Journal #3: NPR Radio Interview analysis

Emily Belding

Mcom 100w M/W 1:30-2:45

Journal #3-NPR analysis

Word Count: 322

On NPR, All Things Considered, I listened to an interview segment entitled - Women's Professional Soccer League Returns. The league has just returned for women and going professional again, they started their first match on March 29, 2009 in Los Angeles. The league has drawn some top names including Brazilian superstar Marta and American Abby Wambach, a former World Cup player. With top players and high hopes for a success, the leagues commissioner, Tonya Antonucci, couldn't be more excited about the league.

All Things Considered host, Jacki Lyden, interviewed Antonucci about the league and the challenges it could face in the future. The NPR interview opened to the sound of young girls playing soccer and Lyden addressing the news of the resurrection of the new women's professional league. In this 5 minute segment, it appeared that Lyden, was not well informed on women's soccer and more interested in the financial crisis America is facing right now. I felt that it put a negative spin on something that is positive for America and for women athletes right now. Lyden's interview questions were negative about the expense of the league, and asked Antonucci is she thought it would be a business failure. The questions were inadequate with what this interview was supposed to be about. In response, Antonucci responded as positively as she could and went on to talk about what the future could have in store for these women and for young girls all across America. The two did not appear to have a relationship whatsoever.

After listening to this interview, I learned that in interviewing often times the interviewer will ask a couple of questions and then chose one or two to build off of from there. It was a strategy for Lyden. Interviewing can be personal and non-personal it just depends on what kind of interview it is supposed to be. This was a very interesting interview on All Things Considered.