As teleÂviÂsion news conÂtinÂues its pathetÂic slide into the abyss of celebriÂty worÂship, politÂiÂcal parÂtiÂsanÂship and 24-hour punÂditÂry, its encourÂagÂing to note that in one area of traÂdiÂtionÂal broadÂcastÂing there is actuÂalÂly someÂthing of a renaisÂsance going on. PubÂlic radio is buckÂing the trend with proÂgrams like RadiÂoÂlab and This AmerÂiÂcan life, shows that do nothÂing to conÂfirm our biasÂes, but instead engage our curiosÂiÂty and teach us someÂthing new.
In this funÂny and thought-proÂvokÂing talk from the 2007 Gel ConÂferÂence, Ira Glass, host of This AmerÂiÂcan Life, explains a litÂtle of what goes into a good radio stoÂry. “NarÂraÂtive,” he says, “is basiÂcalÂly a machine that’s raisÂing quesÂtions and answerÂing them.” Glass’s talk is very much like his radio show. In exchange for a litÂtle patience, you will be rewardÂed with a good stoÂry and perÂhaps an insight or two.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Ken Burns on the Art of StoÂryÂtelling: “It’s Lying TwenÂty-Four Times a SecÂond”
The Moth Now Streams its BrilÂliant & QuiÂetÂly AddicÂtive StoÂries on the Web
Ira Glass on Why CreÂative ExcelÂlence Takes Time
Don,t forÂget the greatÂest radio stoÂry teller, Jean SheapÂpard