NPR's Conan will address journalism students

Tucson-KUAZ radio will host NPR's Talk of the Nation for a live broadcast from the UA campus at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 12, at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre. Combining the award-winning resources of NPR News with the vital and spirited participation of listeners, Talk of the Nation is heard on KUAZ-FM/89.1 and AM/1550 every weekday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Talk of the Nation has provided an international forum for exchanging knowledge and opinions since 1991. The program was modeled after the successful call-in shows NPR produced during both the Gulf War and the Soviet coup in the early 1990s. From the start, the show focused on national issues and current events Monday through Thursday, with Friday highlighting science issues.

Neal Conan began as host of Talk of the Nation in October 2001. Since 1977 Conan has served in many roles at NPR, including foreign correspondent, London bureau chief, and host of Weekly Edition. He was one of the principal correspondents in NPR's 1991 Gulf War coverage that won an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award. He reported from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. During one of his assignments in Iraq, he was captured by the Republican Guard and held captive, along with three dozen other journalists, for about a week.

"Each day our goal is to create a show where the elements of news and conversation combine," said Conan. "Talk will be intellectually agile in exploring the world of ideas with the leading thinkers, policymakers, and creative artists. The show will live up to its name by bringing to the air the issues, events, concerns and fascinations of Americans."

Commenting on the upcoming broadcast, KUAZ station manager John Kelley said, "Talk of the Nation's live broadcast from Tucson will give our community an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at one of public radio's most popular programs. Audience members will be able to ask questions of the show's guests along with callers from across the country." Kelley went on to say, "The broadcast on April 12th will focus on issues that are not only of particular interest to Southern Arizonans, but will resonate well with the national audience. That the broadcast will bring national attention to KUAZ radio and the University of Arizona is an added bonus."

Conan invites callers to discuss areas of topical interest, including politics and public service, education, religion, music and healthcare. Talk of the Nation goes behind the headlines with decision-makers, authors, thinkers, artists, and listeners around the world, who become part of the conversation by calling in.

More than 15 years after its premiere, Talk of the Nation is broadcast in nearly 200 public radio stations and heard by more than 2.3 million listeners each week. The program remains committed to offering listeners a forum for participating in a national discussion. To be a part of the conversation call 1-800-989-TALK.

The event is open to the public. Audience members should be at Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1737 E. University Blvd. by 10:15 a.m. Information is available at 626-3383.

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