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News

“This I Believe” ends NPR run; WPSU’s show continues

Posted by Cynthia B on 02/18 at 09:27 PM

NPR announced last week that it will cease broadcasting weekly installments of “This I Believe.” The popular public media project, which invites radio listeners to talk about the core beliefs that guide their lives, will continue as a web-based initiative.

If you love the show, here’s the good news. Here at WPSU, we will continue to broadcast our local version, which features the voices of public radio listeners from Central PA.  And we’ll continue to partner with the Centre Daily Times, which also publishes some of the essays.

The first “This I Believe” was created by the prominent broadcast journalist Edward R, Murrow in 1949.  It was an innovative program for its day: one of the first radio programs to put ordinary people on the air. And the content—discussions of profoundly held values—struck a chord in a nation emerging from war.

The modern version of “This I Believe” launched on National Public Radio in April 2005; it’s the brainchild of independent producer Dan Gediman, who is based in Kentucky.

“This I Believe” has had a good run.  A collection of essays from Murrow’s show was published in 1952; its sales were exceeded only by the Bible.  The NPR show has spawned two essay collections, which are selling briskly, if not in quite such high numbers.  Besides showcasing the personal philosophies of ordinary Americans, This I Believe has featured essays by such notables as Bill Gates, Colin Powell, and Yo Yo Ma.  An astronaut sent an essay from outer space.

The national show received tens of thousands of submissions annually—the producers selected just one essay per week for broadcast.  Many public radio stations have created their own local versions of the show, giving radio listeners more of a chance to share their thoughts with friends and neighbors.

What do YOU believe?  The question will never go out of style.  WPSU looks forward to hearing from you.  Check our website to learn how to submit YOUR essay, and to read what others in Central in Pennsylvania have contributed to the show.
http://www.wpsu.org/radio/tib.php