Interesting little tidbit here. America's Most Wanted has been on for years but this is the first radio story I've heard about it. Though I don't think this news story would play well outside Colorado and possibly nearby states, it could be a nice short drop-in for news magazines. I do wish the ambience had been continued under the narration to avoid ambience clipping on the actualities but for the most part a tidy news piece.

This exploration of the Explorer York is amazingly researched, fascinating and fun. Host Danny Glover leads us through the history, the myth and the cultural depictions of York, the one African American on the famed Lewis and Clark expedition. As Clark's slave, he had no choice but to go on the journey but as a member of the team, he found more freedom than he would back home. On the return, York was devastated to go back to the bounds of slavery after such a momentous experience. Producer Claire Schoen artfully weaves a creative tale told through readings and even rap. There is not one dull moment in this documentary. Who doesn't love Danny Glover? But there is also a storyteller who introduces different moments and thoughts about Clark. The section on minstrelsy is telling as are the many depictions of York through the last two centuries. This one-hour doc can be aired anytime starting now as part of Oregon Public Broadcasting's Lewis and Clark bicentennial series or on Black History Month.

It's been 50 years since the first transnational adoptions with Korean children coming not only to the U.S. but all over the world. The Korean adoptees are adults now and are writing books, producing films and involved in culture camps and training workshops helping young adoptees from China, the Philippines and Guatemala. This documentary deftly traces the history of transnational adoptions through interviews with grown adoptees and the challenges they faced. This piece also gives us perspectives of parents of adoptees with the poignant and heartbreaking story of a woman who adopted a troubled Romanian boy--unaware of the depth of his instability. There is also the emotional story of parents going to Guatemala with their young adopted son and telling him the story of his sister's death. That scene alone is true radio documentary art that reaches deep in the gut and impacts you in a way no other medium could. I urge stations to run this hour-long piece. There are more parents of adoptees and those seeking to adopt as well as adoptees who are public radio listeners than one can imagine. But really these are human stories that deserve to be heard.

How is this NOT public radio? Let me count the ways. First off this is sponsored and produced by the same organization called Junior Achievement. The piece sounds like an infomercial for kids to straighten up and fly right. Second, the first voice is a kid saying this is a program for and by kids but it doesn't sound anything like a kid would produce or even how they speak. The whole production style is highly commercial with tons of compression on everyone. The slant is totally pro-God and country and way too upbeat and simple to be believed. Families and jobs good, Fire bad. They're called "man in the street" interviews but they are all studio interviews. And there are commercials - actual commercials - within the show. And how many kids you know would say this? "The military teaches basic functions that kids don't get these days - discipline and respect and it gives you money for college..." "I think the American Dream is be accepted and for everyone to feel like they're a part of the machine..." I can definitely hear adults mixed in with the kids. That's not to say there are some realistic and deeper thought in this piece but it's so slanted to one perspective, there's no way I can recommend this program.

Producer Jake Warga has created a loving tribute to his grandmother and her decline through the years. With personal commentary and recordings from various times of her life, "Eat Your Eggs" documents their relationship and Jake's reactions to his Grandma with intimate and finely recorded conversations at various points of their lives. Humor laces the piece so it never gets too down but there are times I want Warga's narration and delivery to be more affected by her decline. Yet, this experience is universal and one that is pertinent as baby boomers are have been caring for their elder parents. This piece could be aired by any station at any time and should be.

The opening collage of voices with Blues music underneath really grabbed my attention. The continued interweaving of scholars and music makes for an intriguing half hour devoted to discussing African American Blues music as literature. The most fascinating part of the discussion is how the Blues developed and the fact that it's specifically created to rid one of the blues rather than dwell on it. " What's the Word" is developing into a well-polished and enjoyable series. This particular program would work incredibly well during Black History Month though I personally could hear it anytime.

What's great about this series is the way it makes you think about your day to day questions. Should I say this? Should I act upon my gut feeling? People might think "shoulda woulda couldas" have no place in their lives but the reality is we go through each day pondering ethical dilemmas. "Ethically Speaking" addresses these questions in a radio playful style with two people simply having a conversation. No judgment, no sermonizing, but an entertaining thinking through of life's quandaries. Sometimes the conversations could overlap more and sound less scripted but in general these well produced modules that could air as transitions between one-hour shows or in magazines.

The two minutes of this piece is explanatory and a lot of the info could be given in the lead. The story really picks up when we hear from ex-cons who are applying for the Clean Slate program and from those in favor and against the program. Certainly it's an intriguing idea and one that other states would be interested in hearing about. While this feature is solid and covers many perspectives, the first two minutes really doesn't draw in as much interest as the rest of the piece. Also the story ends abruptly as if the KALW reporter outcue was edited out. Something would need to be done with the ending in order for this piece to be used by a station. Perhaps the station could use transition music to fade under and segue out of it. Ideally though the piece should be revoiced at the end so that it sounds more final than abrupt.

Japan has had a long history of imperialism and waging war with its neighbors particularly China, Korea and Taiwan. But the atrocities of World War Two have not been fully addressed. This backgrounder piece by Steve Herman does a fine job of explaining the long history of resentment by China and Korea toward Japan now seeking a diplomatic answer to these resentments. It may be too little too late and this piece highlights the mounting tensions that exist in Asia. This piece could run on any Pacific Rim station.

This is an example of how many folks are podcasting. The technical quality of the voice recording is raw and sounds like it was done in a kitchen with quite a bit of hiss. Though the information about Veg Oil is valuable, it's basically a straight read throughout of what sounds like a print article. This is not radio and not broadcast quality. In order for it to work on radio, it would have to be recorded in a quiet (dead) room with a mic that doesn't make the female voice sound tinny. The read would have to be coached so it sounds more conversational. Right now it's too fast and too much like reading a laundry list. There is no doubt the producer cares about her material and is quite knowledgeable. She also has a cool web site, so my hope is that she'll re-do her work with better equipment and work on her voicing.

This is more sound rich meditation than commentary. With thoughtful, evocative writing and delivery, Producer Michael Joly offers us his individual response to the destruction of 9/11 by his act of creation. Throughout this short piece you hear his crafting of a flute as he goes through all the stages of grief while making a flute out of a piece of wood. The piece builds to a bit of a frenzy and then at the end, there's an "ah" moment with the long slow note of the flute... then a mournful song. This is one stand out piece. It can easily be aired on any news magazine on the anniversary of 9/11.

Stuart McLean may be Canada’s answer to Garrison Keillor and he certainly has a similar delivery to his live audience, but perhaps you need to be Canadian to understand the jokes. I never thought American and Canadian humor could be that different but if this piece is an indicator then we're worlds apart. Perhaps an American programmer might find ths piece funny but I just don't get it. Also, the length and format is problematic for a station. At almost 14 minutes it doesn't fit easily into a news magazine. Also, it's a live performance with audience laughter and response in the piece. That can be disconcerting in the midst of a magazine show which is how most programmers are using modules. I would suggest international producers really consider the formatting and styles of American stations before submitting work that doesn't easily fit into the few slots possible on stations. It's a hardsell to get your work on stations as it is so really removing obstacles of format and style is crucial.

As much as I like Hana Baba's work in prior pieces such as her Angel Island feature, I really think this piece needs another edit and the voicing redone. The story is a good one. For too long cultural differences have not entered the discussion of mental health. There are some good interviews and sound in this piece but it's way too long as a feature at 11 minutes. I think it needs to be around the 7-8 minute range so that it will flow more cohesively and keep listener interest. The narration also needs to be redone to match the tone of the piece. Reporters often make the mistake of trying to sound the same and offer the same delivery with every story. While consistency is good, each story deserves its own way of telling. The opening was rather shocking to me in the offhand delivery of the narration. To talk about Iris Chang's horrific suicide so casually without explaining culturally why she would commit this act does the very thing that the mental health professionals in this piece are trying not to do. Sadly, I can't recommend this piece right now though I know it would be stronger and more effective with a rewrite.

A solid report on how art can change lives. Shakespeare is the Olympics of acting so having prisoners (some who were illiterate) is a major challenge. This piece describes the process of rehearsing and learning how to perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and how it teaches literacy and increases self-esteem and communication skills. Though it's mostly a fun approach and doesn't delve very deeply into any prisoner's story, this is a nice drop-in for the summer. I have a feeling that access was very limited and the focus had to be just on the production itself. Still it would make a good addition to a news magazine.

It should be noted this series is produced and (I gather) funded by a Christian organization and is predominantly carried by Christian stations. Having said that, I found this half hour of stories interesting and professionally produced. The stories focus on individuals who are making a difference to combat poverty, disease and horrible living conditions. These are positive, life-affirming stories that focus on topics and people around the world. The features don't tend to be too investigative. There are no other sides or perspectives on the topics. They are profiles that take an uplifting approach. I don't mind in this context because we certainly need hopeful stories amid all the depressing news we get and I hear nothing to indicate these aren't well-researched and authentic stories. Because this is a series, I think a station would have to commit to airing these as a weekly series or combine two of them to air as a special.