR Annual Report 2001 | 2 npr news Deploying over 300 highly 9/11 and Beyond With our team of reporters, experienced reporters, editors, Across the nation people producers, and engineers in place directors, producers, engineers, witnessed the horrific terrorist in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and around and managers, NPR News is a attacks of September 11 in stunned the Middle East, we closely followed premier 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, disbelief. But at NPR, the incidents the military action itself, its impact on news service. NPR News, based in left little time for emotions. The the people of Afghanistan, its spillover Washington, DC, works with 17 nation was listening. effects in the region of conflict, and national bureaus and 11 foreign the political reactions around the NPR News reinvented itself in a bureaus. We marshal the resources world. Our domestic reporting matter of hours – quickly organizing of member stations around the examined the myriad possible threats new news beats, mobilizing staff in country to generate news to homeland security and the new and around central Asia, and programming that has more defenses being put into place, the developing extensive editorial plans breadth and depth than any readiness of cities and towns to cope to be able to react quickly as events other broadcast news source. with biological warfare, the search for continued to unfold. That first day, other potential terrorists, questions The blend of national and as the country’s air traffic system about civil liberties, and the toll the international coverage that NPR was shut down, the borders closed events and anticipation of future News provides has proven irresistible and government offices evacuated, events are taking on Americans and to, and earned the loyalty of, millions NPR moved rapidly to offer the first the U.S. economy. who consistently tune to NPR News of several days of unprecedented during the week and on weekends. In 24-hour live news coverage. We drew As the shockwaves resonated this past year more people than ever on the resources and reporting of throughout America, listeners relied on NPR News for their daily many of our member stations around searched for comfort and solace in information. Reflective of the intense the country, particularly New York’s music and human expressions. news cycle following the events of WNYC, Boston’s WBUR, San NPR’s cultural division carefully September 11, 2001, NPR audiences Francisco’s KQED, Philadelphia’s created hours of programming grew at historic rates from fall 2000 WHYY, and Washington’s WAMU appropriate for the aftermath and to fall 2001. This growth came on top to extend our hours of broadcast. Special Correspondent Susan of the jump in the number of listeners We created 182 hours of additional Stamberg explored the concept of who tuned in to NPR during the programming between September 11 forgiveness in conversations with coverage of the extended presidential and the end of the year, most in religious leaders. She talked with election of 2000. Morning Edition with September and October. With a some of America’s best-known artists Bob Edwards grew from 10.7 to 13 nationwide network of news reporters and musicians about the importance million weekly listeners; All Things at member stations, NPR was able of music and art in times of crisis. Considered increased from 9.8 million to reflect widely how the nation was A grieving nation found in NPR a to nearly 11.9 million; and Talk of the responding to the attacks and what source of calm and restraint imparted Nation jumped 40 percent to 3 million listeners were thinking and in music and information to help our listeners. Most of these listeners have experiencing. nation sort through the trauma. stayed with us, even as radio listening in general is declining and Americans have ever more media choices. NPR Annual Report 2001 | 3 npr news Our website, npr.org, proved to Revealing a New importance of global awareness and be a meaningful and necessary Talk of the Nation the extent to which events in the complement to our broadcast When Americans want to be a part of farthest reaches of our planet can coverage. The site provided special the national conversation, they turn to affect our lives. In addition to ongoing coverage of the mobilization against Talk of the Nation, NPR’s news-talk coverage, special international terrorism, the investigation into the show. In 2001, 25-year-NPR-veteran reporting included: attacks in America, the world’s Neal Conan joined Talk of the Nation President Putin Speaks with reaction, analysis of the economic as host and now leads an exciting America: In November 2001, costs of the events, personal stories, exchange of ideas and opinions on NPR’s Robert Siegel hosted a historic and updates on air travel, in addition the issues that dominate the news — and unprecedented — interview to a complete audio archive of NPR landscape. Politics, public service, and call-in program with Russian coverage, slide shows of the images, education, religion, music, healthcare President Vladimir Putin. This was essays, and additional resources. – Talk of the Nation offers listeners the only interview President Putin the opportunity to join enlightening For our international audiences, the granted during his trip to the United discussions with notable guests listening experience was no different.