NPR has announced it is ending production of Talk of the Nation as of June 27. As a station that has carried Talk of the Nation for many years, we're proud that it helped set today's high standard for thoughtful call-in talk programming on KGOU and hundreds of other stations across the country. We encourage you to contact NPR about this decision, if you would like to do so.

After 35 years at NPR, 11 of them at the helm of Talk of the Nation, Neal Conan is stepping away from the grind of a daily program. He is known as one of NPR's most distinguished journalists, and we hope to hear his future reporting contributions to programs on KGOU.

Going forward, NPR is focusing its resources on news programming, collaborating with WBUR to expand Here & Now from one hour to two hours in July. NPR will contribute its editorial muscle, providing listeners with more news coverage, as well as interviews and context, during the middle of the day.

NPR will continue to produce Science Friday with Ira Flatow each week, and we hope to be able to continue to air it locally. KGOU will have many programming decisions to make between now and July, and we'll keep you updated on the changes.

Membership drives are a time for celebrating all that public radio contributes to our lives, and this year, KGOU is also celebrating its 30th anniversary as a public radio station. We're doing a little reminiscing, a lot of celebrating, and some deep thinking about the future.

You might have heard us say that listener support makes all the programs you hear possible; we mark this anniversary knowing that all of KGOU's listeners and donors -- whether you've been with us less than a year or for all 30 years -- have made KGOU the success that it is.

Your contribution, whether your first or your 30th, will help KGOU reach its goals this spring. Use our convenient online pledge forms to begin or renew your membership in KGOU. Join with us as we continue to build a bright future!

Peter Sagal wants you to go to the movies with him May 2. Well, technically, he wants you to see the live satellite cinema staging of Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! at a local movie theater while he'll be onstage at the Skirball Center in New York. From this video trailer, it looks like Peter's almost ready for his close-up.

KGOU will be hosting the Wait, Wait... showing at the Hollywood Spotlight 14 Theater in Norman, and at Cinemark Tinseltown USA in Oklahoma City. If you can't make the live event on Thursday, May 2, there will be an encore showing at Quail Springs Cinema the following Tuesday, May 7. Read more about this national event and get your tickets at either box office or at the Fathom Events website.

 

KGOU's student-produced public affairs program Assignment: Radio has had some talented student broadcasters over the years, and here's another example: In the National Broadcasting Society's (Alpha Epsilon Rho) annual student competition, Assignment: Radio reporters won national awards.

Meredith Everitt and Lauren Abram took first place nationally in the Audio Magazine Program category for "Word of the Day: Loss". And Michael Rymer earned an Honorable Mention in the Audio Feature category for "The Art of Foley". Read more about the winning entries, including links to listen. Congratulations Meredith, Lauren and Michael!

 

Lynne Rossetto Kasper invites you into her kitchen with the first issue of her new quarterly e-book, Eating In with Lynne Rossetto Kasper: Weekend Menus and Work Night Encores. In Issue 1, Lynne lays out a menu fit for a weekend, then guides you through it with recipes, techniques and variations. The work night encores suggest ideas for your leftovers, if there are any. The e-book is available for purchase for most electronic reading devices.