December 22, 2004

NPR News 91 To Air New Show:
News & Notes
Ed Gorton Selected As Host

Emmy Award-winning journalist Ed Gordon will host a new public affairs show beginning in early 2005 that will focus on news, trends and topical issues of interest and importance to the African American community. The program will be heard in Idaho on Boise State Radio’s NPR News 91. News & Notes with Ed Gordon will fill a void left when host Tavis Smiley left NPR to pursue new interests earlier this month. News & Notes with Ed Gordon, conceived by NPR, the African American Public Radio Consortium of radio station managers and Ed Gordon, is a continuation of NPR’s commitment to highlight social, political and cultural issues of concern to all Americans and to expand the public radio audience. The show will have a bi-coastal format, with Gordon based in New York. “NPR is steadfast in its dedication to presenting diverse perspectives of relevance to African Americans. News & Notes with Ed Gordon takes the mainstream story and gives it context and perspective listeners will not hear elsewhere,” said Jay Kernis, senior vice president for programming. Kernis continued, “We are thrilled that Ed Gordon will be joining the NPR team as host of this new show. He is a highly respected journalist who comes to NPR with a national reputation for smart interviews that make news, and he has a deep connection to the African American community. Ed hosted an NPR elections special that was carried by 250 stations (Oct. 28), and it was clear that he not only belongs at NPR, but that he will strengthen our ability to present in-depth news.” Gordon, a Detroit native, brings to NPR more than 20 years experience as an intelligent, honest and compelling journalist covering a variety of topical news stories. He was recently named a contributing correspondent for 60 Minutes Wednesday on CBS.  Gordon has also reported for the Today Show and Dateline during his years at NBC. Gordon is best known for his headline-making interviews with newsmakers, including Nelson Mandela, President Bill Clinton, President George H.W. Bush, Sen. Trent Lott, Jamie Foxx, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Sen. John Kerry, Oprah Winfrey and O.J. Simpson. Said Gordon, “I am enthusiastic about the chance to bring a new show to NPR. Throughout my career, I have interviewed the day’s top newsmakers and with this program I’ll get this extraordinary opportunity every day. The format of the show allows us to talk about anything from politics to pop culture, and that prospect is exciting. But most importantly we’ll be able to shine the light on topics and people of import to African Americans. This kind of program is imperative because often these issues and voices are still, unfortunately, under-reported, under-represented or overlooked altogether by most media outlets.” Gordon has served as host of BET Tonight, anchor of BET News and creator of his signature one-on-one interview series, Conversation with Ed Gordon. He is the recipient of numerous journalism awards including an Emmy, the NAACP Image Award and the Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.   Loretta Rucker, spokesperson for the African American Public Radio Consortium, says, “NPR continues to make strides in expanding programs to meet the interests of African Americans, and this program with Ed Gordon is a welcome addition. Earlier this year the Consortium and NPR did some long-term strategizing about future projects, not the least of which includes increasing the block of African American programs and increasing the number of African American radio stations in public radio. Since the NPR/Consortium venture, we’ve met with African Americans of significant broadcast talent who have an interest in public radio. We’re on a roll and it’s only going to get better from here.” News & Notes with Ed Gordon will launch in late January and the one-hour program will be broadcast Monday-Friday on 86 NPR member stations nationwide, including WNYC/New York, WBEZ/Chicago, WHYY/Philadelphia and KBSX/ Boise. NPR News 91 Program Director Jim East said, “We're excited to have Ed Gordon joining our line-up.  Our commitment to providing diverse voices and perspectives is centered on our educational and public service mission. I hope listeners will tune in and listen.” NPR News 91 is a service of Boise State Radio and is heard on KBSX, Boise, at 91.5 FM;  KBSY, Burley, at 88.5 FM; KBSJ, Jackpot, at 91.3 FM; KBSQ, McCall, at 90.7 FM; and KBSS, Sun Valley, at 91.1 FM.   -30- Contacts: Jim East, General Manager Network Programming, Boise State Radio, (208) 947-5659, jeast@boisestate.edu David Umansky, NPR, (202) 513-2302, dumansky@npr.org Loretta Rucker, AAPRC, (718) 636-1516, LERucker@aol.com Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, communications and marketing, (208) 426-3275, kraven@boisestate.edu Online at: http://news.boisestate.edu.