I'm a sucker for stories about news creation. Despite including the voices of high profile journalists, Dexter Filkins, Anne Garrels, and Richard Engel, this story doesn't provide much insight into the lives or methods of the reporters. Rather, producer Bruce Wallace focuses on the reporters' candid recollections of the early days of the Iraq War.

This piece could be used to illustrate the difference between these backstage asides and the reporters' glossier published/broadcast output.

On the downside, the audio quality of this story is extremely poor, the interviews would benefit from more internal edits, and the narrator could sound more engaged.

In the tradition of NPR's Todd Holzman, Baltimore-based producer Aaron Henkin uses sport (never mind that this "sport" is professional wrestling) to look behind the music (USSR national anthem) at the fascinating and moving story of one of the WWF's greatest heels, Nicolai "The Mad Russian" Volkoff.

Listeners will hear archival tape of televised matches mixed with the reflections of the meditating, vegetarian Volkoff of today. Henkin contrasts the chutzpah of a young man that would ask arenas full of stark raving rasslin' fans in the 1980s to sing the USSR's national anthem with the Volkoff's true feelings: he hated communism and fled to this country to escape Stalinist persecution.

At 15:27, this piece feels about three minutes too long, but listeners will love Henkin's thoughtful blend of action and cold war history, through the eyes of a man who was arguably one of America's most visible cold warriors.

Gloria Diaz has produced a stirring and eloquent story that captures the range of emotions experienced by families tangled in the corrections system.

Diaz takes a lot of risks here by boldly sharing her emotions. Listeners benefit when they hear raw expressions of her grief and anger at losing her brother for the duration of his ten year sentence.

Due to the dearth of popular attention paid to the US foster care system, any time the media turns its attention to foster care, the audience wins. This episode of Making Contact looks at foster care issues through the eyes of some of the most underserved foster youth, the LGBTQ kids who pass through foster care, experiencing a unique set of issues from discrimination to abuse.

According to the program, "It's estimated that 25% of LGBTQ youth are forced to leave their family of origin as a result of conflicts around their sexuality."

This important show is compellingly produced, bringing together a wide range of experts and youth who have first hand experience with these issues. I would have liked to hear more youth voices, but this doesn't detract from an outstanding program that will be an asset to any broadcast day.

This touching story of Luis Sierra's decision to apply for US citizenship brings an authentic voice to the air. Sierra illustrates his well-conceived commentary with his father's account of family history and with sound of himself applying for US citizenship. The 2004 election was a motivating factor for Sierra's changing his citizenship, and the sound here is that of a man coming of age, choosing his own path in life.

Carlos Guzman, a Latino living in the US, reflects on the experience of being the best English speaker in his home. Voices of other young people, the social worker at Guzman's school, and a UCLA professor provide a multifaceted look at the extra responsibilities of kids who are translators for their parents.

The story is clear and concise, but it lacks the tension that would be revealed if we heard first person accounts of what happened when young people were asked to translate in adult situations such as doctor's visits.

Poet Alicia Zakon's ode to self-determination is a perfect fit for Poetry Month or any program examinging power in relationships and/or domestic violence.

Describing power in a relationship as a metaphorical remote control passed between the two parties, Zakon says:

Why you let him play you like a video?
Turn you on and off like a radio?
Tell YOU when to go
fast and slow?
Change you channels 'cause he can't stand your show?

Program Directors looking to bring fresh voices to the air during Poetry Month or the upcoming Public Radio Collaboration on Globalization will delight in the rhymes flowing from Adriel Luis, a finalist at the Youth Speaks Grand Slam Poetry Finals in San Francisco.

Fine.
I'll tell you about my ethnic makeup
I wear the foundation
layed by my indigenous poeple...

Luis' lyrical talent is impressive, his delivery self-assured, his narrative something we all want and need to hear on the air.

This final episode in PRI's series, Skin Revealed, focuses on skin as palette, telling stories about skin modification and decoration from circumcision to tattooing.

This special has a conservative sound, similar to an NPR news magazine. The style is a tad dry, but it's informative and well suited for a general audience.

In this investigative essay, Stanford sophomores, Steven Tagle and James Madsen, enter the bowels of Stanford and encounter the a world in which the minute genetic difference between humans and primates is on display - an animal research laboratory.

Listeners will quickly note that there are some glaring levels issues here, that the piece is far too long, and that it is written in more of a print than a radio style, and that while Madsen is frequently mentioned, he is peculiarly absent from the piece. In short, this piece is not quite ready for prime time.

But, I think it is close. I suspect what is really missing here is a seasonded radio editor. All of its flaws aside, I truly enjoyed the access this piece provided into a hidden world where scientists develop such close relationships with the primates they are testing that they need counseling in order to deal with the harsher realities of their jobs. Tagle's voicing is fresh and energetic, and his storytelling style is engaging. I look forward to hearing more of Tagle's work in the future.

Any Valentines related programming could benefit from these young GLBTQ voices. Instead, it's light and irreverent. It's a welcome youth produced antidote to a holiday that's generally played very straight in the media and in the popular conciousness.

Producer Lester Graham brings enthusiasm and detailed research to this spirited biopic of the first person inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Living Legend, Chuck Berry. Interspersed with Graham's narration are cuts of Berry's hits and interviews with musicologists, Berry's bandmates, and the Man himself. Covering the highs and lows of Berry's career, this feature is a rockin' good listen.

After a short introduction by Henkin, listeners hit the streets for a stroll with Matt Fisher and his charges. It's a light, breezy look into the life of a local gem, Professional Dog Walker Matt Fisher. Hear about the economics of dog walking, the challenges and the satisfaction it provides Fisher. This is a pretty long piece considering its high fluff content, but would be a good show closer.

Longhaul Productions has done a nice job of capturing this sound rich neighborhood struggle over the revitalization Chicago's Unity Playlot. The piece opens with a Joel Monarch song about the park, an innovative touch. While the piece is very Chicago-centric, little details (like the bit about Greek food) and well-realized characters make this a vivid tale, appropriate for listeners across the country. An uncommon story of citizens coming together in an insular age, this piece would complement any programming about democracy or community. Unfortunately missing from this piece are many voices of the young people who use the park.

This collage of voices melds generations of sisters, talking about one another. You don't often voices of the very young mixed in the same piece with voices of the very old, but this piece knits them all together to talk about many facets of sisterhood. It's a simple feature about human relationships, and it's the kind of thing we don't hear enough of on the radio today.