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00:00:01>> WELCOME TO A PROGRAM AND THE
HUMANITIES.
00:00:07THIS EVENING, CO-SPONSORED BY
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER.
00:00:10THIS EVENING, A LIFE IN
BROADCAST JOURNALISM.
00:00:17A CONVERSATION WITH STATE HOUSE
NEWS BUREAU REPORTER, BILL
00:00:23COHEN.
34 PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS AROUND
00:00:30THE STATE AND OFTEN FEATURED ON
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO.
00:00:33HE HAS BEEN COVERING OHIO
GOVERNMENT ISSUES IN THE HAS
00:00:38REPORTED AREN'T TAX HIKES,
BUDGET CRUNCHES, CAPITAL
00:00:45PUNISHMENT, SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE
ABORTION AND, GAY MARRIAGE, AND
00:00:52HIGH PROFILE ISSUES LIKE THE
PRISON RIOT.
00:00:56DOZENS OF ELECTIONS FOR
GOVERNOR AND PRESIDENT, THEe1 RE
00:01:01AND FALL OF POLITICAL LEGENDS
LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKER BURNER AND
00:01:06RICE.
HE IS THE RECIPIENT OF NUMEROUS
00:01:10AWARDS.
JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, BEST
00:01:13CONTINUING COVERAGE AND BEST
GOVERNMENTAL REPORTING FROM THE
00:01:17A HIGH SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL
JOURNALISTS.
00:01:19!UBEST ON GOING, AND UP COVERAE
IN THREE SEPARATE AWARDS FROM
00:01:24THE PRESS CLUB OF CLEVELAND.
THIS EVENING -- YES.
00:01:28[APPLAUSE]
ABSOLUTELY.
00:01:32THIS EVENING, WE LOOK BACK AT
HIS 40 YEAR CAREER COVERING
00:01:38STATE GOVERNMENT AND GET THE
INSIDE STORY ON HOW THEIR REPORT
00:01:44ON OUR GOVERNMENT.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
00:01:47WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS
AND WE WILL HAVE A MICROPHONE.
00:01:51WE'RE STREAMING LIVE ON THE
INTERNET THROUGH THE OHIO THE
00:01:56CHANNEL.
THIS WILL BE RECORDED AND PLAYED
00:01:59BACK FOR CABLE CHANNELS AROUND
THE STATE.
00:02:03IF YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE,
THEY CAN HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS.
00:02:06THERE WE SAY REPORTER?
WHAT DOES A REPORTER DO?
00:02:11WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY?
YOU HAVE OFTEN SAID TO ME IT'S
00:02:14NOT GLAMOROUS.
WOULD YOU DO?
00:02:17WHERE YOU FIND THE STORY?
HOW'D YOU FIND THE SOURCES?
00:02:21WHAT HAPPENS?
>> HMM.
00:02:24COVERING STATE GOVERNMENT AND
POLITICS, THIS IS NOT LIKE
00:02:29TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND MURDERS.
A LOT OF THINGS ARE PLANNED.
00:02:33WE GET IN THE MORNING AND WE
HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT IS
00:02:38BREWING.
AND IS MAKING IT UP, BUT THE
00:02:44HOUSE COMMITTEE WILL BE HOLDING
A HEARING ON A BILL TO BAN
00:02:48ABORTIONS AFTERÑi YOU CAN HEAR A
FETAL HEARTBEAT.
00:02:51SO JOE WOULD BE COVERING THAT.
WE WOULD GO TO THE HEARING TO
00:02:59HAVE THE EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY AND
THEN WE WOULD COVER BOTH SIDES
00:03:02OF IT.
EVEN IF MAYBE ONE SIDE IS
00:03:05TESTIFYING THAT THEY, JOE WILL
END UP SEEKING OUT SOMEONE ON
00:03:09THE OTHER SIDE SO WE WILL HAVE
BOTH SIDES IN OUR STORY.
00:03:13WE MAY LOOK AT THE HOUSE AND
SENATE FOR SEVERAL SEEING THEY
00:03:18WILL BE TAKING UP A BILL TO
LOWER THE STATE INCOME TAX
00:03:21AGAIN.
WE HAVE BEEN COVERING THESE IN
00:03:23COMMITTEE, AS WE HAVE SOME IDEA
WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR
00:03:28LISTENERS AND SOME IDEA AS TO
WHAT THE ARGUMENTS ARE, BUT
00:03:32THERE WILL BE A BIG FLOOR
DEBATE.
00:03:34SOMETIMES AN INTEREST GROUP WILL
BE HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE.
00:03:40WE DEMAND LEGISLATORS PASS A
BILL TO CUT THE POWER OF PUBLIC
00:03:47EMPLOYEE UNIONS.
YOU REMEMBER THAT FROM LAST
00:03:49YEAR.
WHO WOULD NOT TAX GROUPS ARE
00:03:53ALWAYS TRYING TO SEEK OUR
ATTENTION.
00:03:54A GROUP SAYS, COME TO THIS ROOM
AND LISTEN TO US GRIPE ABOUT
00:04:01SOMETHING OR ADVOCATE FOR
SOMETHING AND PUT US ON THE
00:04:04RADIO.
OK.
00:04:06WE MAY GO.
WE MAY NOT.
00:04:09WE COULD HAVE COVERED THAT BILL
TWICE BEFORE OR HAD THEM ON
00:04:12YESTERDAY.
OR AND THEY SAY, WE HAVE NOT
00:04:16COVERED THIS AND THIS IS AN
HORTON.
00:04:18WORMY - OR WE MAY SAY IT IS NOT
NEWSWORTHY AND WE WILL IGNORE
00:04:27THE CONFERENCE.
WE TRY TO MAKE SOME JUDGMENTS
00:04:29ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT.
WHAT IMPACT PEOPLE?
00:04:34WHAT IMPACT PEOPLE IN THEIR
WALLET, THEIR SCHOOL, THEIR JOB?
00:04:38WILL THIS RAISE TAXES, CUT
SERVICES, INCREASE SERVICES?
00:04:43THOSE ARE THE BILLS WE THINK ARE
IMPORTANT.
00:04:45EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, WE WILL
GET INFORMATIONfá FROM GROUPS TT
00:04:51ARE FILING A SUIT AGAINST THIS
PROGRAM THE GOVERNOR HAS.
00:05:00THEY MAY NOT BE PULLED IN A NEWS
CONFERENCE, BUT WE WILL CALL
00:05:03THEM UP AND INTERVIEW THEM.
WHY ARE YOU FILING?
00:05:07WHAT'S THE OTHER SIDE?
THEN WE SEE THAT OUT AND TRY TO
00:05:12GET SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE TO
GET USED THE KIND PACKAGE YOU'RE
00:05:16USED THE HEARING WITH AT LEAST
TWO SIDES OF THE STORY OF NOT
00:05:19THREE OR FOUR.
>> THE WATERGATE-STYLE SOURCES,
00:05:25THE ANONYMOUS SOURCES, SOMEONE
TAKES YOU INSIDE AND ASKS YOU TO
00:05:28PAY ATTENTION TO THAT?
>> IT HAPPENED IN WATERGATE.
00:05:33IT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE OHIO
STATE HOUSE.
00:05:36AT LEAST, NOT TO US.
THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, IT MAY
00:05:41HAVE HAPPENED TO THEq
BLADE."
00:05:46THEY GOT INTO THIS STORY AND
THEY KEPT DIGGING AND DIGGING,
00:05:50GETTING NEW LAYERS OF THE ONION,
PEELING BACK AND HAVE A GREAT
00:05:54STORY DAY AFTER DAY.
THERE MAY HAVE BEEN PEOPLE
00:05:57GROSZ.G THEM IN THE PARKING]s=-T
I DON'T KNOW.
00:06:00THERE REALLY WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE
OF REPORTERS DIGGING.
00:06:04WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF
TO DO A LOT OF INVESTIGATIVE
00:06:07PIECES.
THE STUFF WE DO, IT'S NOT
00:06:11ROMANTIC OR SEXY.
WE THINK IT'Sok IMPORTANT THOUG.
00:06:15THESE 132 STATEçó LEGISLATORS,
MOSTq
00:06:21PUBLIC, THE IMPACT OUR LIVES
EVERY DAY WITH THEIR BILLS ON
00:06:26TAXES, ABORTION, DEATH PENALTY,
SCHOOLw3 FUNDING, GAS TAXES,
00:06:32CIGARETTE TAXES, YOU NAME IT.
IN ALL IMPACTS US, SO IT'S OUR
00:06:38JOB TO COVER THEM AND TELL YOU
WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING.
00:06:40YOU CAN EITHER CHEER OR JEER
THEM.
00:06:45THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ALL
ABOUT.
00:06:48THE BETTER EDUCATION AND, THE
MORE AMMUNITION YOU CAN HAVE.
00:06:54>> YOU PRIDE YOURSELF ON BEING
FAIR.
00:06:57WE SHOULD NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE
ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE IN THESE
00:07:01STORIES.
>> WE HOPE YOU DO NOT, AT LEAST
00:07:05BY LISTENING TO THE STORIES.
ÑiI LIKE TO DO A STORY WHERE YOU
00:07:13HEAR BOTH SIDES AND THEY REALLY
i]HAVE A GOOD PERSON OR TWO
00:07:18ADVOCATING THEIR VIEW.
c "OBJECTIVE," I DON'T
00:07:24KNOW IF ANYONE CAN BE OBJECTIVE
á
00:07:27OWN
BECAUSE
00:07:29BIASES.
WE'LL HAVE OUR OWN POLITICAL
00:07:35POINT OF VIEW.
ONE THING THAT WE CAN BE IS
00:07:37FAIR.
GETTING THEIR POINT OF VIEW.
00:07:43WE WANT TO DO THAT.
IT'S THE ONLY WITH THE PUBLIC
00:07:46CAN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT
WHETHER THE LEGISLATORS ARE
00:07:50DOING SOMETHING GOOD OR BAD.
I STILL GETw3 FRUSTRATED WHEN
00:07:56PEOPLE SAY, WHY DID TO PUT THAT
GUY ON?
00:07:59THAT WAS THE CRAZIEST ARGUMENT I
HAVE NEVER HEARD, BLAH BLAH
00:08:03BLAH.
IT'S NOT FOR ME TO DECIDE THAT.
00:08:07IT'S ANé@ ARGUMENT AGAINST THE
BILL.
00:08:09xDTHERE WERE PEOPLE WHO VOTED
AGAINST IT AND YOU NEED TO HEAR
00:08:13SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED
AGAINST IT.
00:08:15I WOULD THINK EVERYONE WOULD
WANT TO HEAR A POINT OF VIEW
00:08:20"NOPPOSITE OF WHAT THEY BELIEV.
YOU WANT TO KNOW YOUR POLITICAL
00:08:24ENEMY, DON'T YOU?
HOW YOU COMBAT THEM TO DO NOT
00:08:27KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SAYING?
YOU WOULD THINK MOST PEOPLE WANT
00:08:30TOc
TODAY, IT IS JUST A LOT OFÑi
00:08:35PEOPLE ONLY ONE TO HEAR THEIR
POINT OF VIEW ECHOED BACK AT
00:08:39THEM.
IT EXPLAINS RUSH LIMBAUGH, AIR
00:08:42AMERICA ACT, WHETHER LIBERAL OR
CONSERVATIVE, A LOT OF PEOPLE
00:08:46ARE SURROUNDING THEMSELVES WITH
HERE IN THE WRONG POINT OF VIEW.
00:08:48>> WHAT ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE GOING
TO DO SOMETHING YOU FIND IT
00:08:55PERSONALLY REPREHENSIBLE.
IT.
00:09:00HOW DO YOU INTERNALLY,
PSYCHOLOGICALLY, HANDLE IT?
00:09:04DO YOU GET ANGRY ABOUT IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
00:09:10THE MORE THAT I HAVE BEEN DOWN
THERE, THE LESS I HAVE MY OWN
00:09:15POINT OF VIEW.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE IT.
00:09:18I'M JUST MORE INTERESTED IN
GETTING A GOOD STORY THAN BEING
00:09:23OUTRAGED AT WHAT SOME
LEGISLATORS DOING.
00:09:25IT'S TRUE.
MAYBE 30 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS
00:09:27YOUNGER, I WOULD SAY I KNOW WHO
THE GOOD GUYS AND BAD GUYS ARE.
00:09:32THE MORE YOU WERE DOWN THERE,
YOU SEE THERE ARE WELL-MEANING
00:09:37PIMPLE, CONSERVATIVE AND
LIBERAL, LAZY PEOPLE, HARD-
00:09:39WORKING PEOPLE, WELL-INTENTIONED
ON BOTH SIDES.
00:09:44I DON'T THINK I HAVE MUCH OF A
PROBLEM SEPARATING MY OWN POINT
00:09:49OF VIEW BECAUSE I DO NOT REALLY
FOCUS ON IT.
00:09:51>> SPEAKING OF GOOD AND LAZY
PEOPLE, THE CURRENT SPEAKER --
00:10:02>> HE IS NOT LAZY.
>> HE WAS ASKED WHAT HErTHOUGHT
00:10:11OF HIS FELLOW LEGISLATORS.
HE SAID ONE-THIRD WERE VERY WELL
00:10:15INFORMED.
ONE BURGER MEDIOCRE AND ONE-
00:10:17THIRD BELOW PAR IN TERMS OF
DOING THEIR JOB.
00:10:21OF THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S ABOUT
00:10:25RIGHT.
THE LEGISLATORS ARE A CROSS-
00:10:29SECTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
ARE THEY THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST?
00:10:33I DON'T THINK SO.
I DON'T AND THE REPORTERS ARE
00:10:37THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST THEATER.
JUST ABOUT EVERY PROFESSION, A
00:10:41LOT OFçó THEM ARE GENERAL.
I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATORS
00:10:45ARE AN EXCEPTION.
FARMERS, SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE,
00:10:51LAWYERS, ACADEMICS, AND
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
00:10:54SOME OF THE PEOPLE DOWN THEREfá,
WE REALLY LOVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A
00:11:03POINT OF VIEW.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES A GREAT STORY.
00:11:06WE CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW ALSO
MANY OF THESE GUYS JUST DON'T
00:11:10AND HAVE A POINT OF VIEW ON
EVERYTHING.
00:11:12THEY DO NOT INTRODUCE BILLS.
THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A
00:11:17PASSION FOR ANY ISSUE.
WHICH KIND OF WONDER, WHY ARE
00:11:21THEY THERE?
THAT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
00:11:24IT BEING A GENERAL CROSS-
SECTION.
00:11:26PEOPLE SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE A
LOT OF ISSUE -- PASSION ABOUT
00:11:31THE ISSUES.
THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT RIGHT.
00:11:33>> SOME OF THEM ARE THE BEST AND
BRIGHTEST, RIGHT?
00:11:38A FEW OF THEM?
>> THERE ARE SOME REALLY BRIGHT
00:11:41PEOPLE THERE, YES.
fáSOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH
00:11:47HAVING INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
THERE ARE SOME GREEN PEOPLE WHO
00:11:51COME IN ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF
TERM LIMITS.
00:11:54WHAT'S GREAT IS WHEN YOU COMBINE
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AROUND
00:11:57AWHILE AMONG THE BEST AND
BRIGHTEST AND THEN ARE THEY NOT
00:12:03ONLY THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST BUT
THEY HAVE THE HISTORICAL
00:12:08INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO SAY,
WE TRIED THAT 20 YEARS AGO.
00:12:11IT DID NOT WORK.
DON'T BRING IT UP AGAIN.
00:12:13SOME OF THE MORE GREEN PEOPLE
MAY NOT KNOW IT.
00:12:17>> BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS, YOU
CANNOT BE AROUND 20V
00:12:22YOU FLIP FROM THE HOUSE TO THE
SENATE.
00:12:23>> NOW WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF
THEM.
00:12:28A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THE TERM-
LIMIT THING WOULD MAKE IT SO
00:12:32NOBODY GOT MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE AND GET OUT.
00:12:35THAT IS WHAT ITÑi SAYS.
EIGHT YEARS IN THE HOUSE OR
00:12:39SENATE AND THEN YOU'RE GONE.
YES, GONE FROM THAT CHAMBER.
00:12:43NOTHING IS AS YOU CANNOT HAVE
EIGHT YEARS IN THE HOUSE, GO TO
00:12:47THE SENATE FOR EIGHT YEARS, THEN
GO BACK TO THE HOUSE, THEN RUN
00:12:52AND BECOME STATE TREASURER FOR
FOUR YEARS.
00:12:53YOU CAN KEEP MOVING AROUND.
THE ARCHITECTS OF TERM LIMITS,
00:13:02THEY PUT THATS7 IN THERE ON
PURPOSE BECAUSE IT WOULD SOFTEN
00:13:06SOME OF THE CRITICISM THAT WE
WOULD HAVE NO INSTITUTIONAL
00:13:09KNOWLEDGE OF ALL.
WE'RE STARTING TO GET PEOPLE
00:13:12AROUND WHO HAVE BEEN FOR 10, 15,
20 YEARS.
00:13:16ID HAS BEEN IN FOR 30 YEARS.
HE IS STILL AROUND DESPITE TERM
00:13:24LIMITS.
HE HAS INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
00:13:25SO WE HAVE A REAL MIX OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEENÑi THERE FOR TWO OR
00:13:30FOUR YEARS AND VETERANS.
>> ARE THERE SOME WHO SAY WE
00:13:36NEED TO GET RID OF TERM LIMITS?
>> YES, SOME LEGISLATORS THINK
00:13:40ABOUT.
"THE INSIDERS AND ACADEMICS,
00:13:44THEY SAY WE SHOULD GET RID OF
THIS AND THEN THEY TRY TO GET
00:13:47THE REPORTERS TO SAY WHAT WE
THINK.
00:13:51çóI DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVE LOST INSTITUTIONAL
00:13:54KNOWLEDGE DUE TO TERM LIMITS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE MADE
00:14:00SURE WE NEVER HAVE ANOTHER HOUSE
SPEAKER FOR 20 YEARS.
00:14:05IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT, YOU MERIT
LIKE HIM, BUT HE WAS A VERY
00:14:10STRONG ARM AND HE RULED THAT
PLAYS WITH AN IRON FISTjF IN
00:14:18GATHERED ALL OF THE CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS AND HE WOULD DOLE
00:14:23THEM OUTq
THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR COMMITTEE
00:14:32CHAIRMANSHIP IF THEY DID NOT
VOTE THE WAY HE WANTED.
00:14:35THESE TERM LIMITS HAVE MADE SURE
WE WOULD NEVER HAVE THAT AGAIN.
00:14:39HE MAY BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
FOR TWO OR FOUR YEARS, BUT
00:14:45NEVER SPEAKER FOR 20 LIKE HE
WAS.
00:14:46AMASSING THAT KIND OF STRONG
ARM POWER.
00:14:52SOME WOULD SAY THAT'S A GOOD
THING.
00:14:54çóTHE LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL
KNOWLEDGE IS MAYBE ONE OF THE
00:14:59BAD THINGS.
YOU MAY SEE SOME CONSTITUTIONAL
00:15:14MODERNIZATION COMMISSION THAT
MAY COME UP WITH A WEAKENING THE
00:15:16TERM LIMITS.
THE POLLING I HAVE SEEN ú@tQ@&EI
00:15:20SHOWN IS THE INSIDERS TO THINK
IT IS SO BAD.
00:15:23THE AVERAGE CITIZEN ALLOWS
PEOPLE SAID THEY DO NOT SEE ANY
00:15:31BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT.
THERE'S ONE WAY YOU CAN GET
00:15:36PEOPLE TO BE REALLY AGAINST TERM
LIMITS.
00:15:39ARE YOU A CONSERVATIVE OR
LIBERAL.
00:15:42IF WE HAD NOT HAVE BEEN FOR TERM
LIMITS, THE LEGISLATURE HAVE
00:15:48NEVER PASSED THIS LIBERAL BILL
AND THIS LIBERAL BILL.
00:15:52AND THEN YOU SAY YOU ARE AGAINST
TERM LIMITS.
00:15:56TO SAY YOU ARE A CONSERVATIVE,
THING, WHENEVER.
00:15:59A5I DON THINK YOU CAN HANG THAN
TERM LIMITS.
00:16:06IT DID BECOME MORE REPUBLICAN,
BUT THAT WAS NOT BECAUSE OF TERM
00:16:09LIMITS.
IT JUST HAPPENED REPUBLICANS
00:16:12CAME IN OFFICE AND NOW THEY'RE
IN FOR CONTROL.
00:16:16I DON'T THINK AND MAKE THE CASE
OF TERM LIMITS MAKING OHIO MORE
00:16:21CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL.
THAT'S AN UNFAIR WAY TO GET
00:16:23PEOPLE TO BE AGAINST IT.
BUT NO MORE 20-YEAR SPEAKER OF
00:16:30THE HOUSE.
A FELLOW JOURNALIST WHO COVERS
00:16:33THE STATE HOUSE TOLD ME THAT HE
THOUGHT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
00:16:37THE TWO PARTIES PARALLEL THE
RELATIONSHIP IN THE NATIONAL
00:16:41CONGRESS.
YEARS AGO, MAYBE IN THE PAST
00:16:45ERA, THERE WOULD CLASH IN THE
ROLLOUT AND HAVE A BEER
00:16:48TOGETHER.
THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN ANYMORE.
00:16:50TO SOME DEGREE, THEY ARE AT EACH
OTHER'S THROATS.
00:16:54MAYBE SOME OF THEM DO NOT EVEN
LIKE EACH OTHER.
00:16:58WHAT IS YOUR TAKE?
>> IT IT'S A FAIR ASSESSMENT.
00:17:04THERE ARE LESS OF BALTIMORE
IDEOLOGICAL.
00:17:08THEY IMPUGN BAD MOTIVES TO EACH
OTHER.
00:17:09THEY DO NOT GO AND HAVE A BEER
ROCKED THE SESSION.
00:17:13I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IS
BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS.
00:17:16xD>> NOT IN CONNECTION, JUST OVR
THE YEARS.
00:17:20>> WE HAVE SEEN THAT COME
ASHORE.
00:17:22IDEOLOGICALLY, HE WAS NOT A
SUPER-LIBERAL.
00:17:30HE WAS A MODERATE CENTRIST AND A
LOT OF THE REPUBLICANS WERE NOT
00:17:37TO THE FAR RIGHT, BUT
IDEOLOGICALLY THEY WERE MORE
00:17:42COMPATIBLE.
THEY DID NOT IMPUGNED BAD
00:17:45MOTIVES TO EACH OTHER.
ÑiTHE REPUBLICANS HAVE CERTAIN
00:17:50MOVED TO THE RIGHT IN THE LAST
FOUR YEARS.
00:17:54THERE ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN
EVER.
00:17:57A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS ARE
PRETTY LIBERAL.
00:17:59YOU HAVE THAT CLASH.
>> THE DISTRICT IN OHIO, THE
00:18:06SUPREME COURT JUST RATIFIED THE
DISTRICTING OF THE STATE.
00:18:11THESE GERRYMANDERED DISTRICTS
AROUND THE STATE, WHICH
00:18:17CURRENTLY FAVOR REPUBLICANS,
WHEN THE VOTER GOES OUT AND THEY
00:18:24SAY, YOU HAVE 65% OF ONE-PARTY
AND 35% OF THE OTHER, THE
00:18:32OPPOSING PARTY CANNOT WIN.
IS THAT MUCH OF A DEMOCRACY?
00:18:36THE SEE ANY POSSIBILITY OF
REFORMING THIS KIND OF
00:18:40APPORTIONING OF THE DISTRICTS?
>> THERE IS ONE WAY TO GET
00:18:47REFORM.
BOTH LEGISLATORS AGREE ON A
00:18:50REFORM PLAN AND THEN WITHçó A 35
VOTE, THEY CAN PUT IT ON THE
00:18:55BALLOT AND THEY CAN TELL VOTERS,
WE DON'T DISAGREE.
00:18:59WE AGREE.
PLEASE VOTE.
00:19:01OVER THE DECADES, THERE HAVE
BEEN MANY PROPOSALS PUT ON THE
00:19:07BALLOTS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY AND
MOST OF THEM HAVE PASSED BECAUSE
00:19:12THERE ARE NOT VERY
CONTROVERSIAL.
00:19:13BOTH PARTIES SAY IT'S A GOOD
THING.1FR%EI
00:19:14Ñ
WE GET REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
00:19:20TO AGREE ON A NEW WAY TO DRAW
THE DISTRICT?
00:19:22THE PROBLEM IS THE PARTY IN
POWER ALWAYS SAYS, IT MAY NOT
00:19:27BE A PERFECT +Y;Q1ñ BUT IT'S
PRETTY GOOD.
00:19:29YOU'VE GOT A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE
IT?
00:19:33LET'S PICK THAT APART.
THEY GIVE YOU 10 REASONS WHY
00:19:37IT'S CRAZY.
THEN WHEN THE SIDESLIP, ALL OF A
00:19:41SUDDEN THE GUYS WHO WERE IN
POWER WHO BOUGHT THE SYSTEM
00:19:45WORKED WELL, NOW THEY SAY IT'S A
TERRIBLE SYSTEM.
00:19:47BOTH PARTIES ARE GUILTY OF THIS
GERRYMANDERING.
00:19:52THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE
PROCESS IN THE 1970 PROXY IN
00:19:581980'S.
THEY GAVE THEMSELVES ADVANTAGE
00:20:00IN WINNING THE MAJORITY.
rTHERE IS A POINT IN 1981 WHERE
00:20:10THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PUT
FORWARD A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE
00:20:12THINGS AND REPUBLICANS WERE FOR
THE CHANGE.
00:20:16WHY?
BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL
00:20:19THE PROCESS.
NOW THIS TIME WE SAW THE FLIP,
00:20:22RIGHT?
BOTH PARTIES ARGUE ON PRINCIPLE,
00:20:27BUT I THINK IT PRETTY CLEAR.
PRINCIPLE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO
00:20:30DO WITH AND AS FAR AS THE
PARTIES ARE CONCERNED.
00:20:33THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAVE
BEEN A CONSISTENT.
00:20:37WE NEED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.
IT'S ON A FAIR NOT MATTER WHO
00:20:41CONTROLS.
IN TERMS OF THE PARTIES BEING
00:20:45FOR OR AGAINST, THAT IS JUST
SELF-INTEREST.
00:20:47>> IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE
00:20:51DISTRICTS THAT MAKE SENSE.
>> UNLESS A MIRACLE HITS.
00:20:56THERE WAS ALMOST A POINT A FEW
YEARS AGO WHEN THE REPUBLICAN
00:21:01ALEXIAN'S OFFICER -- BEFORE HE
WAS SECRETARY OF STATE -- AND HE
00:21:13PROPOSED A "FAIR SYSTEM."
SOME OF HIS FELLOW REPUBLICAN
00:21:20SENATE, DON'T DO THAT, DON'T DO
THAT.
00:21:21WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHO WERE
GOING TO SUPPORT IT.
00:21:27THE DEMOCRATS SAID THEY MAY BE
ABLE TO WIN FOR GOVERNOR AND
00:21:34SECRETARY OF STATE WHICH WOULD
PUT THEM IN CONTROL OF THE LINE
00:21:37-9DRAWING, SO LET'S NOT ENDORSE
THIS PROPOSAL TO HAVE THIS
00:21:42BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY COULD
CONTROL THE WHOLE THING AND GET
00:21:45ALL THE MARBLES.
THERE WAS A CHANCE WHERE WE
00:21:48MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING, BUT IT
LOOKED LIKE PARTISAN POLITICS
00:21:52KIND OFñr TOOK OVER AND WE DID T
GET IT.
00:21:55THERE MAY BE SOME POINT AT WHICH
BOTH PARTIES AREN'T SURE WHETHER
00:22:00THEY WILL CONTROL THE NEXT LINE
DRAWING, THEN MAYBEjF THEY WOULD
00:22:07SAY, LET'S END THIS CRAZINESS.
>> THEY DID IT IN IOWA.
00:22:11THEY HAVE REPRESENTATIVE
DISTRICTS IN IOWA.
00:22:14I DON'T KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT HOW
IT HAPPENED.
00:22:16xD>> IT SO HARD TO EXPLAIN THE
PEOPLE.
00:22:23ÑiWHEN YOU SEE ALL OF THE LANGUE
ON THE BALLOT EVERY TIME, MOST
00:22:26PEOPLE THE TICKETS AT THEM DOWN
AND ASK IF THEY THINK IT'S FAIR
00:22:31THAT THE MAJORITY PARTY GETS TO
CONTROL THE LINE DRAWING AND
00:22:34PERPETUATE THEIR MAJORITY?
MOST PEOPLE OF PROBABLY SAY NO.
00:22:39ANY PARTICULAR PROPOSAL TO
CHANGE IT ON THE BALLOT, PEOPLE
00:22:44%E%EI
OVER.AT IT AND THEIR EYES Ó
00:22:45WE KNOW WHEN THEY'RE CONFUSED,
THEY VOTE NO.
00:22:48>> HE POINTED OUTçó THAT AT THE
STATE HOUSE NEWS BUREAU, YOU'RE
00:22:56NOT GIVEN THE TIME TO DO WHAT
YOU CALL INVESTIGATIVE
00:23:00REPORTING.
YOU CANNOT GO FOR ONE OR TWO
00:23:03MONTHS AND GET THE GOODS.
I GUESS SOME NEWSPAPER STILL DO
00:23:09THAT?
IS THERE ENOUGH INVESTIGATIVE
00:23:12JOURNALISM GOING ON THAT YOU
WOULD SAY WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT
00:23:17WHAT OUR LEGISLATORS ARE DOING?
WE UNDERSTAND SUFFICIENTLY WHAT
00:23:22THEY'RE DOING IN THE PUBLIC
INTEREST?
00:23:23DO HAVE ENOUGH SOLID
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING IN THE
00:23:28UNIVERSE?
>> IN A PERFECT UNIVERSE, WE
00:23:33WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE.
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH GOOD
00:23:36INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM.
I WOULD ALSO CAUTION NOT TO GET
00:23:40TOO CAUGHT UP.
WE FOUND SOME PARTICULAR
00:23:46LEGISLATOR WHO DID SOMETHING
WRONG.
00:23:48THE DEGREE TO HAVE MORE
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, BUT IT
00:23:52WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE MORE
REGULAR REPORTING ACCOMMODATED
00:23:56THEIR REPORTING, THE KIND WE ARE
DOING ABOUT THE GOINGS ON IN
00:24:00STATE GOVERNMENT.
NOT TO UNCOVER A SCANDAL, BUT
00:24:03JUST TELL PEOPLE WHAT'S GOING ON
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
00:24:05OUR BUREAU, THERE'S NOT MUCH.
THE NEWSPAPERS DO A HECK OF A
00:24:13GOOD JOB.
ALL THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN
00:24:16NEWSPAPERS HAVE EUROS OF THE
STATE CAPITAL.
00:24:19HAVE BEEN CUT BACK, SOME OF
THEM, BUT NOT ALL.,,
00:24:25STATE GOVERNMENT AND HOW THESE
PEOPLE AFFECT OUR EYES -- OUR
00:24:29LIVES.
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO HAVE
00:24:33MORE BROADCAST COVERAGE?
MORE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING
00:24:38TELEVISION, GETTING THEIR NEWS
FROM THE TV THAN NEWSPAPERS.
00:24:43IF WE COULD GET MORE TV AND
RADIO COVERAGE, THAT WOULD BE
00:24:47GREAT.
I WOULD JUST ASSUME SEE MORE OF
00:24:51THAT AND NOT GET TOO CAUGHT UP
IN SOME TV STATION OR SOME
00:24:58SCANDALS SOMEWHERE.
>> IDEAL OF WHAT YOU DO?
00:25:15>> I LOVE TO HEAR BOTH SIDES OF
AN ISSUE.
00:25:19I DON'T REALLY LIKE CANDIDATES
AS MUCH.
00:25:21YOU SUCK.
q
00:25:24-- NO, YOU SUCK.
HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS WATCH, SO
00:25:32HE'S NO GOOD.
I LIKE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES.
00:25:34SHOULD WE RAISE TAXES ON THE
RICH?
00:25:37SHOULD WE CUT SERVICES TO SAVE
MONEY ON TAXPAYERS?
00:25:40SHOULD WE BAN ABORTION?
SHOULD WE HAVE GAY MARRIAGE?
00:25:44I LOVE IT.
WHAT IS REALLY FUN IS SOMETIMES
00:25:50YOU CAN PREDICT.
IT COVERING THIS DAY IN AND DAY
00:25:53OUT, YOU CAN PREDICT WHAT THEY
SAY.
00:25:56WHAT'S FUN, EVERY ONCE IN
AWHILE, SOMEONE WILL SAY
00:25:59SOMETHING THAT IS NOT IN THE
SCRIPT OR A THIRD GROUP COMES
00:26:02IN WITH A DIFFERENT POINT OF
VIEW THAT NO ONE HAD EVER
00:26:05THOUGHT OF AND IT'S REALLY COOL.
I LOVE A GOOD DEBATE OVER AN
00:26:09ISSUE.
YOU MAY HAVE TO LISTEN TO A
00:26:15WHOLE TWO HOUR DEBATE BEFORE YOU
GET SIX GOOD SOUND BITES THAT
00:26:23ARE REALLY COMPELLING IT'S STILL
FUN THOUGH.
00:26:34IT'S HARD TO FIND PEOPLE WHO CAN
ENUNCIATE WE GET ONE SIDE REALLY
00:26:54GOOD AND NOW WE SEARCH FOR THE
OTHER SIDE.
00:26:56WE INTERVIEWED SOMEBODY, BUT
THEY REALLY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING
00:27:03IN A REALLY COMPELLING WAY.
THE FILM THEIR ANSWER WITH A
00:27:08BUNCH OF BUREAUCRATIC
GOBBLEDYGOOK AND WHEN THE BILL
00:27:13WAS IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
WE DON'T WANT THAT.
00:27:16TELL US WHY IT'S GOOD OR BAD.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, BECAUSE
00:27:22THESE LEGISLATORS AND LOBBYISTS
ARE CROSS-SECTION OF US,
00:27:30SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD AND
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.
00:27:31>> AT FIVE YEARS OLD, AND SURE
YOU DID NOT SAY YOU WANTED TO BE
00:27:38A REPORTER.
THIS DEVELOPED OVER TIME.
00:27:40HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
>> I JUST FELL INTO IT.
00:27:43I HAVE A JOURNALISM DEGREE FROM
NORTHWESTERN.
00:27:47MY OTHER FELLOW STUDENTS, THEY
KNEW THEY WANTED TO BE
00:27:53REPORTERS.
THEY WORKED OUT "THE CHICAGO
00:27:57SUN-TIMES" OR THEY WOULD IN TURN
AT THE LOCAL TV STATION OR AT
00:28:02LEAST THE STUDENT STATION AND
HAD STOPPED ON THEIR RESUME THAT
00:28:09THEY HAD ACTUALLY DONE
SOMETHING.
00:28:10IT WAS NOT AS LEARNING
JOURNALISM OUT OF A BOOK.
00:28:13I DID NOT KNOW I WANTED TO DO IT
SO I DID NOT DO ANY OF THAT
00:28:18STUFF.
>> YOU KNEW SOMETHING THOUGH
00:28:20BECAUSE YOU GOT THE DEGREE.
>> I GOT THE DEGREE BUT I HAD NO
00:28:27EXPERIENCE IN BEING A REPORTER.
I WAS NOT OUT COVERING THE
00:28:33EVANSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR
THREE MONTHS OR WHATEVER.
00:28:37I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WANTED TO
DO.
00:28:46I CAME BACK TO COLUMBUS AND JUST
GOT A PART-TIME JOB FOR FOUR
00:28:55HOURS A DAY AT THE RADIO
STATION.
00:28:57>> WAS THAT YOUR FIRST JOB?
>> I WAS A JANITOR FOR A FEW
00:29:02MONTHS.
I WAS.
00:29:03OVER HERE AT RICK'S OVERALL
LIVINGSTON AVENUE.
00:29:06I SHOWED UP EVERY DAY.
THEY JUST CANNOT BELIEVE IT.
00:29:24WHEN IT TOLD THEM I HAD A JOB
AND I HAD TO QUIT, THEY SAID,
00:29:31THAT'S GREAT.
I BET THEY NEED A GOOD CLEANUP
00:29:34CREW.
OK, FINE.
00:29:36MY JOB THERE WAS NOTHING
SPECIAL.
00:29:38SOMEONE HANDED YOU THE COPY THEY
WOULD RIP OFF AND YOU WOULD
00:29:44CORRECT IT AND SOME GUY WOULD
READ IT OVER THE AIR.
00:29:47THAT'S PRETTY LOW LEVEL WORK
DURING THE UPPER FOUR HOURS A
00:29:50DAY.
THEN THEY TOLD ME HOW DO WORKING
00:29:55SIX HOURS A DAY.
I WENT TO CITY HALL AND
00:30:01WOULD GO SEE WHAT THE MAYOR WAS
DOING.
00:30:03I LEARNED BY DOING PRETTY MUCH.
I DID THAT FOR THREE, FOUR, FIVE
00:30:10YEARS, GENERAL ASSIGNMENT
THINGS.
00:30:12CITY HALL, SCHOOL BOARD,
WHATEVER.
00:30:14THEN IN THE MID 70'S TO THE
STATE HOUSE, I TRIED GOING DOWN
00:30:21THERE TO SEE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.
>> THE GENERAL REPORTING, AT
00:30:28SOME POINT DURING AND THAT, DID
YOU SAY THAT WAS REALLY WHAT YOU
00:30:33WANTED TO DO?
>> AFTER I WAS IN THAT FREE FEW
00:30:36YEARS, I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.
NPR JUST TURNED UP IN 1971.
00:30:40I REMEMBER DURING A FEW LONGER
PIECES FOR THEM BUT THEIR
00:30:45QUALITY STANDARDS WERE MUCH
LOWER THAN NOW.
00:30:47LOOKING BACK ON SOME OF THOSE,
LIKE IF YOU READ YOUR HIGH
00:30:52SCHOOL POETRY, YOU CRINGE.
LOOKING BACK ON SOME OF THE
00:30:55STUFF WHEN YOU DID AS REGARDING
OUT.
00:30:56I DID A FEW THINGS FOR THEM AND
WAS PRETTY EXCITING.
00:31:01THIS NEW THING CALLED NPR.
V
00:31:07>> WHAT WAS EXHILARATING ABOUT
IT?
00:31:09>> DURING BOTH SIDES OF AN
ARGUMENT, GATHERING EVERYTHING.
00:31:17THE TENSION BUILDS UP DURING THE
DAY.
00:31:20I HAVE TO MAKE THE DEADLINE.
ÑiAND THEN YOU JUST MAP THAT OU.
00:31:26I LIKE TO MAP OUT A STORY.
I'VE GOT THE GOVERNOR.
00:31:29I HAVExD THIS OTHER GUY.
AND THEN THIS LABOR UNION SAID
00:31:35THAT IT'S Añr TERRIBLE THING.
AND THEN IxD HAVE THIS WOMAN WHO
00:31:38WAS IMPACTED BY THE BILL HAD A
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
00:31:42OK, GREAT.
SO THIS WILL GO FIRST, THEN THIS
00:31:46AND THAT.
IÑi LIKE PACKAGING IT UP, TIDYIG
00:31:51IT UP AND SAYING, OKAY THAT
MAKES SENSE AND IT FLOWS.
00:31:54IS THIS CLEAR HERE?
OH, I NEED TO EXPLAIN THAT
00:31:59AGAIN.
IT'S JUST FUN.
00:32:03NOT EVERY PACKAGE, YOU'RE HAPPY
WITHñr WHAT YOU DO.S
00:32:10IT'S NOT THE MOST EXCITING STORY
IN THE WORLD, BUT I'VE DONE MY
00:32:16BEST.
I EXPLAIN HOW IT IMPACTS PEOPLE.
00:32:19>> THIS INTEREST IN HEARING ALL
SIDES OF AN ISSUE AND EXPLAINING
00:32:25IT TO OTHERS, DOES THIS COME
FROM YOUR FAMILY?
00:32:28DID YOU HAVE THE TYPE OF FAMILY
ABOUT WHAT SOME AROUND AND
00:32:33DISCUSS ISSUES?
YOU WERE SHAKING YOURxD HEAD.
00:32:35>> IÑi HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS
CAME FROM.
00:32:38I REALLY DON'T.
>> NO EXAMPLE FROM YOUR MOM OR
00:32:42DAD?
BUT THEY DID NOT TALK POLITICS.
00:32:44I HAD AN OLDER BROTHER, 10 YEARS
OLDER THAN ME UP IN THE PEACE
00:32:49CORPS IN AFRICA.
I DID NOT DEAL MUCH WITH HIM AS
00:32:52A CHILD, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE I
GOT IT.
00:32:55>> YOU HAVE ANOTHER INTEREST.
MUSIC.
00:33:01BUT YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL VOICE.
WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM?
00:33:06>> NOT MY MOTHER AND FATHER, BUT
MAYBE IT'S DEGENERATION AND MY
00:33:18ÑiGRANDFATHER WAS A MUSICIAN?
MY BROTHER HAS A GREAT VOICE AND
00:33:23HE WAS IN THE COLUMBUS WAS
CHOIR.
00:33:25ñrHE WOULD SING SOME, BUT I WAS
NOT AROUND HIM THAT MUCH.
00:33:29I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME
00:33:33FROM, BUT I LIKE SINGING.
BUT Y)ÓJ)E COVERING THE STATE
00:33:38HOUSE AND A BUNCH OF POLITICIANS
EIGHT HOURS A DAY, YOU NEED SOME
00:33:41RELEASE, YOU KNOW?
ART, SPORTS, I DON'T KNOW.
00:33:45A GOOD MASSAGE?
SOMETHING.
00:33:47YOU NEED SOMETHING WAS TOTALLY
DIFFERENT.
00:33:50MUSIC IS THAT ONE THING THAT I
USE.
00:33:53>> THE YOU GO HOME AT NIGHT
AFTER A FRUSTRATING DAY --
00:33:59>> AND SMASHED AGAINST THE WALL?
NOT THAT I CAN THINK OF IN
00:34:05REACTION TO THE BAD DAY.
I WILL JUST DOODLED AROUND ON
00:34:10THE PIANO, BUT I DO NOT THINK I
DO THAT CONSCIOUSLY.
00:34:14I HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE I HAD
A BAD DAY.
00:34:17I DON'T HAVE THAT MANY, REALLY.
BUT SOMEONE SAID THEY DID NOT
00:34:24LIKE A STORY, THAT I DID NOT
TREAT THEM WELL OR SOMETHING, I
00:34:32GET UPSET BECAUSE I TRY TO PRIDE
MYSELF ON BEING VERY FAIR.
00:34:36EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE --
>> SOMEONE WI
00:34:42NOT FAIR TO ME?
>> ONCE IN AWHILE, A LISTENER.
00:34:45IT'S PRETTY RARE.
WE DO NOTrGET THAT MUCH FEEDBACK
00:34:49FROM LISTENERS.
EVERY ONCE INfá AWHILE, SOMEONE
00:34:52WILL CALL UP.
WHY DID NOT MENTION THAT THE
00:34:55GOVERNOR DID THIS AND THAT?
I'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES IN MY
00:34:59STORY YOU KNOW?
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE GOVERNOR,
00:35:02YOU WOULD LIKE WE DID TELLxD
EVERY BAD THING YOU'D LIKE ABOUT
00:35:05HIM.
I DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR
00:35:07EVERYTHING.
I HAD SOMEONE FROM THE UNIONS
00:35:10SAY HE DID NOT LIKE WHAT KASICH
DID, SO OK.
00:35:14I CANNOT PILED IT ON.
EVERYONE WANTS THEIR PARTICULAR
00:35:20SUBJECTIVE VIEW TOLD.
WE JUST CAN DO THAT.
00:35:24>> THERE ARE SOME STORIES THAT I
ASSUME YOU LIKE COVERING BETTER
00:35:31THAN OTHERS.
WHENEVER THERE'S A STORY
00:35:34INVOLVING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,
YOU TEND TO DO THEM.
00:35:36AM I RIGHT?
>> I DO SOME OF THEM.
00:35:40NOT ALL OF THEM.
WE KIND OF SPLIT ITok UP.
00:35:48THAT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE ISSUES.
TO ME, THE MONEY ISSUES ARE THE
00:35:54NUMBER ONE.
IS IT GOING TO PUT MONEY IN YOUR
00:35:56POCKET, TAKE MONEY OUT, TO
CREATE JOBS?
00:36:01THAT IS USUALLY NUMBER ONE ON
LIST.
00:36:04SECOND AND THIRD, A KIND OF THEM
ARE THESE ISSUES NOT SO MUCH
00:36:07ABOUT MONEY, BUT VERY EMOTIONAL
ISSUES THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO
00:36:13HAVE VERY COMMITTED VIEWS ABOUT.
BASTER PEOPLE TO KNOW WHETHER IT
00:36:19BE ABORTION, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,
STEM CELL RESEARCH, THAT KIND OF
00:36:24THING.
WE THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT
00:36:26NEWS STORIES BECAUSE THEY ARE
IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY DEBATES.
00:36:28CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS ONE.
IT'S A FASCINATING ISSUE.
00:36:34>> DO YOU HAVE STRONG FEELINGS
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ABOUT CAPITAL
00:36:42PUNISHMENT?
>> NO.
00:36:44SOMETIMES I THINK, 100 YEARS
FROM NOW, OTHER PEOPLE WILL LOOK
00:36:53BACK PROBABLY AND SAY, "HOW
PRIMITIVE."
00:36:58YOU KNOW, THE "STAR TREK"
PEOPLE, SHATNER WILL SAY THAT.
00:37:06ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOU HEAR
THOSE CASES AND RECOVER THE
00:37:13EXECUTIONS AND YOU HEAR THE CASE
ABOUT THE GUY WHO CUT OFF THE
00:37:17WOMAN'S HANDS AND STABBED HER IN
THE HEART 38 TIMES AND YOU JUST
00:37:21GO, THIS IS TERRIBLE.
YOU REACT FROM A MOTION.
00:37:26YOU'RE LIKELY TO SAY, SOME
PEOPLE DESERVE TO DIE.
00:37:30THAT'S MORE MY THING.
I SEE THIS POINT OF VIEW, THAT
00:37:36POINT OF VIEW.
IT JUST DEPENDS WHERE AND AT AT
00:37:39THE MOMENTfá ON HOW IT WILL COME
OUT.
00:37:42>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU THINK OF
IT THIS WAY, BU8oç THOSE
00:37:48MEMORABLE STORIES THE YOU HAVE
COVERED, THE MOST WONDERFUL YOU
00:37:50B.HAVE
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU ARE
00:37:53ESPECIALLY PROUD OF?
ÑixD>> I REe
00:37:58THREE PART SERIES ON JIM ROSE
BEFORE HE DIEDjF BUT TO BE AIRED
00:38:07AFTER HE DIED.
çóIT'S AN OBITUARY PEACE.
00:38:11YOU CANNOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE
DIES AND THEN SCRAMBLE AROUND
00:38:16LOOKING FOR A TAPE.
IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO PUT IT
00:38:18TOGETHER.
I WORKED UP FOR DAYS AND DAYS.
00:38:21I HAD JUST A GREAT TIME COMING
UP WITH ALL SORTS OF FUNNY
00:38:27THINGS, INTERESTING THINGS, A
POIGNANT THINGS.
00:38:33HAND MISPRONOUNCING MITSUBISHI
CALLING IT "MITSA-BOOBY."
00:38:40WE'RE NOT MONTEREY'S TAXES IN
THIS STATE AND THEN ONE TIME
00:38:48RECESSION GOT SO BAD HE DID PUSH
FOR US TO RAISE TAXES.
00:38:51THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PIECES I
CAN DO, WHEN YOU CAN ADD SOME
00:38:55TEXTURE ON THEM.
YOU CAN NOT ONLY SHOWS SOMEONE'S
00:38:59PERSONAL SIDE, BUT PUBLIC POLICY
SIDE.
00:39:01YOU CAN SHOW HOW SOMETIMES THEY
DEVIATED AND DID NOT ALWAYS
00:39:09FOLLOW THEIR PRINCIPAL.
YOUKo KNOW, WITH A THREE-PART
00:39:14SERIES, YOU CAN DO THAT.
WE USUALLY DON'T DO THAT.
00:39:18TáH"O NOT NECESSARILY
THElAn
00:39:21MERIT A THREE-PART SERIES OF THE
TIME.
00:39:22I THINK I DID SOMETHING SIMILAR
WITH VERNE.
00:39:28HAD HIM GAVELING DOWN PEOPLE TO
BE QUIET WHEN HE ORDERED THEIR
00:39:34MICROPHONE CUT OFF AND SO FORTH.
YOU CAN STAND BACK AND SAY,
00:39:40THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD PIECE.
IT SHOWED THAT HE DID SOME GOOD
00:39:43THINGS ACCORDING TO SOME PEOPLE,
BUT HE WAS ALSO A VERY STRONG-
00:39:48ARMED A LEADER.
IF YOU DID NOT OBEY HIM, YOU GOT
00:39:52CUT OFF.
YOU COULD SAY -- I THINK THAT
00:39:57THAT WAS AN ACCURATE PORTRAIT
AND IT GAVE SOMEONE A FLAVOR OF
00:40:00WHAT THEY WERE LIKE.
THAT IS WHEN YOU FEEL GOOD
00:40:04ABOUT IT.
>> OVER THE YEARS, POLITICIANS
00:40:07YOU HAVE PARTICULARLY ENJOYED
COVERING.
00:40:10>> DICK CELEST WAS GOOD TO
COVER, HE COMMUNICATED REALLY
00:40:21WELL.
YOU COULD STICK A MICROPHONE IN
00:40:25FRONT OF HIM ANY TIME.
HE GENERALLY HAVE A STRONG POINT
00:40:31OF VIEW.
A LOT OF THESE LEGISLATORS ON
00:40:39THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, THEY ARE
GREAT TO COVER, THEY HAVE STRONG
00:40:46POINTS OF VIEW AND IT HELPS TO
SPARK A GOOD PUBLIC POLICY
00:40:50DEBATE.
SHOULD WE RAISE TAXES?
00:40:52LOWER TAXES?
WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
00:40:57THEY ARE FUN TO COVER.
DEMOCRAT BOB HAGEN IS A GOOD
00:41:05EXAMPLE.
DEMOCRAT TURNER FROM CLEVELAND
00:41:10IS ALWAYS GREAT.
SHE GETS FIRED UP ON THE HOUSE
00:41:13AND SENATE FLOOR AND MAKES GREAT
COMMENTS.
00:41:16SOME OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE
LEGISLATORS ARE GREAT.
00:41:19KASICH IS SOMETIMES GOOD.
AGAIN, PEOPLE WITH STRONG POINTS
00:41:33OF VIEW.
TAKING OUT A FULL POSITION ON
00:41:38SOMETHING, SOMETIMES THEY WILL
BE IN THE STORY, IT DOES NOT
00:41:47HELP TO SPARK THE INTERESTING
DEBATE.
00:41:48>> IF YOU COULD SUM UP 40 YEARS
OF OHIO POLITICS, THE NEW YORK
00:41:56STATES LEGISLATURE, THEY DO NOT
GET ANYTHING DONE, THEY CHOOSE
00:42:05NOT TO EXERCISE THEIR POWER, OF
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THE
00:42:09OHIO LEGISLATURE AND THE
SUCCESSION OF GOVERNORS WE HAVE
00:42:12HAD?
A GOVERNMENT OF INTEGRITY, WHERE
00:42:18WOULD YOU PUT THEM?
>> I WOULD CALL OUR LEGISLATURE
00:42:30CAUTIOUS, FOR THE MOST PART.
BUT NOT ALWAYS.
00:42:32WE HAD THE HEART BEAT ABORTION
BILL AND LOOK LIKE MAYBE THE
00:42:42SENATE WAS GOING TO GO ALONG
WITH IT.
00:42:44BUT THE SENATE WOULD NOT DO A --
DO IT.
00:42:54OHIO JUST BANNED TEXTING WHILE
DRIVING, THE 13TH STATE TO DO
00:43:04IT.
BUT NEVER THE 50TH.
00:43:08NEVER THE FIRST FOR THE SECOND.
WE ARE ALWAYS KIND OF IN THE
00:43:14MIDDLE THERE.
PEOPLE THINK THAT OHIO IS
00:43:22REPUBLICAN AND A BUNCH OF CORN
FIELD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
00:43:25COUNTRY.
IF YOU LOOK, WE ARE ALMOST ON
00:43:29THE EAST COAST AND ARE NOT A
REPUBLICAN STATE.
00:43:32AS YOU POINTED OUT, REPUBLICANS
DREW THE LINES.
00:43:41" IS PRETTY MUCH ON THESE
ELECTIONS.
00:43:50IT IS BASICALLY A PURPLE STATE.
1983, 1984, OHIO WAS CONTROLLED
00:44:10BY DEMOCRATS.
THE GOVERNOR, THE SECRETARY OF
00:44:16STATE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE
TREASURER, THE SUPREME COURT.
00:44:21JOHN GLENN WAS A DEMOCRAT.
THE MOST LIBERAL SENATOR.
00:44:26THERE WAS A TIME 30 YEARS AGO
WHEN WE WERE ONE OF THE MOST
00:44:31LIBERAL STATES.
IT IS JUST HARD TO CHARACTERIZE
00:44:39OHIO.
SAYING SOME LEGISLATURE DOES NOT
00:44:44GET ENOUGH DONE, CHARACTERIZED
AS NOT DOING ANYTHING, THEY MAY
00:44:54DO A LOT OF BILLS TO HATE.
IS THAT A WAY TO JUDGE A LEVITT
00:44:58-- A LEGISLATURE?
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT.
00:45:05TOú JUDGE THEM ON -- IT WAS A
YEAR OR TWO AGO.
00:45:15LET'S LOOK AT THE QUALITY, NOT
THE QUANTITY.
00:45:19>> IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR
BILL, PLEASE COME TO THE
00:45:24MICROPHONE.
WE ARE STREAMING LIVE, DO COME
00:45:30TO THE MICROPHONE.
THAT WAY THE PEOPLE CAN HEAR
00:45:34YOU.
STEP RIGHT UP.
00:45:35DO NOT HESITATE.
WE HAVE OUR FIRST QUESTION OR
00:45:43COMING TO THE MICROPHONE HERE.
YES?
00:45:44SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE MICROPHONE.
>> DID YOU END UP IN PUBLIC
00:45:53RADIO BY ACCIDENT OR BY DESIGN?
AND IF YOU DIDw3 NOT, WHAT KIND
00:45:59OF VIEW DO YOU HAVE OF
COMMERCIAL NEWS PROGRAMMING?
00:46:03>> WELL, IT WAS BY ACCIDENT, I
HAPPEN TO GET THAT JOB AT WOSU.
00:46:13SO I WAS IN PUBLIC TV FOR A LONG
TIME.
00:46:15I COULD NOT MAKE IT IN
COMMERCIAL -- WELL, THERE IS NOT
00:46:21MUCH COMMERCIAL RADIO REPORTING.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT.
00:46:25VERY FEW OF THE COMMERCIAL
STATIONS HAVE REPORTERS AND THE
00:46:29FEW THAT DO HAVE PUBLIC
REPORTERS, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS
00:46:34TO TELL THE STORY.
30 SECONDS?
00:46:38THAT IS OUR ANCHOR INTRODUCTION
TO OUR 4 MINUTE PIECES.
00:46:42HOW WILL YOU TELL THE STORY WITH
BOTH SIDES?
00:46:47I COULD NOT DO IT.
THEY WOULD NOT LIKE THAT.
00:46:50IT WOULD NOT BE A GOOD FIT.
THERE IS NOT MUCH DEMAND FOR
00:46:56THAT KIND OF REPORTING.
I WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED OTHERWISE.
00:47:00NO TELEVISION STATION IS GOING
TO.
00:47:02I DO NOT LOOK LIKE A TV ANCHOR
GUY.
00:47:08YES, PUBLIC RADIO, THAT IS ABOUT
THE ONLY PLACE, BY ACCIDENT, BUT
00:47:15IT IS THE ONLY PLACE FOR ME.
>> YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH
00:47:22THIS AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT IF
YOU DID, HOW DIFFICULT WOULD YOU
00:47:30FIND IT TO BE FAIR TO ELIMINATE
-- ADVOCATE FOR SOMEONE
00:47:36ELIMINATING BROADCASTING FOR
PUBLIC RADIO?
00:47:38[LAUGHTER]
>> I DO NOT THINK THAT WE DO
00:47:45THAT ALL TIME.
I HAVE DONE THAT ALL THE TIME,
00:47:49NOT FOCUSING ON THAT ISSUE, BUT
FOR INSTANCE EVERY FEW YEARS I
00:47:53WIND UP INTERVIEWING THE
LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE FOR
00:47:59GOVERNOR OR PRESIDENT.
WE KNOW THAT IF THEY HAD THEIR
00:48:01WAY, THEY WOULD CUT GOVERNMENT
TO THE BONE.
00:48:04THEY WOULD SAY THAT IT IS NOT
THE JOB OF GOVERNMENT TO
00:48:08SUPPORT BROADCASTING.
I DO NOT FIND IT HARD TO
00:48:14INTERVIEW THEM.
I WOULD JUST PRESS THEM ON THAT
00:48:17ARTICULAR ISSUE.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO CUT PUBLIC
00:48:21BROADCASTING?
SOME SERVICES ARE NECESSARY AND
00:48:26SHOULD BE PRESSED.
I JUST CHUCKLED TO MYSELF, THIS
00:48:33IS SO IRONIC, I AM THE ONLY GUY
INTERVIEWING YOU, MR.
00:48:39PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, HARDLY
ANYONE ELSE IS INTERESTED.
00:48:42t(BEING ON PUBLIC RADIO AND
xDOUTLETS TOA5 BE HEARD AND YOT
00:48:45TELEVISION IS ONE OF YOUR FEW
Qá"Ti
00:48:49ñrTO WIPE US OUT.
w3I SAY THAT AND I CHUCKLE AT TE
00:48:54IRONY.
WHATEVER.
00:48:56>> STEP RIGHT UP, IF YOU HAVE
MORE QUESTIONS.
00:49:03>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND
00:49:08HAVE DONE.
IT IS ALWAYS A JOY TO HEAR YOU.
00:49:12[APPLAUSE]
I QUESTION IS, THESE DAYS, WITH
00:49:20THE WEB OR DIGITAL MEDIA,
WHENEVER YOU CALL IT, IN MANY
00:49:25WAYS WE ARE IN A GOLDEN AGE.
IF NOT FOR RADIO, THEN FOR SOUND
00:49:32JOURNALISM.
I AM WONDERING, FIRST OF ALL,
00:49:39YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT KIND OF
LONGER FORM REPORTING?
00:49:43ÑiJUST GENERALLY YOUR VIEWS ON
THAT DEVELOPMENT AND WHETHER YOU
00:49:50WOULD CONSIDER THAT KIND OF
REPORTING AND WHAT IT MIGHT ADD
00:49:56TO COVERAGE?
NOT GET A CHANCE TO
00:50:02LISTEN VERY OFTEN.
"THIS AMERICAN LIFE" THE TEXTURE
00:50:08OF THOSE STORIES ARE SO GREAT.
OF COURSE, THOSE ARE STORIES
00:50:12ABOUT HUMANITY.
PUBLIC POLICY IN GENERAL.OUTqgT
00:50:17YOU DO NOT GET A LOT OF EMOTION
IN OUR STORIES.
00:50:22ONCE IN A WHILE YOU GET SOMEONE
IMPACTED BY A LAW OR A PROGRAM.
00:50:26WE ARE COVERING PUBLIC POLICY
ISSUES.
00:50:32I LOVE THAT KIND OF -- I DO NOT
CALL IT REPORTING SO MUCH.
00:50:37NPR DOES A GREAT JOB, THEY CAN
DO HOLD 15 MINUTE THINGS AND OF
00:50:45COURSE THEY HAVE TAKEN DAYS AND
DAYS, WEEKS, PUTTING A FEW
00:50:49REPORTERS ON IT.
I LOVE THAT KIND OF JOURNALISM.
00:50:59%E%EI
JOURNALISM UNTIL 15 YEARS AGO,
00:51:05WHEN I READ LAST INVENTED THAT.
HE WAS A REGULAR REPORTER IN
00:51:10CHICAGO AND HE STARTED ON GANGS
AND SCHOOLS AND STUFF.
00:51:14IT WAS MORE CONVERSATIONAL.
HE WAS NOT ANNOUNCING.
00:51:16I LOVED THE WAY THAT HE TALKED.
I LOVED THAT KIND OF DELIVERY
00:51:23AND THAT KIND OF JOURNALISM.
NOW YOU SEE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER
00:51:28VERSIONS OF THAT.
I DO NOT KNOW IF I WOULD BE GOOD
00:51:30AT THAT OR NOT.
I DO NOT KNOW.
00:51:33I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME DOING
THIS STRAIGHT PUBLIC POLICY
00:51:39STUFF.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE.
00:51:42I DO ADMIRE THAT.
>> YES, ANOTHER QUESTION?
00:51:48>> I AM A SOCIAL WORKER AND I
JUST TODAY ATTENDED A SUMMIT ON
00:51:54INFANT MORTALITY.
I AM A EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS
00:51:59RIGHT NOW.
I WONDERED IF YOU THOUGHT WOSU
00:52:06WOULDjF COVER SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS.
00:52:09OHIO IS 11TH IN THE COUNTRY FOR
INFANT MORTALITY AND IT IS A
00:52:14TERRIBLE ISSUE AT THIS POINT.
ESPECIALLY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN
00:52:18BABIES.
IN 2007, THAT IS WHEN THEY FIRST
00:52:24STARTED FOCUSING ON THIS.
THE NEWEST ONES THAT THEY JUST
00:52:29RELEASED FOR 2011, IT IS GOING
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
00:52:36I HAD THIS GREAT IDEA, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OHIO COULD
00:52:42BE THE SECOND STATE TO ACTUALLY
BAN BUMPERS IN CRIBS BECAUSE OF
00:52:46THE BAND -- THE DANGERS FOR
INFANTS IN THAT.
00:52:49IF WE COULD GET BEHIND THAT
ISSUE, I WONDERED HOW YOU FELT
00:52:54ABOUT THIS AT THIS POINT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY
00:52:58NEED TO LOOK AT.
>> THAT IS THE PERFECT KIND OF
00:53:02THING WHERE IF AN INTEREST GROUP
M
00:53:09CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS AND ANTI-
POVERTY GROUPS CALLING NEWS
00:53:11CONFERENCE TOMORROW TO UNVEIL
NEW STATISTICS, YOU WOULD
00:53:15PROBABLY GET SOME REPORTERS
THERE.
00:53:18IF THAT RESULTS IN A LEGISLATOR
INTRODUCING A BILL AND THEY GIVE
00:53:22HEARINGS AND THEY CALL IN PEOPLE
TO TESTIFY AND WE HEAR SOME
00:53:29MOTHERS OF BABIES HAVE DIED,
THAT WOULD DRAW ATTENTION AND
00:53:35THAT IS THE KIND OF THING WE
WOULD COVER.
00:53:38A BILL THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE.
AND THEN BE ABLE TO BE REFERRED
00:53:43T
LEGISLATORS OR LOBBYISTS.
00:53:47THE PEOPLE IMPACTED WHO EITHER
COME IN TO TESTIFY AND WE
00:53:53INTERVIEW THAN.
YOU GET -- INTERVIEW THEM.
00:54:00YOU GET SOME OF MOTION, YOU GET
SOME PACKAGE -- SOME PASSION AND
00:54:06AN INTERESTING STORY.
SOMEONE HAS TO TELL US ABOUT
00:54:11THESE ISSUES.
SOMEONE HAS TO RAISE THEM.
00:54:13IT TAKES SOCIAL WORKERS,
ACTIVIST GROUPS, BUSINESS
00:54:20LEADERS, LOBBYISTS, TO BRING
THEM OUT.
00:54:24>> THIS IS HOW WE GET A
JOURNALISTS ATTENTION, WITH A
00:54:28PRESS CONFERENCE?
>> YES, SINCE WE ARE COVERING
00:54:37STATE GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE A
NEWS CONFERENCE OR A
00:54:39DEMONSTRATION.
WE MIGHT COVER THAT.
00:54:42IF NO ONE INTRODUCES A BILL,
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT IS YOUR JOB
00:54:52TO GET LEGISLATORS TO MOVE A
BILL.
00:54:56IT IS OUR JOB TO REPORT ON WHAT
IS HAPPENING.
00:55:00>> YOU MIGHT GET A CALLER
TOMORROW, THAT IS WHAT I AM
00:55:05THINKING.
I ENJOYED SINGING ALONG WITH
00:55:09MICHAEL ROWE THE BOARD --
MICHAEL ROW THE BOAT ASHORE AS
00:55:13WELL.
>> I HOPE THAT I CAN GET ONok TE
00:55:20RIGHT SUBJECT.
I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN
00:55:22THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO, MORE
COMMON DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GAY
00:55:27MARRIAGE, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,
THINGS LIKE THIS.
00:55:31LATELY LISTENING TO NPR RADIO,
THE ISSUE OF LEGALIZING
00:55:38MARIJUANA, COMING UP IN
COLORADO, IT IS WORTH TALKING
00:55:42ABOUT.
I AM DEFINITELY AGAINST
00:55:46LEGALIZING SOME KIND OF DRUG.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION AS FAR AS
00:55:51LEGALIZING IT.
>> I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY
00:55:56OPINION.
>> JUST TO SAY -- WHY SHOULD IT
00:55:59BE OUT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE
AS MAKING IT LEGAL IN SOME
00:56:04STATES ALREADY?
çó>> AGAIN, IT IS NOT MY JOB TO
00:56:10TELL YOU THAT IT IS A GOOD IDEA
OR A BAD IDEA.
00:56:12I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE
COVERED THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST
00:56:16YEAR IN OHIO AND IT HAS
BEEN PROPOSALS TO COVER THIS IN
00:56:24OHIO AND WE INTERVIEWED SOME GUY
WHO HAD SAID THAT WE NEED THIS
00:56:30AND I SMOKED MARIJUANA AND IT
HAS GIVEN ME RELIEF.
00:56:34THAT IT WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA AND
IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
00:56:41THERE WAS A BILL THAT DID NOT GO
ANYWHERE AND THAT WAS THE END OF
00:56:45THE STORY.
TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS LATER, IT
00:56:51SURFACED AGAIN AND WE DID
ANOTHER STORY ON IT.
00:56:53DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THERE MIGHT
HAVE BEEN A HEARING ON THE BILL,
00:56:58AND THE STORY.
r- END OF STORY.
00:57:04WE COVER WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, WE
00:57:08COVER THEM.
I ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE SURE -- IT
00:57:11IS THE JOB OF THE JOURNALISTS TO
AFFLICT THEñr COMFORTABLE AND
00:57:18COMFORT THE AFFLICTED.
THAT IS WHAT ONE JOURNALIST ONCE
00:57:23SAID.
I DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THAT.
00:57:26I THINK IT IS OUR JOB TO REPORT
WHAT HAPPENS AND LET THE CHIPS
00:57:31FALL WHEREfá THEY MAY.
IT MIGHT AFFLICT THE
00:57:34COMFORTABLE, IT MIGHT AFFLICT
THE AFFLICTED.
00:57:38I DO NOT KNOW.
IT IS OUR JOB TO REPORT WHAT IS
00:57:43HAPPENING.
IT IS THE JOB OF THE CITIZEN TO
00:57:47REACT TO THAT HOWEVER THEY WANT.
IF YOU WANT TO AFFLICT THE
00:57:53COMFORTABLE, YOU GO AHEAD AND DO
IT.
00:57:56IF YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T.
IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO CRUSADE FOR
00:58:02OR AGAINST MARIJUANA
LEGALIZATION.
00:58:04IF IT MOVES, I WILL BE COVERING
IT LIKE A BLANKET.
00:58:09AN INTERESTING ISSUE THAT HAS
ALL KINDS OF RAMIFICATIONS FOR
00:58:14CRIME, FOR HEALTH.
IT IS A GREAT ISSUE.
00:58:17HAVE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA THAT
x
00:58:25HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN IT TOGETHER
TO GET THE PETITION FOR THOSE
00:58:29SIGNATURES ON THE BALLOT, LET
ALONE SOMEONE FOR RECREATIONAL
00:58:33USE.
S7THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE A
00:58:38LEADER IN ANY WAY.
>> PROP 23, THAT IS FOR DRUGS
00:58:46COMING INTO THE STATE?
>> S7ROUTE 23, IS THAT THE ROUE
00:58:55FOR PEOPLE BRINGING DRUGS INTO
THIS STATE?
00:58:58HAVE YOU REPORTED ON THAT?
>> WE HAVE REPORTED ON THE
00:59:03ATTORNEY GENERAL GOING DOWN AND
HAVE REPORTED A LOT ON THE
00:59:08RECENT MOVE IN THE LAST YEAR
FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
00:59:15WHERE SOME OF THE PHARMACISTS
HAVE BEEN WRITING ALL OF THESE
00:59:20PRESCRIPTIONS AND PEOPLE FROM
EVERYWHERE IN OHIO HAVE BEEN
00:59:22GOING DOWN ANDxD GETTING THIS AD
COMING BACK.
00:59:27THAT IS ANOTHER WAY THAT AREA
MAY BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRUG
00:59:34PROBLEM.
>> I HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF
00:59:38QUESTION PERIOD EARLIER YOU SAID
THAT YOU COME TO WORK TO DECIDE
00:59:41WHAT YOU WILL COVER.
DO YOU MAKE THAT DETERMINATION
00:59:49AMONGST YOURSELF?
DO YOU HAVE THE AUTONOMY TO DO
00:59:55THAT?
>> SHE HAS THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT
01:00:02WE COVER.
IN GENERAL WE KIND OF AGREE
01:00:05AMONGST OURSELVES.
IT GOES IN WAVES.
01:00:09COVERING THOSE ABORTION BILLS,
SOMETHING IS COMING UP ON THAT.
01:00:17SHE IS THE BEST ONE TO COVER
THAT.
01:00:20SHE COVERED IT FIVE WEEKS AGO,
THREE WEEKS AGO, ONE WEEK AGO.
01:00:26IT IS BETTER FOR HER TO COVER
IT.
01:00:28WE KNOW THAT IF THAT IS
HAPPENING, IT IS BETTER FOR HER
01:00:33TO COVER IT.
TODAY THEY ANNOUNCED THEY HAD
01:00:36SOME CHEATERS IN COLUMBUS.
>> HOW DID THEY DIVIDE THE
01:00:43STORIES?
HOW DID THEY CHOOSE WHO IS BEST
01:00:47TO HANDLE THAT?
>> ONCE IN AxD WHILE THERE IS A
01:00:51STORY THAT NONE OF US HAVE
COVERED BEFORE THAT IS REALLY
01:00:55COMPLEX AND BORING AND WE KNOW
IT NEEDS TO BE COVERED.
01:00:59THAT IS THE OPPOSITE, NONE OF US
WANT TO COVER IT.
01:01:02BUT ITçó IS NICE TO BE ABLE TO
MAKE THE DECISIONS OURSELVES.
01:01:08SOMETIMES THE MEMBER STATIONS
SAY -- ARE YOU COVERING THIS,
01:01:14COVERING THAT?
A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.
01:01:16ONE THING THAT WE DO NOT GET IS
SOME ADVERTISERS SAYING -- DON'T
01:01:21YOU COVER THAT?
WE DO NOT GET ANY OF THAT.
01:01:24WE REALLY RELISH THE FREEDOM TO
COVER WHAT WE THINK IS
01:01:31NEWSWORTHY.
>> YOU SHOULD SAY WHAT YOU THINK
01:01:35THE STRUCTURE OF IT IS.
I HAD A HARD TIME SAYING WHAT
01:01:39THAT IS.
>> MOST OF THE FUNDING COMES
01:01:44FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
IT IS KIND OF WEIRD.
01:01:48GENERALLY, YOU DO NOT WANT TO
REPORTERS BEING PAID BY WHO THEY
01:01:56ARE COVERING.
THAT IS HOW OUR BUREAU STARTED.
01:02:01WE MADE IT CLEAR TO THEM WHEN WE
STARTED OUR BUREAU THAT YOU HAVE
01:02:07PLENTY OF PR PEOPLE.
WE HAVE REAL REPORTERSxD WHO WIL
01:02:13COVER THE SIDE OF THE STORY.
IT HAS REALLY WORKED OUT WELL.
01:02:18I DO NOT KNOW ANY TIME WHEN A
LEGISLATOR HAS SAID THAT I DO
01:02:24NOT LIKE THE WAYçó YOU COVER THT
STORY, YOU MADE US LOOK BAD.
01:02:28I WILL VOTE AGAINST YOUR PART OF
THE BUDGET.
01:02:31LOTS OF LEGISLATORS DO NOT
REALIZE WEU
01:02:35BUDGET.
GIVING US SO MUCH TO KNOW.
01:02:40[LAUGHTER]
WE THINK THAT THEY DO A GOOD
01:02:45JOB, THEY ARE FAIR, AND THE ONLY
ONES COVERING US.
01:02:48I THINK THEY SAY -- LET THEM DO
THEIR WORK, WE WILL NOT HASSLE
01:02:54THEM.
THAT IS WHERE WE GET MOST OF OUR
01:02:58MONEY.
WE DO GET A COUPLE OF GRANTS
01:03:01FROM ONE OF THE LOCAL LAW FIRMS.
I THINK THAT THE OEA GIVES US A
01:03:07SMALL GRANT.
>> YOU DO NOT FEEL YOU HAVE TO
01:03:12PULL PGnAHES ON THESE STORIES?
>> NO, NO.
01:03:15>> YES?
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT SEEING OHIO
01:03:22SWING BETWEEN ONE PARTY AND
ANOTHER IN YOUR TIME REPORTING.
01:03:27DO YOU SEE OHIO AS CONTINUING TO
MOVE BACK AND FORTH AS THE
01:03:32REDISTRICTING OCCURS?
THAT IT WILL ALWAYS SORT OF BE
01:03:35IN THE MIDDLE, MOVING FROM ONE
TO THE OTHER?
01:03:38>> I THINK THAT THE POPULARçó
VOTE IN OHIO CAN KEEP GOING BACK
01:03:44AND FORTH,t( AS IT HAS, LOOKINGT
THE PRESIDENTIAL RACES, BUT ONCE
01:03:51YOU GET CONTROL OUT -- CONTROL
OF TWO OUT OF THREE OF THE
01:03:57GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY OF
STATE, YOUR PARTY IS GOING TO
01:04:01CONTROL BTHE LINE DRAWING,
VIRTUALLY CONTROLLING THE OHIO
01:04:10HOUSE AND SENATE FOR THE NEXT 10
YEARS.
01:04:14SO, UNLESSfá THE DEMOCRATS WIN O
OUT OF THE THREE IN THE NEXT
01:04:19SEVERAL YEARS, REPUBLICANS WILL
CONTINUE TO CONTROL STATE
01:04:25GOVERNMENT, THE OHIO HOUSE AND
SENATE.
01:04:29THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF
TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE WON CONTROL
01:04:32OF THE CHAMBER, EVEN THOUGH
OTHER GUYS CROSS THE LINES.
01:04:38IT IS VERY RARE.
IF YOU DRAW LINES, YOU WILL BE
01:04:43IN CONTROL.
AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL
01:04:46YEARS WE WILL HAVE VIRTUALLY A
SPLIT ELECTORATE AND PEOPLE
01:04:51VOTING IN 2016 FOR PRESIDENT,
THE DEMOCRATS COULD WIN, BUT I
01:04:57STILL THINK REPUBLICANS WILL
CONTROL THE HOUSE AND SENATE,
01:05:02BECAUSE THEY HAVE DRAWN THE
LINES AND THOSE LINES WILL STAY
01:05:05THERE UNTIL 20, 21, SOMEWHERE
AROUND THERE.
01:05:10UNTIL THEY DRAW LINES, WHEN THE
LEGISLATURE DRAWS THE LINE FOR
01:05:15CONGRESS, THIS IS ONE REASON WE
HAVE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE
01:05:21CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 12-4.
SO, THEY CONTROL 75% OF THE
01:05:27SEATS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ONLY GOT
50% OF THE POPULAR VOTE.
01:05:32THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THE POWER OF
DRAWING THE LINES.
01:05:36>> BILL, FINAL THOUGHTS?
>> JUST HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO BE
01:05:46WORKING FOR PUBLIC RADIO AND
TELEVISION.
01:05:49I MIGHT BE BACK AT THE ABC
CLEANING COMPANY IF IT WERE NOT
01:05:55FOR THAT.
I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED WORKING
01:05:59FOR PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION.
MAINLY BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE
01:06:03YOU TO LISTEN AND WATCH.
I AM SO PROUD TO WORK FOR YOU.
01:06:08YOU ARE THE CONSUMERS.
YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON
01:06:13IN THE WORLD.
YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE POWER TO
01:06:17CHANGE IT.
THAT IS WHY YOU WANT TO KNOW
01:06:20WHAT IS GOING ON, SO YOU CAN
WRITE LETTERS TOxD YOUR
01:06:25LEGISLATORS, GOING TO RALLIES,
CARRYING SIGNS, RIDING E-MAILS,
01:06:30SENDING MONEY TO OTHERS.
THERE WAS A POLL OF 25 YEARS AGO
01:06:36TO TRY TO MARKET PUBLIC RADIO.
THEY TRIED TO ASK PEOPLE IF THEY
01:06:40LISTENED TO PUBLIC RADIO, ASK
THEM A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.
01:06:44THEY FOUND THAT PEOPLE WHO
LISTEN TO PUBLIC RADIO READ MORE
01:06:49BOOKS, WATCH WAR MOVIES -- MORE
MOVIES, GIVE MONEY TO POLITICAL
01:06:56CANDIDATES, GET LIBRARY BOOKS
OUT, SIGNED PETITIONS, JOINED
01:07:03PROTESTS, CALL THEIR
LEGISLATORS.
01:07:05WE USED TO HAVE AN OLD-FASHIONED
WORD FOR IT, THAT IS CALLED GOOD
01:07:12CITIZENSHIP.
THAT IS WHY C.
01:07:17POLLS SAY THAT NPR THIS NOTE --
NPR LISTENERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO
01:07:23DO THAT THAN AVERAGE.
I'VE GOT ONE MORE THING, VOTE.
01:07:27YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE DRAGGED,
YOU VOTE.
01:07:31OF COURSE I AM GOING TO VOTE.
THAT IS GOOD CITIZENSHIP.
01:07:35THAT IS WHY IT IS SO COOL TO
HAVE THESE REPORTS MADE SO THAT
01:07:41YOU CAN HEAR THEM.
THAT IS WHY I AM SO PROUD TO
01:07:45WORK WITH PUBLIC RADIO AND
TELEVISION.
01:07:47>> THANK YOU FOR YEARS A
TERRIFIC JOURNALISM.
01:07:52[APPLAUSE]
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions