NPR
NPR ended its practice of crediting “behind the curtain” staffers Friday, “Morning Edition” producer Jim Wildman writes. One NPR exec told Wildman that “vast amounts of recent research indicates with clarity that on-air credits are a turn-off for listeners,” he writes, adding, “I think I’m ok with all this.”
It still doesn’t mean that the decision doesn’t sit well. It is — or was — a perk, however small. And to be honest, on-air credit fans the all-too-tempting flames of vanity. A colleague shared this morning how her brother had once been asked: “Are you the brother of Selena Simmons-Duffin?”
American Public Media will continue crediting staffers. “It seems like a small thing to spend a few seconds acknowledging the people who for the most part don’t get the public recognition that our on-air talent does,” APM vice president and “Marketplace” Executive Producer Deborah Clark writes in an email to Poynter. She continues:
A lot of work goes into producing our shows, and I’m really proud of our team of editors, producers and audio engineers. They’re a great bunch and deserve to hear their names on air every once in a while. I guess it’s a philosophical difference between our two shops.
On Twitter, “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal expressed disapproval of NPR’s move:
Doesn’t make it right. MT @currentpubmedia: NPR ends on-air credits for staffers. Listeners don’t like them. http://t.co/TrK3fIotiY
— Kai Ryssdal (@kairyssdal) September 3, 2013
