Need to Know (TV program): Difference between revisions
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PBS stated that the show was intended to fill the public-affairs/[["hard news]]" void left by ''[[Bill Moyers Journal]]'' (which had ended with Mr. Moyers' [ultimately, temporary] retirement). The program branded itself the "TV and Web newsmagazine [that] gives you what you need to know." <ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/ Need to Know official website]; no longer so branded there 2011-09-18.</ref><ref>O'Connor, Rory, [http://www.alternet.org/media/149773/is_pbs_show_'need_to_know'_on_the_ropes?page=2 "Is PBS Show 'Need to Know' on the Ropes?".] ''[[AlterNet]]'', 2/2/2011.</ref> Initially, it was co-hosted by [[Alison Stewart]] (a founding member of NPR's "[[The Bryant Park Project]]", and, at the time, ''[[The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)|The Rachel Maddow Show]]'''s main substitute-host); and, journalist, author, and then-''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine (original version) editor-in-chief [[Jon Meacham]]. As of late-2012, the show is hosted by one (out of a rotating series of three) journalist who presents pre-taped correspondent pieces; then, asks follow-up questions of the correspondent in-studio. A short segment follows, in which a prominent person reflects on a difference-making period from their past. |
PBS stated that the show was intended to fill the public-affairs/[["hard news]]" void left by ''[[Bill Moyers Journal]]'' (which had ended with Mr. Moyers' [ultimately, temporary] retirement). The program branded itself the "TV and Web newsmagazine [that] gives you what you need to know." <ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/ Need to Know official website]; no longer so branded there 2011-09-18.</ref><ref>O'Connor, Rory, [http://www.alternet.org/media/149773/is_pbs_show_'need_to_know'_on_the_ropes?page=2 "Is PBS Show 'Need to Know' on the Ropes?".] ''[[AlterNet]]'', 2/2/2011.</ref> Initially, it was co-hosted by [[Alison Stewart]] (a founding member of NPR's "[[The Bryant Park Project]]", and, at the time, ''[[The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)|The Rachel Maddow Show]]'''s main substitute-host); and, journalist, author, and then-''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine (original version) editor-in-chief [[Jon Meacham]]. As of late-2012, the show is hosted by one (out of a rotating series of three) journalist who presents pre-taped correspondent pieces; then, asks follow-up questions of the correspondent in-studio. A short segment follows, in which a prominent person reflects on a difference-making period from their past. |
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Throughout its first year-plus, the show failed to live up to PBS's lofty expectations for it. Managing only to generate ratings that fell far short of the show it replaced, several attempts to re-tool the show have been made. In April 2011, Meacham's role changed to that of "contributing editor" (i.e., a recurring commentary segment); Stewart became the show's sole anchor.<ref name=NYT01>Jensen, Elizabeth, [http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/anchor-to-leave-pbss-need-to-know/ "Anchor to Leave PBS’s ‘Need to Know’"], ''New York Times'' Media Decoder blog, August 28, 2011 6:21 pm EDT. Via [http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/alison-stewart/ "Posts tagged with 'Alison Stewart'"], ''NYTimes''. Retrieved 2011-09-18.</ref> |
Throughout its first year-plus, the show failed to live up to PBS's lofty expectations (and high production budget) for it. Managing only to generate ratings that fell far short of the show it replaced, several attempts to re-tool the show have been made. In April 2011, Meacham's role changed to that of "contributing editor" (i.e., a recurring commentary segment); Stewart became the show's sole anchor.<ref name=NYT01>Jensen, Elizabeth, [http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/anchor-to-leave-pbss-need-to-know/ "Anchor to Leave PBS’s ‘Need to Know’"], ''New York Times'' Media Decoder blog, August 28, 2011 6:21 pm EDT. Via [http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/alison-stewart/ "Posts tagged with 'Alison Stewart'"], ''NYTimes''. Retrieved 2011-09-18.</ref> |
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The show's format was changed further effective September 16, 2011, for both broadcast and website; [[NPR]]'s [[Scott Simon]] guest-hosted the first episode with this new format.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/ NTK's home page], accessed 2011-09-18. The episode is [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/need-to-know-september-16-2011-privatizing-infrastructure-government-and-the-private-sector/11541/ accessible here].</ref> The website stated that the show would "spend the next 15 months covering the [[United States presidential election, 2012|campaign for president]], but we’re going to do it differently ...[,] covering the campaign from the voters’ perspective, not the candidates’".<ref>Lewis, Shelley, [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/the-daily-need/welcome-to-the-new-need-to-know-website/11533/ "Welcome to the new Need to Know website"], NTK webpage, September 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-18.</ref> The |
The show's format was changed further effective September 16, 2011, for both broadcast and website; [[NPR]]'s [[Scott Simon]] guest-hosted the first episode with this new format.<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/ NTK's home page], accessed 2011-09-18. The episode is [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/need-to-know-september-16-2011-privatizing-infrastructure-government-and-the-private-sector/11541/ accessible here].</ref> The website stated that the show would "spend the next 15 months covering the [[United States presidential election, 2012|campaign for president]], but we’re going to do it differently ...[,] covering the campaign from the voters’ perspective, not the candidates’".<ref>Lewis, Shelley, [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/the-daily-need/welcome-to-the-new-need-to-know-website/11533/ "Welcome to the new Need to Know website"], NTK webpage, September 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-18.</ref> The costly production was halved to a 30-minute format; also, Stewart left the show on September 9, 2011, citing the desire to focus on a book project and her family, plus, a lack of interest in the show's new direction.<ref name=NYT01/><ref>Stewart, Alison, [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/the-daily-need/alison-signs-off/11392/ "Alison signs off"], NTK webpage, September 9, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-18.</ref> |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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Revision as of 05:14, 8 December 2012
| Need to Know | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 54 minutes (May 7, 2010-Sept 9, 2011) 24 minutes (Sept 16, 2011 - present) |
| Original release | |
| Network | PBS |
| Release | May 7, 2010 – present |
Need to Know is an American public television news program produced by WNET (a New York City PBS station), and broadcast weekly on all Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate-stations in the United States (plus, ABC News 24, in Australia). It debuted on May 7, 2010. It occupies a 30-minute timeslot, even though it originally held a 60-minute one.
PBS stated that the show was intended to fill the public-affairs/"hard news" void left by Bill Moyers Journal (which had ended with Mr. Moyers' [ultimately, temporary] retirement). The program branded itself the "TV and Web newsmagazine [that] gives you what you need to know." [1][2] Initially, it was co-hosted by Alison Stewart (a founding member of NPR's "The Bryant Park Project", and, at the time, The Rachel Maddow Show's main substitute-host); and, journalist, author, and then-Newsweek magazine (original version) editor-in-chief Jon Meacham. As of late-2012, the show is hosted by one (out of a rotating series of three) journalist who presents pre-taped correspondent pieces; then, asks follow-up questions of the correspondent in-studio. A short segment follows, in which a prominent person reflects on a difference-making period from their past.
Throughout its first year-plus, the show failed to live up to PBS's lofty expectations (and high production budget) for it. Managing only to generate ratings that fell far short of the show it replaced, several attempts to re-tool the show have been made. In April 2011, Meacham's role changed to that of "contributing editor" (i.e., a recurring commentary segment); Stewart became the show's sole anchor.[3]
The show's format was changed further effective September 16, 2011, for both broadcast and website; NPR's Scott Simon guest-hosted the first episode with this new format.[4] The website stated that the show would "spend the next 15 months covering the campaign for president, but we’re going to do it differently ...[,] covering the campaign from the voters’ perspective, not the candidates’".[5] The costly production was halved to a 30-minute format; also, Stewart left the show on September 9, 2011, citing the desire to focus on a book project and her family, plus, a lack of interest in the show's new direction.[3][6]
External links
References
- ^ Need to Know official website; no longer so branded there 2011-09-18.
- ^ O'Connor, Rory, "Is PBS Show 'Need to Know' on the Ropes?". AlterNet, 2/2/2011.
- ^ a b Jensen, Elizabeth, "Anchor to Leave PBS’s ‘Need to Know’", New York Times Media Decoder blog, August 28, 2011 6:21 pm EDT. Via "Posts tagged with 'Alison Stewart'", NYTimes. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ NTK's home page, accessed 2011-09-18. The episode is accessible here.
- ^ Lewis, Shelley, "Welcome to the new Need to Know website", NTK webpage, September 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ Stewart, Alison, "Alison signs off", NTK webpage, September 9, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-18.