Includes index.

Sound and stories -- Fairness: Fair, accurate, complete, and honest; The echo chamber; Verifying assertions; Getting both sides; Avoiding loaded language -- Writing for broadcast: Write the way you speak; How to sound like a real person; Other newswriting tips -- Reporting: The reporter's personality and skills; Developing news sources; Other sources of original stories; Getting people on tape; Getting great actualities; Working on tight deadlines; Beyond acts and tracks; A storytelling sampler -- Field producing: Getting started; In the field; Finding sound and scenes; Putting the story together; Filing from the field; Taking responsibility -- Story editing: The editor's role; The ingredients of a story; Structuring the story; Editing by ear; The intro; The first track; Copyediting; The ending; When to stop editing; Finding new approaches to old stories -- The reporter-host two-way: The problem with scripted two-ways; Going scriptless; Two-way tips -- Reading on the air: Sounding conversational; Marking up a script; Getting physical; The need for feedback -- Hosting: The host's day; The host interview; Reading scripts other people write; Hosting live programming -- Newscasting: What is news? Public Radio newscast values and principles; Composing the 'cast; Newscast writing; The NPR news spot; The reporter Q & A; On the air -- Booking: Booking well-known people; Booking everyday people; The booker as detective; The pre-interview; Final steps -- Producing: Finding and pitching stories; Producing interviews; Editing interviews; Mixing reporter pieces; Producing music pieces -- Production ethics: The unkindest cuts; Other production issues -- Program producing: The art of the news program; Creating the lineup; Producing live programs -- Program editing: Setting the news agenda; Error checking; Massaging the script; Sitting in on interviews; The editor as manager -- Commentaries: Finding commentators; Topical commentaries; Personal commentaries; Editing commentaries; Coaching commentators; Commentary intros; To comment or not to comment -- Studio directing: The director as number cruncher; The director as conductor; Directing live events; The joy of directing -- Beyond radio: The web-radio relationship; The manifold media of the web; Podcasting; Editorial issues online; The future -- Pronouncers.

Offers a tour of the world of a professional broadcaster. This book narrates a day in the life of a host and lays out the nuts and bolts of production. It also explains the importance of writing the way you speak, and reveals how NPR books guests ranging from world leaders to neighborhood newsmakers.