Ira Glass acceptance speech for the Edward R. Murrow award

[dw053408]

regardless of my own personal political standing, the fact that he included people like rachel maddow and stewert and colbert in his description of the lowering of standards in journalism was so important and showed his impartiality, i was very proud of him for covering all the bases. this just goes to show that ira has a strong sense for the truth,.

[babypenkinese]

I like the crazy clapper at the end.

[huntermaguire]

Ira Glass is someone that has hope for public radio. That's why I think "This American Life" is so entertaining to listen to.

[FastRita]

"Have fun, everyone loves you." (???)

[titanz05]

i love you ira!!

[deejaydubla]

How the hell could anyone send Ira Glass hate mail?! Bastards...

[bapyou]

You know how at the end of every This American Life they pull one line from the entire program and (usually) ascribe it to Tori Malatea (sp?)? Usually it's some wise-ass comment meant to be self-deprecating towards Ira or the show in general. I want to start a betting pool, wherein you bet on which quote they're going use at the end of the show. Anybody in?

[maxmison1]

@bapyou absolutely, I always try and do that!, but sometimes they pull one that wasn't used.

[bapyou]

@maxmison1 The only probelm is, we'd have to figure out where and when the show is first broadcast. Otherwise someone could have a head jump on the bet.

[maxmison1]

@bapyou problems! see I'm in Sydney so we would have to do some sort of honour system wherein we listen to the newest show and then pause after the final act and place our bets. But there would always be suspicion if someone ever gets it right.

[bapyou]

@maxmison1 Yeah-- we'd have to figure this out. The possibility for corruption is obvious.

So you listen to TAL all the way in Australia? How does it tranalate, culturally speaking? Is the show well known there? Even in the U.S. there are a lot of people who have never heard the show.

[maxmison1]

@bapyou Well it's just stories so there isn't much to translate. When people talk about things translating between English speaking countries they are only talking about that weird kind of British humour. It's not well known at all, but all the people I know who want to be aspiring writers or creative types all have listened to a few. One of our biggest (non commercial) radio stations play older episodes every Sunday night but only a fistful of people listen to the radio at that time.

[bapyou]

@maxmison1 When I wrote "translate," of course I meant are there any culturally-specific American aspects of the show which may puzzle Australians. Even if they do share a common language, all cultures have idiomatic expressions that can baffle outsiders. For example, American English is rife with references to American baseball, which requires a working knowledge of the game (its rules, layout of the playing field, etc.). Explaining these to non-Americans can be a truly daunting task.

[maxmison1]

@bapyou Nah, our tv is so full of American shows that we basically know most things, from short stop to hoagie. It has to be pretty regionally specific for me not to know, but in that case Ira normally stops and explains it anyway!

[redresch]

Ira Glass, Terry Gross.... and.... yep, its true....Howard Stern. You may not like the blatant irreverence displayed by the king of all media, but he shares one important aspect with the other two giants of public radio.... Honesty!

[mhbxxx]

Re the point : economics in human language (around 10m): Yes. This is what you and Fresh Air do so well... Reminds me of the book, Small is Beautiful - Economics as if People Mattered.

And they do.

Thanks for your part in this conversation.

[elvasson]

You are the absolute best at what you do, Ira. Congratulations.

[thecipheratx]

Congrats Ira! We're better off because of you.

[mos277]

what a bro

[nvpublictv]

Ira is incorrect: Perhaps not at PRI or NPR, but there is tons of poverty in independent public radio.

[nvpublictv]

God going, IG!

[democrat10]

What Ira Glass said at the end of the speech also happened to be the gist of what Edward R. Murrow said about television.

[BrakTalk]

Congrats Ira! Well deserved.