I'm curious - can you shed some light on what their editorial process is?
Sure.
Generally, I'd either get a call from NPR's news desk or my editor would---letting me know NPR was interested in my story.
Step one, in the initial call with an NPR editor, would be a thorough review of what material I had---provable facts, audio (news conference, one-on-one interviews, ambient sound) and what the audience needed to know for today's story to have relevance and make sense to them.
NPR's newscasts are very precisely timed. So there's a target for different types of stories and in that call, the determination is made as to what type or types of story you'll be filing---cut-and-copy, where the NPR anchor reads the story and plays soundbites, a voicer, which the reporter records, a wrap, which is a voicer with soundbites, or a feature.
The editor tells you what they need from you in terms of type of story and length, and you begin the writing process. Generally, there's a time at which you've agreed to have the first draft to the editor by e-mail or file transfer (usually 45 minutes to an hour, but if it's breaking news, that timeline could be much shorter---not always, though---NPR vastly prefers being right to being first, to the point that they're okay with being last).
Step two is the editor reviewing the written copy, which will have the NPR anchor's lead-in, your narration and soundbites (written out verbatim and sometimes with additional sound from around that soundbite so the editor is clear on the context of the soundbite), and anchor tag if necessary.
Step three is a back-and-forth process with the editor. Here, literally every word counts. For example, if this were an edit, what I've just written would look like this:
Step three is a
back-and-forth process collaboration with the editor.
Here, literally every Every word
counts matters.
I always think I'm good at precise language and self-editing. And then I have an NPR edit (well, not anymore, but...).
There's always a way to be more clear. There's always a way to say more with fewer words. Sometimes that involves a soundbite that you weren't going to use that makes the point more economically than your narration. There's always an adjective lurking that doesn't need to be there (all deadly accidents are tragic).
Step four happens once the copy is finalized. The editor phones and you read it out loud for timing, with the editor adding in the ambient sound and soundbites, as well as the anchor lead-in and tag (if any). If it's short (which almost never happens), you discuss whether anything didn't make the cut that could add substance and clarity and find a way to bring it back in. If it's long (more often than not), then you and the editor discuss where you can cut the already-edited copy without losing facts, context or clarity.
Step five is recording the piece and sending it via FTP to NPR. The editor and the producer listen to it and you're either good or not. "Not" sometimes involves a slurred or mistaken word, a bit of dyslexia that gets a word or phrase out of sequence, a mispronunciation or a misplaced emphasis on a given word. In which case, they let you know and you go back to the booth to do it again.
There is no "close enough" or "good enough" when it comes to filing for NPR. In my career, I've filed for CBS and ABC TV network and O&Os. They were thorough, but not NPR thorough.
