"Here and Now" is a subpar news product

[Tim-In-Houston]

So, like a lot of NPR stations, when ToTN was cancelled, KUHF-Houston picked up "Here and Now" as it's replacement. They time-shift the program, though, carrying it from 1-3 (CT) in ToTN's old slot.

Regardless, the program is just blah. I first listened to it about 4 or 5 years ago when NPR cancelled "Day 2 Day" and Mississippi Public Broadcasting picked "H and N" up as a replacement in the midday hour.

I thought it was blah then and hearing it again hasn't changed my opinion much. It's pacing is slow, interviews are boring and contrived and content is really not that interesting.

For example, today they interviewed one of the reporters about the National Amateur Golf Championship over the weekend. They weaved soundbites from the players in, but for every one I could tell the reporter was reading from a script leading into the bite. It didn't sound like a natural conversation between the host and reporter with a dip to sound. It sounded very amateurish.

This simply doesn't happen on the NPR flagship programs.

 

[FredLeonard]

In the report on NPR's CEO leaving, they said he improved relations with station by getting Here and Now. No explanation for this given. It's very strange.

 

[rnigma1]

I miss Talk of the Nation - I first listened to it when Ray Suarez hosted. The local NPR affiliate also substituted Here & Now. Not quite the same. At least Science Friday is still with us.
Car Talk, TOTN, Marian McPartland, all gone...

 

[kc1ih]

Here and Now was a good program when it first started as a New England based show, mostly discussing local and regional issues that were not found elsewhere. It went to hell when it went national.

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

For me yet another indication of how irrelevant "Here and Now" is on a national level is an interview they aired yesterday. An extended (and quite gushing) chat Robin Young did with Bobby Orr.

For those of you asking: "Who's Bobby Orr?"

He played for the Boston Bruins in the 1970s and has just written a memoir about his life since leaving the sport.

How is this interview relevant outside of Boston and New England? Despite a push by NBC and the league to raise it's profile, hockey is (to me) still very much a "niche"/regional sport.

I learned nothing of value from the interview except that Robin Young is an obvious fan and Orr was considered one of the "good guys" when he was in the league.

 

[dyeingeye]

For me yet another indication of how irrelevant "Here and Now" is on a national level is an interview they aired yesterday. An extended (and quite gushing) chat Robin Young did with Bobby Orr.

For those of you asking: "Who's Bobby Orr?"

He played for the Boston Bruins in the 1970s and has just written a memoir about his life since leaving the sport.

How is this interview relevant outside of Boston and New England? Despite a push by NBC and the league to raise it's profile, hockey is (to me) still very much a "niche"/regional sport.

I learned nothing of value from the interview except that Robin Young is an obvious fan and Orr was considered one of the "good guys" when he was in the league.

I wouldn't be so dismissive of Bobby Orr. He is one of the greatest hockey players ever and is promoting a book. Sunday Morning on CBS had a feature on him.

I agree that the show was better as a New England show. Now it is too much the same stuff you hear the rest of the day, the same news reports, the same authors/musicians/artists as on Morning Edition and ATC. Neither host stands out for his/her insight while doing interviews.

 

[TheBigA]

He is one of the greatest hockey players ever and is promoting a book. Sunday Morning on CBS had a feature on him.

I think that says it all. This would have been a fine feature for Weekend Edition. Not exactly what you want on a weekday.

Too much of an emphasis on boomers will ultimately mean your audience is all over 60. That's not the direction they should be going.