In praise of public radio

Radio New Zealand is a national treasure, a lifeline in troubled times, and a trusted source of the very latest news. My interview yesterday on RNZ National reminded me of benefits of old fashioned public radio. Public radio is always under threat because, obviously, it costs the nation. We get brilliant value for our investment in infrastructure and above all highly skilled people starting with those top-drawer professional journalists.

• authentic, verified, up-to-date news: radio moves fast
• a reliable, trustworthy source of information
• literally a life-saver in crises such as earthquakes and pandemics
• a medium that can function when the internet and cellphone towers and power lines fail—don’t know how, but that’s been my experience
• comforting familiarity and support and entertainment in troubled times.

Nielsen reports on the role of radio in a pandemic

Radio is ‘comfort food’ in Covid-19 pandemic: report from Nielsen.com

I always loved writing for public radio because it can take you anywhere, in reality or imagination. And as a listener we participate more fully, without visual constraints.

In an interview, you and the journalist have a genuine personal conversation, interacting in a lively way—and simultaneously your words are beaming out to whoever happens to be listening. As a bonus, anyone can listen later by visiting rnz.co.nz, where audio files are stored for a while.*

Got 20 minutes?* Kathryn Ryan interviews octogenarian Rachel McAlpine about her poetry about ageing

Let’s never lose our public radio. Ours has incorporated all the modern media support that we expect these days, but the core is still solid, miraculous, and indispensible.

*This link won’t work forever, of course. Catch it while you can.