Radio good, television (meh)

What is it about radio that really cuts through to the story so succinctly? Probably the acousmatic nature of the exchange. You have to visualize it. Radio, and all sound art, by default . . . interactive. You need to bring something to the table. Television, it just sits there . . . puking its audio-visual content. Case in point . . . some really good public radio from NPR/PRI. First, for my father, per your question a few weeks back concerning the economy, a really good explanation in two parts from This American Life, which when it isn't desperately trying to be 'ironic and hip' actually delivers the goods:

Giant Pool of Money

A special program about the housing crisis produced in a special collaboration with NPR News. We explain it all to you. What does the housing crisis have to do with the turmoil on Wall Street? Why did banks make half-million dollar loans to people without jobs or income? And why is everyone talking so much about the 1930s? It all comes back to the Giant Pool of Money.

with the followup:

Another Frightening Show About the Economy

Alex Blumberg and NPR's Adam Davidson—the two guys who reported our Giant Pool of Money episode—are back, in collaboration with the Planet Money podcast. They'll explain what happened this week, including what regulators could've done to prevent this financial crisis from happening in the first place.

And finally, this wonderful bit of radio about Texas and the aftermath of Rita for the family in Galveston. Really good radio from The Story.

Christmas After Ike

It's been three months since Hurricane Ike - one of the most destructive hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S. Like most of her neighbors on the coast near Galveston, Texas, Dana Bethune will be spending this holiday season camped out in someone else's home. Her home was destroyed, and has yet to be rebuilt.

Happy listening . . .

jg