NPR's 'Tell Me More'

Michel Martin was online Monday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. ET to take your questions about her daily NPR news show, Tell Me More.

Martin is a former correspondent for ABC News and "Nightline," and a reporter for The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. In his Sunday profile of Martin and her show, Post columnist Marc Fisher wrote: "But the hour-long daily show -- which started in April and airs at 2 p.m. weekdays on WAMU (88.5 FM) and on 31 other stations around the country -- is not merely a way for NPR to demonstrate its commitment to serious journalism in an age of cutbacks and lowered ambitions in broadcast news. 'Tell Me More' is also about reaching out to blacks, Hispanics and others who have remained persistently underrepresented in NPR's audience."

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Charlottesville, Va.: Hi Michel -- Marc Turner of the June '07 "Extreme Commuting" interview.

It seems Marc Fisher's central premise was that your show brings listener diversity to NPR primarily through content/story choices. However, I hear your program with YOUR voice and experience which brings welcome variety to NPR.

What are your thoughts of Content vs. Host at "Tell Me More"? Keep up the good work!

Michel Martin: Um...Gee..I never thought of it that way. Now that you put it that way...I think it's both/and. All shows -- especially talk shows -- are to some degree a reflection of the interests of the host or host, mainly because it's hard to do a quality interview about something that bores you. So I think it's both...we were asked to provide diverse content -- we are a diverse team -- and thankfully our interests also run in that direction.

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D.C.: Hi, I've caught your show several times now and have enjoyed it. Your personal finance guy is terrific. Unlike most financial advisers I've heard in the media, he seems like he might actually know some middle-class people!

Now, a small complaint. On one segment, the Mocha Moms discussed childcare. You opened the segment by pointing out that none of them had ever used non-family members for child care. Hmm. Well, listening to you as I raced from my part-time job to get home in time to relieve the babysitter, I got the distinct feeling that the Mocha Moms looked down upon those of us who, whether through necessity or choice, use nannies or daycare. More importantly, and unsurprisingly, they had almost nothing of substance to say on the topic. Next time you discuss a politically charged topic like childcare, how about bringing in some balance AND some people who are intimately familiar with the topic at hand?

Michel Martin: Well, I would disagree that the Mochas look down on other folks who don't stay home or have family members who are in a position to offer care -- after all -- I'm certainly out here hustlin' every day and I wouldn't appreciate that. But that's why we split that conversation in two. Remember, we had a subsequent conversation with the head of a nanny agency about the difference between au pairs and nannies and day care...These issues deserve more than one or two or even three conversations. Thanks for giving us ( me) the encouragement to do so...

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Washington, D.C.: Good afternoon Ms. Martin. Congratulations on a successful show!

I read that you wanted your show to speak to "those who are not being spoken to." I would like to comment on African immigrant performing artists like myself, who are working against some strong stereotypic attitudes about Africa, in this culture. As a journalist, can you comment on how to better inform the American public about African culture? Also, could you devote a few minutes in your show to address issues pertaining to this segment of your listening audience of which I am one?

Besame' -- thank you!

Michel Martin: Derrick? Is this you??? Just kidding. We have an upcoming segment on an African/American musical group fronted by a Ghanaian musical artist who makes your very point...it was taped during a recent visit to Washington. Look for it to air soon...actually, I shouldn't have told you...I just should have pretended we only just thought of it. Me and my big mouth...this is why I don't play poker. Seriously, we are very interested in musical artists from across genres and around the world. One of our first performance chats was with the Noisettes, a group from London, fronted by a Nigerian-British singer who reminds us of Janis Joplin and Billie Holiday all in one....keep the ideas coming.

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Nokesville, Va.: Do you see yourself as a "fair and balanced" host, or as a liberal host? Because it seemed quite clear when Clarence Thomas's book came out that you were pretty upset that he was allowed to "get away" with the (unproven) sexual harassment of Anita Hill.

Michel Martin: I beg to differ. I think "fair and balanced" as a phrase has entered into Jay Leno joke territory so I'm not going to go there, but I think our coverage was quite fair. We had on Armstrong Williams first, who is one of Thomas's closest friends, and then we had on another voice, who I believe has every right to be heard, that of Angela Wright, a woman who also says that Thomas harassed her and was prepared to testify to that effect. This is one of those stories where a lot of people seem to have already chosen sides--and they have that right--but as the man says--everybody's entitled to his own opinion but we're not entitled to our own facts. I think our coverage was quite balanced and if some people are upset because they heard something that didn't comport to their existing opinion, well...that's life in the big city. You should have seen the mail we got for having Armstrong Williams on. But as I said, that's life in the big city

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Alexandria, Va.: Michel, how could you blog that there was no "lefty anti-Bush" stuff in the anti-war concert with Crosby and Nash? I wasn't there, but certainly when these two old hippies came to CNN and MSNBC, they ranted about the "shameless liars" in the Bush administration. Admit it. "Peace" concerts aren't just about peace. They're about partisanship.

Michel Martin: Well, I didn't see their conversation on CNN -- and I didn't talk to Crosby -- but in Nash's interview with me he was much more expressive about his worry about the rise of Islamic extremism...I saw it as more of a concern about the clash of civilizations. A lot of pop/rock artists seem to be left of center -- probably goes with their anti-establishment kind of stance -- we can all speculate about why -- but that didn't come out in our conversation. Besides which, listen to the interview -- the blog is not a transcript -- you'll see what I mean -- maybe

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Washington, D.C.: Since you launched "Tell Me More," is there a story or interview that stays with you?

Michel Martin: I have to tell you, there's one every day. But if you forced me to choose one I'd have to say it was with James Harvey, the father of De'Shaun Harvey, who was one of the three Delaware State students who were murdered in a schoolyard in Newark just before school started, one student survived the attack. I have to tell you, as a mother, it's my worst nightmare -- that I will have done everything right -- to get my kids onto the right path -- and that some senseless act will take them away just when their lives should be beginning. I so admired Mr. Harvey's willingness to share his story and to make his son something other than a statistic...I don't know that I would have had his strength. I hope never to find out.

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Harrisburg, Pa.: My observation with radio is that most stories are not dealt with in depth. Did you feel as a print journalist you were able to go into stories at their proper depth, or did the reality of daily reporting make that difficult? Do you find an hour long radio show provide you the opportunity to go into the proper depth of what you are discussing?

Michel Martin: Interesting question. I don't know any reporter who ever feels he or she has enough time or space to tell it all. I guess that's why so many of my colleagues turn to writing books. And not to be greedy, but, who am I kidding? I would like another hour. Hear that, NPR?

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Washington, D.C.: Your husband, Billy, is a famed trial attorney now involved in the Larry Craig matter. Have you ever been conflicted out of something you were covering due to his involvement? Also, I wonder why doesn't anyone ever cover the old girls' club at NPR -- Stamberg, Wertheimer, Roberts? Those broads put the broad in broadcasting.

Michel Martin: Um...yes I have been conflicted out and I hope my sacrifice will be duly noted under the Christmas tree! To be serious, though, you may have noticed that once he got involved in the Michael Vick case we turned the mike over to NPR colleague Allison Keyes to handle that segment on a couple of days, and a couple of conversations took place when I was scheduled to be off anyway so... On the Craig case not so much. I didn't see it as a major issue for our audience. The details of the legal case are being handled by newscasts and other programs; the politics well...we'll have to see. We'll think of something. But this is not new to us. He was involved with the Lewinsky case when I was at ABC Nightline; he's had high profile cases for years. The hard thing is being a solo host because there's no one person to hand off to...but we'll figure it out. The one thing you can be sure of, is that if he is involved in something that affects the show I'll let you know

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Droopy Drawers in Fla.: Have you addressed the topic of school districts trying to get young men to pull up their pants? I get an eyeful of boxer-top in Miami and it doesn't give me a great impression of the person flashing me. But ... freedom of expression, blah blah blah. Will you weigh in?

Michel Martin: Good topic! We talked about it once with our fashion guys -- Shane and Shawn Ward, of Detny, the shoe designers. We go to them once a season for men's fashion commentary -- they had something interesting to say -- maybe we'll take it up Friday on Barbershop...I know, it's a natural isn't it? It's like Zoot suits or long hair...I wonder what my kids will wear to irritate me. ( They're only 4 so ... right now we're all about Scooby Doo and ruffles.)

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Silver Spring, Md.: What relevance is National Public Radio to blacks? It seems to be run more as an eclectic alternative for upper-income whites. Is this the "public" that NPR seeks to serve? Neither Tavis Smiley nor Ed Gordon are any longer heard on the network and Kojo Nnamdi is our only local "face" on WAMU-FM?

Michel Martin: Forgive me but I would want to know if you've ever actually listened to my show or are you still mad about Tavis and Ed...I would argue that if you HAVEN'T listened, then come back and see me later. If you HAVE listened and you still don't think it's relevant then I would have to say ( with all due respect, because I say this with love, because you are my neighbor and I don't want you to egg my car) then I would I disagree with your definition of what is relevant to African Americans. Iraq is relevant, Genarlow Wilson is relevant, the direction of the civil rights movement is relevant, immigration is relevant, parenting is relevant, international affairs are relevant....all that's on our show. Could NPR do more? Yes. Is this the only network with FOUR African American hosts/anchors. YES it is... as to your point about Tavis and Ed...Tavis is no longer being produced by NPR but he is still heard on NPR stations; his program is produced by PRI. Ed is doing a syndicated program for BET enterprises.

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Northwest D.C.: Hi Michel--

Could you please talk about the difference between doing TV and radio, and what's become of your old "Nightline" show. To my eyes, it's incredibly dumbed down and much less serious. You agree?

Michel Martin: The difference between TV and radio? I feel as though I have more freedom. Radio is so much cheaper to produce. If I can get you to a telephone I can do a story, so I can take more risks. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work...whereas if I send a TV crew and a producer out to do a story in the middle of East Je-blip and I don't use it...then I am in somebody's office explaining myself. As to Nightline -- I have to get up so early in the morning now to do my show that I hardly watch anything late at night anymore...and I don't TIVO because I have too many unread New Yorker Magazines and books stacked up next to my bed...but having said that..a lot of my friends still work there...so naturally I wish them every success.

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Richmond, Va.: I'm curious as to what the previous poster thinks makes NPR "upper income," cuz I couldn't be further from that! Do people think just because a show is cerebral it's upper income, because that isn't true at all. More people who are interested in learning about a divers world tend to choose helping careers that aren't really upper income. The upper income people tend to choose high paying jobs like stock broker and are interested in money, not ideas.

Michel Martin: That's right! tell him! No brie for us, right?!

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Michel Martin: Well this was a new experience! thank you all for chatting with me...CAN I plug my blog? NPR.org/tellmemore...and we also feature a piece from the Wash Post Sunday Magazine just about every Monday...check it out..and also the Mocha Moms too every Tuesday..thanks again for the experience....my typing fingers are tired..WHEW!

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