Far Flung

 So I was on a lengthy freeway drive the other day in Washington State, listening to KUOW's NPR broadcast...at least I was trying to listen to it. The speakers consistently tailed off at the end of each sentence to the point that I couldn't make out the last word or two. I had to turn the radio up to maximum volume and still couldn't make out the words. This is a common malady for so many NPR broadcasters! Even the most "famous" of their speakers have the same issue. They tail off at the end of a sentence and there's absolutely no sound produced...just a gravelly "S" or a guttural consonant...but there is no voice included...hence, it's impossible to understand. I found myself having to guess what was being said and what name or word was implied. I've noticed this problem many times before with NPR people but this is the first time I had so little to do that I could finally vent my frustration to my vast pool of readers. 

Eventually, I gave up and switched channels, ending up at the KIRO, Mariners' pregame broadcast. Shannon  Dreyer was a breath of fresh air! I understood everything! She enunciated every word from start to finish in each sentence and I was able to listen clearly with the radio turned down to normal volume. Rick Rizzs came on briefly and he (of course) was equally masterful with his vocal delivery.

What is the problem with so many people on NPR stations? Didn't they have to attend some kind of broadcasting school? 

Labels: KUOW, NPR, Rick Rizzs, Shannon Dreyer

posted by Tomas  # 7:46 AM