Sandra Sleight-Brennan is a talented veteran producer of public interest radio pieces. Hers is not advocacy journalism a la Pacifica, but emotionally rich radio that digs far deeper than the soundbite and the first impression.
The Ohio Valley Coal Company is conducting longwall mining under Dysart Woods that's producing some irreparable damage to pieces of Ohio's natural and architectural history. That mining is also producing the electricity to run the computers and radios that make this story possible.
"Electricity: Paying the Price" opens like life, right into unexcused dialog. And throughout the piece, Sleight-Brennan leaves just light-footed tracks, she stays out of the way as a narrative presence, instead committing the silent hard work of editing and producing that brings us – the word isn't actualities, which drips a bit of posturing – she brings us real people's real words, and the thoughts behind them.
Sleight-Brennan is present as in interviewer, though, and I like that. Her gentle company in the story – "Uh-huh." "Mmm." "How scary was that?" – take "Paying the Price" out of the rectangular box of radio and into the worn seat of breakfast nook conversation.
Ultimately, the listener is not served a neatly-packaged moral, but instead is invited to listen and think. And likely talk about his piece when it's over.
Perhaps because we're immersed, the wrap comes surprisingly quick, and some prepared back-announce to outro with would help frame "Paying the Price" most advantageously.
This piece is very interesting to citizens of Ohio and anyone concerned with the effects of our energy needs on the environment. It explains the innovative coal mining technique known as longwall mining and the potential effects on surronding areas. It made me think about how the mining/energy company is in the business to gererate energy at a reasonable price, and yet there is an additional price we all pay in the effects this mining has on our environment. Those who happen to live near the mining are affected even more by having to endure hardships that the rest of us never stop to consider when we redily use that energy. We assume that the government is regulating industry to protect its citizens, but often find out that sometimes it doesn't work that way.
Good solid report about what the search for coal is doing to parts of Ohio. I'd recommend this to any Ohio PD or any PD looking for some insight to electricity and mining and hazards -- this story focused not so much on the environmental impact, but the specific impact on one person. That makes the piece that much more potent.
The narrator/reporter puts everything into easy to understand terms and didn't load up on what would seem to be the obvious "bad guy" -- the mining company causing all the trouble (the real culprit might look a little bit more like you and me). But, she didn't hold back from going there.
About 75% of the way through, the audio got a little echo-ey, but just for a moment. And, it ends a little abruptly, due to the way the last sound byte ends. It needs a quick exit take from the local talent, but those small issues shouldn't prevent someone from airing this piece.
Comments for Electricity: Paying the Price
Produced by Sandra Sleight-Brennan
Other pieces by Sandra Sleight-Brennan
Rating Summary
3 comments
Geo Beach
Posted on January 31, 2005 at 12:36 PM | Permalink
Review of Electricity: Paying the Price
Sandra Sleight-Brennan is a talented veteran producer of public interest radio pieces. Hers is not advocacy journalism a la Pacifica, but emotionally rich radio that digs far deeper than the soundbite and the first impression.
The Ohio Valley Coal Company is conducting longwall mining under Dysart Woods that's producing some irreparable damage to pieces of Ohio's natural and architectural history. That mining is also producing the electricity to run the computers and radios that make this story possible.
"Electricity: Paying the Price" opens like life, right into unexcused dialog. And throughout the piece, Sleight-Brennan leaves just light-footed tracks, she stays out of the way as a narrative presence, instead committing the silent hard work of editing and producing that brings us – the word isn't actualities, which drips a bit of posturing – she brings us real people's real words, and the thoughts behind them.
Sleight-Brennan is present as in interviewer, though, and I like that. Her gentle company in the story – "Uh-huh." "Mmm." "How scary was that?" – take "Paying the Price" out of the rectangular box of radio and into the worn seat of breakfast nook conversation.
Ultimately, the listener is not served a neatly-packaged moral, but instead is invited to listen and think. And likely talk about his piece when it's over.
Perhaps because we're immersed, the wrap comes surprisingly quick, and some prepared back-announce to outro with would help frame "Paying the Price" most advantageously.
Paul Talbott
Posted on January 09, 2005 at 08:21 AM | Permalink
Review of Electricity: Paying the Price
This piece is very interesting to citizens of Ohio and anyone concerned with the effects of our energy needs on the environment. It explains the innovative coal mining technique known as longwall mining and the potential effects on surronding areas. It made me think about how the mining/energy company is in the business to gererate energy at a reasonable price, and yet there is an additional price we all pay in the effects this mining has on our environment. Those who happen to live near the mining are affected even more by having to endure hardships that the rest of us never stop to consider when we redily use that energy. We assume that the government is regulating industry to protect its citizens, but often find out that sometimes it doesn't work that way.
Hans Anderson
Posted on January 08, 2005 at 08:11 AM | Permalink
Review of Electricity: Paying the Price
Good solid report about what the search for coal is doing to parts of Ohio. I'd recommend this to any Ohio PD or any PD looking for some insight to electricity and mining and hazards -- this story focused not so much on the environmental impact, but the specific impact on one person. That makes the piece that much more potent.
The narrator/reporter puts everything into easy to understand terms and didn't load up on what would seem to be the obvious "bad guy" -- the mining company causing all the trouble (the real culprit might look a little bit more like you and me). But, she didn't hold back from going there.
About 75% of the way through, the audio got a little echo-ey, but just for a moment. And, it ends a little abruptly, due to the way the last sound byte ends. It needs a quick exit take from the local talent, but those small issues shouldn't prevent someone from airing this piece.