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Behind the Scenes: Letters in Support of Susan Stamberg's nomination for the 2004 TCF Lifetime Achievement Award
I am writing to nominate Susan Stamberg for the 3rd Coast Lifetime Achievement
Award. I do not know Stamberg. I've probably been in the same room with her a
couple times, but I am sure I was too nervous to say anything. This nomination
is a listener's, a long-time listener. Susan Stamberg's history in radio may be
well-known, but bears repetition. Her first radio job? Reading the weather. She
accompanied the forecast with, in her words, "weather-related poetry." Not so
long after that auspicious beginning, Stamberg became the first woman to anchor
a national nightly news program—in the world. In more than thirty years at
National Public Radio, she has conducted some 35,000 interviews. In radio, we
always say: just sound like you are talking to someone on the phone. Easier
said than done. But with Stamberg, it does sound like she's just talking to you
on the phone; plenty of times I forget that I am not the only person on the
line. Famously throaty, Stamberg's distinctive voice often asks the simple
questions you really wondered too: does the conductor's arms ever get tired?
Not holding herself back, she brings a disarming confidence to her work, which
makes us all the more intrigued; I'm interested in this, her chuckle assures
you, of course you should be too. Through her work, Susan Stamberg reminds
us—as listeners and producers—to be present, to listen for what might come.
Emily Botein
The Next Big Thing
WNYC Radio
Susan's presence on the air changed the way people thought of radio in the
mid-70s. She was, of course, the first woman to anchor a national news
broadcast—but it was her style and professionalism that set her apart. She
brought humanity, personality and laughter to radio news, which was dominated
at that time by dour men. She combined the radio style of Arthur Godfrey—who
knew that he was speaking to just one person—with a dogged news sensibility and
dared to let her SELF be known to listeners. In the mid 1970s I first heard
Susan Stamberg on the air in Iowa where I was a broadcast journalism student. I
was one of 2 women in my class and the other one wanted to be in television.
Susan's strong presence on the air—and that laughter—impressed me and inspired
me through the next few years when various male news directors told me directly
or implied strongly that I would find no future on the radio. A few years later
I ended up in Washington working for ATC. My first day on the job, Susan came
storming down the hall toward the broom closet that served as my edit booth.
"Who are YOU and can you edit tape?" she thundered (or so it seemed). I
squeaked out a "Yes I can" and for the next ten years I worked with her as an
editor and writer and she never stopped challenging me, pushing me to do better
and to be stronger and, by her example, to take a stand when management, shall
we say, didn't quite get it. She still works tirelessly and makes it look easy
- just like Ginger Rogers (as Susan herself likes to point out), who did
everything Fred Astaire did only in high heels and backwards. Please give her
the recognition she deserves.
Neenah Ellis
Independent Producer/Writer
Susan opens up to her fellow workers her office, her home and her heart. She is
the mother hen of at least two or three generations of young producers, myself
included. Her talent is obvious: she is able to take a national news story, and
broadcast it in such a way that you feel as though she's sitting on your couch,
coffee cup in hand, telling you about it in person. She is adored by the NPR
audience and staff alike. To many, Stamberg's name in synonymous with public
radio. I hope you will seriously consider her for this honor.
Gwen Macsai
Independent Producer
Part of Susan Stamberg's fingerprint is just the 'normal-ness' of her voice,
her personality, her curiosity on the air. She has let a generation of
reporters, hosts, producers, and interviewers sound like ordinary, real people.
Susan Stamberg may seem like an old-school choice, especially compared to last
year's winner, Joe Frank. But for those of us who first fell for public radio
while listening to Susan Stamberg, this is a school we should honor and
celebrate. For those of us who attempt to document and discover the little
wrinkles and peculiarities in people, who are drawn to the spaces between
words, and the unexpected surprises that we didn't even know we were looking
for, Susan Stamberg has always been one of the great tutors.
Joe Richman
Radio Diaries
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