This is a great piece, thoughtfully arranged and narrated. The producer provides just the right amount of natural sound, incidental conversation and music to welcome the listener along on the adventure. But he still maintains precisely enough distance to prompt the audience to follow, at least in their minds, curious to discover what happens next.
Simply brilliant.
This is the kind of cross cultural engaging story that makes Public Radio worth listening to. It was very informative yet exquisitely concise and to the point. I look forward hearing it on one of the national news programs very soon.
This wonderful story takes the listener on a journey to explore the unknown. Heidi gives us an intimate look at one of natures most beautiful creatures, the humpback whale. What I enjoyed most about this piece is Heidi protrays these mammals and the scientists who follow them with none of the syrupy sweetness that accompany most stories of animals in the wild. Hers is a story that merely conveys the facts of their behavior while allowing them reveal themselves for what they are: interesting characters who engage our interest and our imagination. With rich sound and a compelling narrative, this piece would make an excellent choice for virtually any news or features magazine.
Comment for
"Soccer Under Any Conditions" (deleted)
Kelsey Timmerman's story on soccer in Honduras is a subtle reminder that in the face of poverty and desperate circumstances there can still come stories of ordinary people having fun in simple pleasures. His reporter's notebook reminds us that international news does not always have to include bodycounts and the tears of mothers who have lost children to violence. This would make for a great short feature on just about any magazine program on public radio.
Bill Newcott's interview with Silvester Stalone offers listeners a bit of insight on a character they think they already know. As the actor gets longer in the tooth he seems to allow his character to speak to the issue of remaining vital in spite of his advancing years. This is a good take on what is undoubtedly a central theme throughout the movie.
The use of sound clips from the film draws the listener into the conversation but some of the insight revealed through the discussion is sightly defused by small yet significant errors in editing. The transitions from question to answer are a bit ragged and distracting.
This story is fun and informative. The producer's use of sound and the voices of experts as well as real people provide a balanced view of the world of boxing. He gives the listener a look into a world that to most is foreign and unfamiliar. It also identifies how the business of boxing is working to stay current and relevant at a time when fitness is defined by less agressive practices such as yoga and Pilates. As the new movie "Rocky Balboa" is currently in theaters this could be a very timely story that Public Radio audiences will appreciate.
Brilliant. The rich and nuanced way this story is told is both captivating and engaging. I hope this young lady continues to receive the guidance she needs to fulfill a promising career.
This is one of those stories that takes some courage to tell. It's never easy to dispel a myth, particularly one that helps to heal over an ugly scare of our history that many wish would simply fade away. The racism that segregated our armed forces during the second world war is a national tragedy. The gallant performance of the Tuskegee Airmen belied the widely held believe that African American fliers could never pilot a plane as well as their white counterparts. The mythology behind their perfect record in the European theater elevated these men to the status of legends and today testifies to the valuable contributions all people can make in the service of their country.
But should it shown that the record is in error, it is the duty of journalists to reveal that evidence and inform of the public. As Tanya Ott said in her piece the loss of a few escorted bombers does not detract from the Tuskegee Airmen?s accomplishments. To know that they were indeed not perfect may better inspire a new generation to aspire and achieve at least that which is possible.
Comments by James Mills
Comment for "Hiking in Australia"
James Mills
Posted on February 07, 2008 at 02:26 AM | Permalink
Review of Hiking in Australia
This is a great piece, thoughtfully arranged and narrated. The producer provides just the right amount of natural sound, incidental conversation and music to welcome the listener along on the adventure. But he still maintains precisely enough distance to prompt the audience to follow, at least in their minds, curious to discover what happens next.
Comment for "Deep Voices = Sex Appeal?"
James Mills
Posted on January 04, 2008 at 06:21 AM | Permalink
Review of Deep Voices = Sex Appeal?
Simply brilliant.
This is the kind of cross cultural engaging story that makes Public Radio worth listening to. It was very informative yet exquisitely concise and to the point. I look forward hearing it on one of the national news programs very soon.
Comment for "Humpback Whale Song"
James Mills
Posted on March 26, 2007 at 03:14 AM | Permalink
Review of Humpback Whale Song
This wonderful story takes the listener on a journey to explore the unknown. Heidi gives us an intimate look at one of natures most beautiful creatures, the humpback whale. What I enjoyed most about this piece is Heidi protrays these mammals and the scientists who follow them with none of the syrupy sweetness that accompany most stories of animals in the wild. Hers is a story that merely conveys the facts of their behavior while allowing them reveal themselves for what they are: interesting characters who engage our interest and our imagination. With rich sound and a compelling narrative, this piece would make an excellent choice for virtually any news or features magazine.
Comment for "Soccer Under Any Conditions" (deleted)
James Mills
Posted on January 04, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Review of Soccer Under Any Conditions (deleted)
Kelsey Timmerman's story on soccer in Honduras is a subtle reminder that in the face of poverty and desperate circumstances there can still come stories of ordinary people having fun in simple pleasures. His reporter's notebook reminds us that international news does not always have to include bodycounts and the tears of mothers who have lost children to violence. This would make for a great short feature on just about any magazine program on public radio.
Comment for "Rocky Balboa"
James Mills
Posted on January 03, 2007 at 08:41 AM | Permalink
Review of Rocky Balboa
Bill Newcott's interview with Silvester Stalone offers listeners a bit of insight on a character they think they already know. As the actor gets longer in the tooth he seems to allow his character to speak to the issue of remaining vital in spite of his advancing years. This is a good take on what is undoubtedly a central theme throughout the movie.
The use of sound clips from the film draws the listener into the conversation but some of the insight revealed through the discussion is sightly defused by small yet significant errors in editing. The transitions from question to answer are a bit ragged and distracting.
Comment for "A New Kind of Boxing"
James Mills
Posted on January 01, 2007 at 11:40 AM | Permalink
Review of A New Kind of Boxing
This story is fun and informative. The producer's use of sound and the voices of experts as well as real people provide a balanced view of the world of boxing. He gives the listener a look into a world that to most is foreign and unfamiliar. It also identifies how the business of boxing is working to stay current and relevant at a time when fitness is defined by less agressive practices such as yoga and Pilates. As the new movie "Rocky Balboa" is currently in theaters this could be a very timely story that Public Radio audiences will appreciate.
Comment for "Fashion Obsession"
James Mills
Posted on December 28, 2006 at 08:23 AM | Permalink
Review of Fashion Obsession
Brilliant. The rich and nuanced way this story is told is both captivating and engaging. I hope this young lady continues to receive the guidance she needs to fulfill a promising career.
Comment for "New Doubts About Tuskegee Airmen's Perfect Record"
James Mills
Posted on December 28, 2006 at 05:56 AM | Permalink
Review of New Doubts About Tuskegee Airmen's Perfect Record
This is one of those stories that takes some courage to tell. It's never easy to dispel a myth, particularly one that helps to heal over an ugly scare of our history that many wish would simply fade away. The racism that segregated our armed forces during the second world war is a national tragedy. The gallant performance of the Tuskegee Airmen belied the widely held believe that African American fliers could never pilot a plane as well as their white counterparts. The mythology behind their perfect record in the European theater elevated these men to the status of legends and today testifies to the valuable contributions all people can make in the service of their country.
But should it shown that the record is in error, it is the duty of journalists to reveal that evidence and inform of the public. As Tanya Ott said in her piece the loss of a few escorted bombers does not detract from the Tuskegee Airmen?s accomplishments. To know that they were indeed not perfect may better inspire a new generation to aspire and achieve at least that which is possible.