Smart Talk marks 10-year anniversary
Scott LaMar and Tim Lambert
What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, October 12, 2018:
Ten years ago, WITF made a programming decision to produce Radio Smart Talk, an hour-long radio program to engage the community and provide information on the floundering economy. What began as a way to address the economic crisis has become a reliable source of news, information and conversation for more than 40-thousand listeners each week.
Anniversary programming this week focused on topics important to our listeners: the economy, politics, and the environment. Tuesday evening, WITF staff, friends and guests assembled at the Public Media Center for a very special Smart Talk event.
WITF CEO and President Kathleen Pavelko began the program with a look back on the historical context of 2008.
The U.S. economy was in a free-fall and no one knew when things would stabilize. This was, in fact, a global economic crisis, which served to heighten everyone’s anxiety. WITF made a quick, but thoughtful decision to address listeners concerns and questions by assembling subject matter experts for an hour-long conversation. A talented production team went to work setting up a call-in station, identifying guests and creating a basic conversation roadmap. Then, they did it again the next day, and the next. What began as a temporary program is now Smart Talk and a permanent fixture on the WITF programming schedule.
Friday on Smart Talk, we are featuring the recorded conversation and remarks from Tuesday evening between Kathleen Pavelko, Scott Gilbert, Radio Smart Talk‘s first host, current Smart Talk host Scott LaMar, and moderator Tim Lambert, the WITF Multi-media News Director.
