Death of Larry Josephson Underscores the Urgency of Preserving Public Radio Voices

Larry Josephson, a true American media hero, died on July 27 at the age of 83. With his loss, public radio lost a connection to its founders. He was a witness and participant in the birth of noncommercial, listener-supported radio even before NPR.

For a brilliant look at WBAI in its prime days, don’t miss the film Playing in the FM Band: The Steve Post Story at Film Forum: https://filmforum.org/film/playing-in-the-fm-band-the-steve-post-story

Because of the need to preserve this priceless first-hand history before it is too late, public radio blogger Ken Mills has organized the Public Radio Oral History Project.

Mills and his associates are in the process of assembling an archive of oral history interviews with fifty of the people who founded and built the public radio system.

The Public Radio Oral History Project will focus solely on public radio. Since the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, public television has received most of the attention and funding, sometimes to the detriment of public radio. The last time CPB funded oral history interview leaders of public radio was 1982, on cassette.

The Public Radio Oral History Project plans to interview founders, station managers, program hosts, programmers, researchers, journalists and engineers.

To receive updates about the Public Radio Oral History Project, please send an email to kenmillsagency@yahoo.com and put “Subscribe” in the subject.