You're Listening to NPR, National Public Radio Quiz

Answer: a producer and content-provider or distributor for public radio stations

Note that 'National Public Radio' is a proper noun, the name of an organization that often goes by its initials NPR. Some people use NPR to mean public radio in the USA as whole, but this is incorrect.

Unlike commercial network affiliates who are provided content in exchange for giving up commercial airtime at particular times of day, public radio stations purchase or subscribe to programs from NPR. Other content-providers for US public radio include American Public Media, Pacifica Radio, and Public Radio International. Radio stations are free to mix and match programs from various providers.

NPR also manages (but does not own) the Public Radio Satellite System, the hardware which allows radio stations to receive programming from NPR and all the other content-providers.

Answer: Congress passed a law

NPR owes its existence to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which declares: "it is in the public interest to encourage the growth and development of public radio and television broadcasting, including the use of such media for instructional, educational, and cultural purposes".

The Act advocates programming "responsive to the interests of people both in particular localities and throughout the United States" and "that involves creative risks and that addresses the needs of unserved and underserved audiences, particularly children and minorities". NPR began in 1970 primarily as a national news service, and then in the 1980s expanded to public affairs, talk, and entertainment.

Answer: to promote a religious message

NPR is a membership corporation. For a station to be a member of NPR, and therefore have the privilege to air NPR programming, it must be non-commercial, operate at least 18 hours per day, and have at least five fulltime professional employers.

Furthermore, if a radio station is *primarily* used to promote a particular religion, it may NOT become a member. That is not to say that there can be no religious content in a member station's programming, but rather that the station not primarily be used for proselytizing or endorsement. Being primarily used for distance learning will also disqualify a station.

Answer: 'Prairie Home Companion'

There are many other content providers besides NPR for public radio in the USA, including American Public Media (APM) and Public Radio International (PRI).

'Prairie Home Companion' began in 1974 as a local radio program on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) hosted by Garrison Keillor, and then grew to an international transmission via satellite. PRI began distributing it nationwide in the 1980s; APM took over in 2004. Most public radio stations would broadcast 'PHC' live via satellite at 5pm Central Time on Saturdays, and then repeat the program sometime on Sundays.

Keillor retired from the program in 2016. The following year 'PHC' was renamed 'Live from Here' following a contract dispute between Keillor (who owned the rights to the name) and Minnesota Public Radio.

'From the Top' showcases young classical musical prodigies. 'The Diane Rehm Show' and 'Talk of the Nation' were long-running (and sometimes controversial) current events and public affairs programs, featuring interviews with notable figures and calls from listeners. In 2009, Rehm had won the coveted Peabody Award.

Answer: Tom and Ray Magliozzi

Ten years before joining NPR, Tom and Ray Magliozzi did the show locally in Boston. 'Car Talk' became one of the most popular shows offered by NPR. They stopped making new shows in October 2012. At that point, NPR began to distribute old material and updates from the "Tappet Brothers", until 2017. In addition to car-related material, the program featured a puzzler and other fun segments, not necessarily car-related.

Ray Goulding and Bob Elliott, as Bob and Ray, appeared in a plethora of comedy radio and TV programs in the 1950s and developed a cult following. George Burns and Gracie Allen were a husband-and-wife comedy team who began in vaudeville, moved to radio, and then finally landed in television. Jim and Jon Hagar were country-singing identical twins who starred on the 'Hee Haw' comedy/variety TV show in the 1970s and 80s.

Answer: 'All Things Considered'

NPR produces two distinct hours of programming for 'All Things Considered'. Many stations air them at 4pm and 5pm local time, and then repeat at 6pm and 7pm. (Some stations skip the initial 4pm hour). On weekends only one evening hour of news is produced.

Also on weekends, NPR replaces 'Morning Edition' with 'Weekend Edition', which tends to have more human interest features. On Sundays, the esteemed "Sunday Puzzle" segment airs, which features word puzzles by Will Shortz, editor the 'New York Times' crossword puzzle, and offers prizes.

'Marketplace' is about finances. 'Fresh Air' is a daily public affairs and human interest talk show from Philadelphia. 'This American Life' is a weekly magazine-style show featuring journalistic pieces, essays, and short stories, but it is distributed by Public Radio International, not NPR.

Answer: 'The Thistle & Shamrock'

One of NPR's longest-running and most popular programs, 'The Thistle & Shamrock' is named after the national emblems of Scotland and Ireland, respectively, as they share a common Celtic heritage. Like other NPR fare, 'The Thistle & Shamrock' began as a local program, at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It is still produced at local station WFAE, although the station is no longer associated with the university. The host since 1981, Fiona Ritchie, is a Scotswoman herself.

'Earplay' was a radio drama series from 1971 to 1981. 'All Songs Considered' began in 2000 as an segment of 'All Things Considered' to explain the music used as bumpers in the news show, but grew into a weekly podcast of novel world music. 'NPR World of Opera' deals with...opera, of course!

Answer: 'Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!'

The program, on the air since 1998, is usually recorded live at Chase Tower in Chicago.

Celebrity guests appear in the "Not My Job" game and answer questions on a subject they know nothing about. For example, progressive Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, a strict vegetarian, was forced to answer questions about meat. Denis Leary, Leonard Nimoy, Carrie Fisher, and Ice-T have also appeared. Some of the regular panelists have included advice columnist Amy Dickinson, comedian Paula Poundstone, humorist Mo Rocca, and Tom Bodett, the voice of many Motel 6 commercial ("We'll leave the light on for ya"). Drew Carey has also been a panelist and a guest-host.

Other segments of the program involve games played by the panelists with various contestants. Their prize? In previous years Carl Kasell, the show's announcer and the Walter Cronkite of public radio news, recorded a greeting on their home or mobile answering system. Since his retirement in 2104, the viewer has had the choice of any regular cast member.

NPR's 'Science Friday' is a call-in public affairs show about nature, science, and technology. 'Pipedreams' features music from pipe organs around the world, while 'Living on Earth' is a weekly, award-winning environmental news program. Both are distributed by Public Radio International.

Answer: False

In 1993, NPR generated a new branch, NPR Worldwide, to produce and distribute its programming internationally, from Afghanistan to Germany to Nicaragua to Zimbabwe. Maybe the folks at NPR should rename themselves "International Public Radio"!

Answer: federal grants

In the 1970s, NPR received scads of federal moneys. By the turn of the 21st century, however, The Federal Government was contributing only 2-3 percent to NPR's budget. The majority of funding comes from corporate sponsors, private charitable foundations, member station dues, and personal donations from "listeners like you". Merchandising (e.g. CD compilations of beloved programs) has also become an important source of revenue. One may notice a lot more commercial-sounding announcements (e.g. "brought to you by...") on what is supposed to be non-commercial radio, although messages that suggest to the listener to take an action, such as to buy a product, remain forbidden. Cuts in federal grants have forced NPR to turn to alternative sources of funding and have eroded the notion of non-commercial, public space for social and cultural uplift, as chartered in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.