National PublicRadio: A Signalof Distinction - Annual Holiday

Sep 29, 2026

National Public Radio presents its “Annual Holiday” program featuring addresses by Dr. Umberto Nordio and Douglas J. Bennet, along with performances by the Air Force Band of the Golden Gate. The text highlights NPR’s officer leadership, membership and station growth, and the scale of weekly audiences. It discusses public radio’s reliance on community support and donations, argues for improving government efficiency, and emphasizes “truth and balance” in news reporting, including reader and listener engagement during financial hardship in 1983.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time14 min

AccessFree to download

National PublicRadio: A Signalof Distinction

Concert and Inauguration of Officers

Annual Holiday

Truth and Balance

# National PublicRadio:A Signalof Distinction Concert andInaugurationof Officers Chairman of the Board,CEOAlitalia President,National Public Radio Featuring Of Government,Gout,and Gestalt The Air Force Bandof the Golden Gate In 1970,when National Public Radiowas incorporated,we began with 91 mem-bers for whom we both produced and dis-tributed programs.Today we are supportedby a membership of 256 stations and 53affiliated stations.That number is growing.Those stations have a weekly audience ofeight and a quarter million people. The Honorable Shirley Temple Black,1984 CommonwealthClub President,and J.Dennis Bonney,1985 President-Elect Noon,Friday Imperial Ballroom,SE Hilton HotelMason and O'Farrell Staffed by 45 full-time professional mu-sicians,under the direction of Lt.FrankGrzych the Air Force Band of the GoldenGate gives 500 performances a yearthroughout the West.The band has sevenalbums in print,which are played on bothclassical and jazz radio stations.For thisprogram,the band will perform"SoaringWith Eagles,"a 25-minute musical dedica-tion to the 200ch anniversary of mannedflight. Most of our stations emphasize classicalmusic;some 40 feature jazz.Most carryour two award-winning news and informa-tion programs,"Morning Edition"and "All Tickets—$16 for members,$20 forguests.Tickets should be picked up inadvance.See back page for advance ticketinformation. contined on page 416 STUDY SECTION SCHEDULE: December 3—December 18… ………417-418 America's Most Distinguished Diplomat.……Back Page D E C E M B E R # Annual Holiday Dr.UmbertoNordio Douglas J.Bennet T UESDAY NOVEM BER 20THERE ARE OVER 10,000 radio stationsin America.Over 9,000 are commercialstations,dependent on advertising dollars.Over a thousand,the noncommercial ones,are creatures of their communities,of col-leges and universities,and of school dis-tricts.Many are small student-run andeducational stations. Addresses by Noon,FridayGold Ballroom,Sberaton-Palace Hotel Many think that government is a sick-ness like gout;others think that it is a dis-ease that can only be understood as acomplex whole,rather than in its compo-nent parts,Gestalt-style.In the words ofthe ancient authors of the Talmud,"If theseas were ink,every reed a pen,the skiesparchment,and every man a scribe,all thiswould not suffice to describe the complexityof government!" The noncommerical stations—the onesI work for and their peers—depend onvoluntary donations from individuals,cor-porations,and foundations,or from tax dol-lars appropriated by some level ofgovernment.Public radio last year wasabout a $175 million enterprise. Today's government has grown exponen-tially since its embryonic development inantiquity.But whichever way one perceivesit,the vast majority would agree that notonly is it necessary,but that we must alsostrive constantly and conscientiously to en-hance its efficiency. I should note that the average publicradio station gets only about 20 to 25 per-cent of its budget from federal dollars.Ourmember stations,by maintaining local sup-port and being responsive to local interestsand needs,amplify the local and regionalqualities of our country.We are thus as-sured,by our localism and our diversity,ofnever becoming the voice of a centralgovernment. DrNordio,key advisor to Italian lead-ers as well as chairman of a large interna-tional Italian airline,will posit some of hisown valued insights and suggestions forimprovement of government. Loyal Listeners Tickets—$14 for members,$18 forguests.Tickets should be picked up inadvance.See back page for advance ticketinformation. INSIDE: The Future of Public Radio… …… …415-421 COMING EVENT: Fabulous Commonwealth Club Study Tours……419-420 Bennet Things Considered."About 50 percent ofthe national weekly public radio audiencehears one or both of these shows.Theseprograms are quality journalism,honoredby other journalists,praised by their loyallisteners. Public radio listene

FAQs

What event does the document highlight under “Annual Holiday”?

It describes NPR’s “Annual Holiday” program, featuring addresses by Dr. Umberto Nordio and Douglas J. Bennet and radio-related content connected to public broadcasting and community support.

How does NPR describe the support it receives from member stations and listeners?

It states that member stations and listeners contribute through voluntary donations, and that listeners sent close to $1 million during an earlier period of financial debt.

What is the document’s emphasis about news reporting quality?

It stresses thoroughness, fairness, and depth, and explains that stories are timed and expanded to provide “real balance,” while avoiding ideological or partisan slants.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Aria Callaghan