NPR ‘founding mother’ Susan Stamberg dies at 87
Susan Stamberg, an original National Public Radio staffer who became the first U.S. woman to anchor a nightly national news program, died at the age of 87, reports NPR.
According to NPR: “Few figures have informed the sensibility of NPR more than Stamberg. Colleagues considered her a mentor, a matchmaker, a founding mother — always tough, and always true to herself.”
“A true humanitarian, she believed in the power of great journalism,” Stamberg’s son Josh said in a statement. “Her life’s work was connection, through ideas and culture.”
According to an NPR post: “NPR host Scott Simon contended she was the first real human being to host a regular evening newscast. Stamberg even knit while sitting in front of the microphone at All Things Considered.
“Stamberg’s stories and segments over the decades spanned the human experience, from examining matters of state to illuminating pointillist details of artistic achievement. She would be recognized by her peers with honors from the National Radio Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and more. She retired in September.
“Such a reception was not guaranteed when NPR hired Stamberg before its broadcast debut more than five decades ago. She originally was assigned to cut audio tape — it was literally tape back then — with a single-sided razor blade.
“Women didn’t yet have a clear place in broadcast journalism, finding themselves sidelined and dismissed at major television networks and even in radio.
“At the outset, Stamberg and another of NPR’s “founding mothers,” Linda Wertheimer, insisted they deserved to have an office. They shared a room with photocopiers.”
Much more here.
