A Voice That Changed Public Radio: Honoring Susan Stamberg

Susan Stamberg, radio legend and one of NPR's "founding mothers," has passed at 87.

Her passing marks the end of an era in American broadcasting, one shaped not just by her voice, but by the way she led the way for women in journalism. From humble beginnings by cutting tape, to anchoring National Public Radio's (NPR) flagship news show, she redefined what it could mean to be a broadcaster: curious, warm, and candid.

Susan Stamberg Beginning On-Air

In 1972, Stamberg became the first woman to host a national news program when she joined All Things Considered, shattering barriers in a male-dominated industry. As she later recalled, in the early days of her career, she mimicked the deep authoritative tones of her male colleagues, lowering her voice to conform to what she thought a news anchor "should sound like."

But Bill Siemering, NPR's first program director, intervened gently yet clearly, telling her two simple, but powerful words: “Be yourself.”

What he meant, Stamberg explained, was that NPR wanted voices that sounded like people you might hear around the dinner table or possibly in your local grocery store, not polished imitations of broadcasting "norms."

That advice became influential for Susan Stamberg, once she stopped filtering herself, she developed the warm, inviting, and conversational style that came to define her decades-long presence on public radio today.

All Things Considered

Susan Stamberg joined NPR right around its founding in 1971 and became co-host of All Things Considered in 1972. She held that role for 14 years, through 1986, being the first woman to anchor a nationally broadcast evening news program, during that time period, she helped shape the show's voice and establish NPR's signature style: conversational, intelligent, warm yet punctilious.

In 1987, she made a transition. Stamberg became the first host of Weekend Edition Sunday. This shift meant moving from a daily news/magazine format to a more varied, weekend-style show that combined culture, interviews and feature stories, less breaking news and more context and leisurely pacing. She also introduced the Sunday Puzzle with Will Shortz during that time, anchoring parts of the show that listeners came to love for being thoughtful, human, and reflective in a way that differed from weekday news. 

Legacy and Impact

In addition to her groundbreaking achievements on the air, Stamberg became a mentor and role model for generations of journalists, especially women searching for their media voice. She demonstrated that credibility did not require stuffiness, and warmth was compatible with authority. She showed that authenticity, curiosity, and empathy could be equal to the power of an impeccably pronounced and written script.

Stamberg's interviews were frequently revealing and intimate regardless of whether she was interviewing presidents, authors, musicians, or everyday Americans with remarkable stories. She had the extraordinary ability to make her subjects, and her audience, feel comfortable enough to let their voices be heard yet still eliciting and producing journalistic integrity. In doing so, she contributed to defining NPR's ethos: storytelling that informs, inspires, and connects.

A Voice That Endures

Even after stepping away from being a daily host, she remained familiar on NPR, appearing on occasional broadcasts, retrospectives, and interviews. Her voice can be heard in the voices of endless other public radio hosts who credit her warmth, wit, and courage as the basis for their own careers.

While NPR and the larger journalism family grieve her loss, listeners consigned a remarkable legacy to her:

The concept that radio could be personal, welcoming, and life-changing. Susan Stamberg didn't just report the news: she envisioned what a broadcaster could be, and even further, shaped the sound of public radio for years to come.

To learn more information, visit www.womenspeakupus.org for resources, events and more.

Written by: Peighton Yoakam

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