Afternoons on WFPL: On Point and Science Friday

From Louisville Public Media Vice President, Todd Mundt:

I’m writing to let you know of a program change on WFPL. Beginning July 20th, NPR’s On Point with Tom Ashbrook will join the schedule from 2-4pm, replacing Talk of the Nation. On Point will air Monday-Thursday. Science Friday will retain its current 2-4pm slot on Fridays.

Talk of the Nation (or TOTN) has enjoyed a long run on WFPL. Many of us, myself included, have come to think of Neal Conan as a good friend. So why change? I appreciate TOTN, but I like the depth of discussion, intensity and passion of On Point. I like how Tom Ashbrook engages guests, how his energy infects the program. I like the breadth of the topics as well as the depth with which Tom, his guests, and callers explore them in the course of the hour.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve broadcast On Point in the 3pm time slot as a test, inviting listener feedback. We’ve received a lot of comments, and as you can imagine, they range from “please don’t make any change at all” to “we love Talk of the Nation” to “I like this new show” to “I’ve never liked TOTN” to “I’ve heard On Point on other stations, please add it.” I was surprised to read positive comments about the show from well over half the listeners who communicated with us, and that plays a role in my decision.

Science Friday is staying, as the headline indicates. You love the show, and many of you rank it as one of your favorites. We think the two shows sound nice together: two smart, committed hosts; one a little more cerebral, the other a little more off-the-cuff, effervescent.

Now a word about On Point. The program is produced at WBUR in Boston; it’s distributed by NPR (just as NPR distributes WAMU’s The Diane Rehm Show). The shows airs on 150 public radio stations across the country, and its weekly audience is 1.1 million public radio listeners.

Tom Ashbrook grew up on a farm in Illinois. He was a journalist in Asia for ten years, working part of that time for The Boston Globe, eventually becoming deputy managing editor there in the mid-1990′s. He took some time off for an Internet venture, wrote a book about it, and returned the daily news business in 2001 as host of On Point.

This change is pleasing some of our listeners, and it won’t please others. Every change involves loss, and I’m sorry that some of you will be upset. But there are some things you can do: first, you can write me to talk about it, if you’d like. My email is tmundt@louisvillepublicmedia.org. Second, Talk of Nation is one of the only NPR shows available as a complete podcast, so you can subscribe and listen to each show whenever you like. In addition, nearly every public radio station in the country streams online. Many of you listen to online streams – at your computer, on your phone, even in your car. You can find public radio stations online that offer Talk of the Nation: Ann Arbor’s Michigan Radio is one example. We encourage you to enjoy the whole universe of public radio. That’s what it’s there for.

Here’s another thing you can do: listen to On Point. Give it a chance. Write me and tell what you like or dislike about it. I’ll listen. Contact On Point with constructive criticism, suggestions for topics and guests. They’ll listen, too.

And thanks for your loyalty, your listening, and your support of Louisville’s NPR News Station.