Our score:
4.0 / 5
On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR
Steve Oney
Our Review:
Steve Oney's "On Air" offers a meticulously researched chronicle of National Public Radio's complex journey from a nascent broadcast experiment to a media powerhouse. Through fourteen years of investigative work, Oney crafts a nuanced narrative that goes far beyond institutional history, revealing the human dynamics and creative tensions that shaped public radio's distinctive storytelling approach.
The book's strength lies in its deep reporting and narrative texture. Oney skillfully weaves together personal profiles of legendary NPR personalities like Bob Edwards, Susan Stamberg, and Ira Glass with broader institutional developments. His prose is crisp and journalistic, maintaining an engaging balance between insider insights and broader cultural analysis that illuminates NPR's significant role in American media landscape.
Thematically, "On Air" explores the evolution of journalistic storytelling, the challenges of maintaining editorial integrity, and the delicate balance between institutional innovation and individual creativity. Oney doesn't shy away from controversial moments, examining episodes like Juan Williams' firing and the network's digital transformation with a balanced, perceptive lens that respects both institutional perspectives and individual experiences.
Media professionals, journalism enthusiasts, and NPR listeners will find this book particularly compelling. Oney has produced a work that transcends simple institutional history, offering a sophisticated exploration of how a pioneering media organization navigated dramatic technological and cultural shifts while maintaining its core commitment to nuanced, human-centered storytelling.