I read your article and when I came to this line I realized why I was so interested in listening to my Public Radio Station on the way home everyday for last three years. This fellow you mentioned had something to do with "it". What is "it" ? Well here is the line I focused on, "The result, the Peabody Award-winning radio show This American Life—still a revolution in its 12th year—has been widely credited with helping to mold the modern, conversational sound of public broadcasting." this line made me realize that the sound of public broadcasting I was so intrigued by from 2002 to 2005 was of his influence. I had an idea it ranged 12 years because its inception/dominance was at the helm of a former political party. I often would listen and discount the conversational dialogue and just focus on what I calld the underlying message to the topic. Often after listening I would be able to get the overall message. What made me most mad was that the message was not one I agreed with. I considered it a form of brainwashing. You I see by the awards consider it good. It I felt was only a variant tool of propaganda, you have a different perspectice I see. The public radio I felt was hijacked. I could only say this, often times I would see my world just as you intended me to. I made comparisons of my world here in Louisiana to others far away possibly oversees in third world countries. It was hard for the comparisons to be made, but they could be depending on ones ability to relate. However, I could always also see or "hear" the bend to a political point of view that was of the composer. Not often did I see an attempt to take to opposite side and transpose the points of view to help the other side gain perspective as to why the world is shaped in the fashion that it is. I give you much credit, I had no other channel to listen to, nor do I have many more ways of avoiding the same on my cable TV. I guess that in itself is deserving of award winning status. I will admit however that 2 of 5 days were something of an attempt to bring a balanced approach, if only half heartedly. :)