NPR goes from strength to strength

National Public Radio--by far the most important source of noncommercial radio in the United States--continues to prosper and grow. In a recent Chicago Tribune piece (registration required), Phil Rosenthal noted how the loose national network of public radio stations has doubled its national audience, from 13 to 26 million, in just the past six years. And they've done it without having to worry too much about impressing Wall Street and corporate investors.

Rosenthal also states that "listen to an NPR program for 30 seconds and you know you're listening to NPR." Actually I'd say it's more like five seconds. To me, NPR sounds so different to just about everything else on the dial--whenever I'm driving long distances and searching for the local NPR station, I find I can recognize it almost instantly. The measured tones of the presenters are streets away from the exhortations of commercial DJs and talk radio hosts, who often seem to prefer just ranting at their audiences.

Yes, some might complain that NPR is still compromised by having to raise revenue from sponsorships, foundation support, and of course support "from listeners like you." Even so, and perhaps because the rest of American radio is so bad, NPR sounds so good. And public radio is going from strength to strength: Rosenthal notes that, while other news operations are cutting back, NPR's "in the midst of a $15 million, three-year plan to add 45 staffers and open new bureaus, including one in West Africa."