When you think of local public radio reporters stationed around the country at their affiliate stations, you assume they're making local radio stories about what's going on in their listening areas. But VPR's Steve Zind didn't get the memo on that one. This enterprising reporter took on the very ambitious task of traveling from Vermont to Iran with the goal of producing a five-part radio series about Iran's internal political, social, and economic upheavals. The result is a series of reports that are as deep in substance as they are wide in scope. In a news culture where we receive such a narrow stream of information about Iran, reports like Zind's "Making Ends Meet" are all the more valuable for their window onto the struggles of everyday Iranians, citizens who are searching for stability and justice in a constantly mutating political climate.
Like each part in this series, we learn some very interesting and surprising things about the actual people in this small country that sits center stage in the still-mysterious (to most Americans) Middle East.
The economy and governmental policies are delicately woven together into a multi-colored and many-textured national fabric. Kind of like Western democracy...but different (as my favorite young Valley Girl used to say).
How everyday Iranians cope with the realities of strong conservative & religious control of their gov't - esp. since the 1979 revolution - on their society and what that means for them economically makes for fascinating listening.
I dare you to listen and not learn something valuable and new about this changing ancient culture.
Sideline: Clicking on Part 4 will give you this piece. Except for Part 3, which actually does allow you to hear Part 3, the rest of the series is mixed up - at least the online version on this site. But each piece stands on its own, so listening in order from Part 1->5 isn't necessary.
Comments for Part 1: Making Ends Meet
This piece belongs to the series "Iran Today"
Produced by Steve Zind, Sam Sanders, John Van Hoesen
Other pieces by Vermont Public
Rating Summary
2 comments
Aaron Henkin
Posted on August 17, 2006 at 12:12 PM | Permalink
Review of Part 1: Making Ends Meet
When you think of local public radio reporters stationed around the country at their affiliate stations, you assume they're making local radio stories about what's going on in their listening areas. But VPR's Steve Zind didn't get the memo on that one. This enterprising reporter took on the very ambitious task of traveling from Vermont to Iran with the goal of producing a five-part radio series about Iran's internal political, social, and economic upheavals. The result is a series of reports that are as deep in substance as they are wide in scope. In a news culture where we receive such a narrow stream of information about Iran, reports like Zind's "Making Ends Meet" are all the more valuable for their window onto the struggles of everyday Iranians, citizens who are searching for stability and justice in a constantly mutating political climate.
Jana Marshall
Posted on March 14, 2006 at 05:46 AM | Permalink
Review of Part 1: Making Ends Meet
Like each part in this series, we learn some very interesting and surprising things about the actual people in this small country that sits center stage in the still-mysterious (to most Americans) Middle East.
The economy and governmental policies are delicately woven together into a multi-colored and many-textured national fabric. Kind of like Western democracy...but different (as my favorite young Valley Girl used to say).
How everyday Iranians cope with the realities of strong conservative & religious control of their gov't - esp. since the 1979 revolution - on their society and what that means for them economically makes for fascinating listening.
I dare you to listen and not learn something valuable and new about this changing ancient culture.
Sideline: Clicking on Part 4 will give you this piece. Except for Part 3, which actually does allow you to hear Part 3, the rest of the series is mixed up - at least the online version on this site. But each piece stands on its own, so listening in order from Part 1->5 isn't necessary.