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Susan Stamberg, the revered “founding mother” of National Public Radio and the first woman to host a national news program, has died at the age of 87.
NPR confirmed his death on Thursday, although the cause was not disclosed. Stamberg played a key role in the early days of NPR, joining the network in the early 1970s as it began to establish itself across the United States. During his distinguished career, he conducted thousands of interviews, speaking with a wide variety of individuals from prominent political figures and artists to less public figures such as the White House chef and behind-the-scenes Hollywood professionals.
In an oral history interview with Oregon station KLCC in January, Stamberg reflected on his pioneering role. She noted that when she became the host of all things Considered In 1972, there were no women in broadcasting to look to as models.
“There were only men, and the only thing I knew how to do was copy them,” she said.
He lowered his voice to sound authoritative. A few days later, program manager Bill Siemering told him himself.
“And it was also new in its time, because everyone else, the women, were trained actors, and so they came with very careful tone and very careful delivery. They were not spontaneous and natural,” she said. “So we created a new sound for radio as well as NPR.”
NPR’s obituary for Stamberg quotes his colleague Jack Mitchell as saying that he had a “clear new york Tone.”
All Things Considered had only five reporters to complete its 90-minute program, creating a daily challenge.
She told KLCC that she coined the term “founding mother” to refer to herself and the three other women who helped launch NPR: Cokie Roberts, Nina Totenberg, and Linda Wertheimer.
“I was tired of hearing about the Founding Fathers, and I knew we weren’t that, so we were clearly the Founding Mothers, and I was going to put it on the map,” she said.
Stamberg hosted All Things Considered for 14 years. She went on to host Weekend Edition Sunday, where she introduced the Sunday Puzzle feature with Will Shortz.
Shortz, who continues to serve as the program’s puzzle master and who is now the crossword editor. new york The Times reported that Stamberg wanted the show to be the radio equivalent of a Sunday newspaper that provided news, culture, sports and a puzzle.
She later became the cultural correspondent for Morning Edition and Weekend Edition Saturday. She retired in September.
In 1979, he hosted a two-hour radio call-in program with then-President jimmy carter From Oval OfficeHe managed the audience that called to speak to him. The questions were not examined in advance. This was the second time Carter had a call-in program, after the first time with Walter Cronkite.
Stamberg was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, stating that she was known for her “conversational style, intelligence and knack for finding an interesting story.” he interviewed nancy reaganAnnie Leibovitz, rosa park And james baldwin Among thousands of others.
they got a star Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020.
Stamberg was born Susan Levitt newark, new Jerseyin 1938 but grew up ManhattanShe met her husband, Lewis Stamberg, while working in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
He is survived by his son Josh Stamberg and his granddaughters Vivian and Lena.