Behind the Scenes with Deborah George, producer of Aimee McPherson: An Oral History


Deborah George lives and works in Takoma Park, Maryland. She was on the staff of NPR News for more than 15 years and since 1996 has edited the Radio Diaries series which airs on NPR’s All Things Considered. Her career as a producer, editor and reporter has taken her to Asia, Latin America and to Africa. George's work has garnered many awards  including four Silver Batons and a Gold Baton given by the  Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Awards. She was Senior Editor for American RadioWorks;  produced  NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and has been an editor on NPR’s National, Cultural and Foreign desks and the DNA Files from Soundvision.

> What drew you to the story of Sister Aimee Semple McPherson? And why did you feel her story was important for others to hear?

Years ago, I produced a documentary on Father Louis Coughlin, the “radio priest” whose anti-Semitic tirades were so popular in the 1930’s. Fr. Coughlin’s broadcast sermons were powerful and seductive.  Aimee Semple McPherson’s sermons were just as seductive but dramatically different in tone and message.  Her voice was cheery and maternal. Her revivals brought together whites, blacks, Latinos, and Gypsies.  When the Kitchen Sisters were looking for stories for their Lost and Found Sound series, I thought it was time to resurrect Aimee’s sermons for a new audience.  There was also a lot of talk at the time of the ‘new’ cult of celebrity and I thought that Aimee was probably one of the first American celebrities.  Back in the day, her sermons and her scandals were tabloid fodder much as Brangelina’s are today. And then, there’s her disappearance – still an mystery.

> Do you feel that Sister Aimee's story has been mostly forgotten by history?

Aimee actually was never completely forgotten. She’s rediscovered every decade or so. She was the basis for the character of Sharon Falconer in Sinclair Lewis’ “Elmer Gantry.”  Carey McWilliams wrote about her in “The Aspirin Age”, a terrific collection of essays on American popular culture in the first half of the 20th century. Faye Dunaway played her years ago in a TV movie, “The Disappearance of Aimee.“  Most recently, she’s Eli Sunday in the movie, “There Will be Blood.”  The Church of the Foursquare Gospel that she founded has millions of members around the world.

> You're an accomplished radio producer, reporter and editor...is there one role you prefer and why?

There are bits I like about each role as well as things I don’t.  Reporting gives you the most control over a story but you usually have to trade the total immersion in the storytelling aspects that you have when you’re the producer.  The best thing about being an editor is getting to work with reporters and producers who have different approaches and insights from mine.  And coming across talented new people is always exciting.

> You've won numerous awards from the TCF and other organizations as an editor. What are the attributes of a skillful editor?

Good writing; An instinct for story; Superficial knowledge of everything; Loving to dig deep about new subjects; Not yielding (too much) to cynicism; Sacrificing ego for the good of the story; Not being afraid to show enthusiasm; Being tough enough.