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Enamored with RadioWOSU Internship Fosters a Lifelong LoveBy Leticia Wiggins, PhD Student, Department of HistoryRadio can establish a deeply personalconnection even as it reaches out to awidespread audience. An understandingof its paradoxical nature drives my loveof radio and is the motivation behind thework I do for “All Sides with Ann Fisher,” atthe NPR affiliated WOSU.National Public Radio has always beenin my life, but I first felt a strong connectionto radio programming on my 12thbirthday. That morning, as I tied myshoes with clumsy bunny loops readyingfor school, my mother phoned a localoldies radio station with a request to play“American Pie”—a song I was ridiculouslyand inexplicably enamored with—for “adaughter on her birthday.” The DJ admittedMclean’s opus might be too long to addto the playlist, but he would see what hecould do. Then, sitting with my legs up onthe school bus seat, I waited, listened, andhoped I would hear the song.Propitiously, the bus driver loved “Oldies102.1” as much as my mother. Sitting in thefront of the bus and halfway to school, Ifinally heard a familiar, folksy voice on theradio begin, “A long, long time ago….” Asthe entirety of Don Mclean’s American Pieplayed over the radio, I had an epiphany.The song was playing for me, yet othersheard it too. There was a kind of magicthere. That was when I went from appreciatingradio to loving it.Years later, as a junior at Ohio State, Iwas excited to start an internshipwith WOSU. The productionsinternship for “All Sides”at radio WOSU covers topicsranging from the specifics ofthe Columbus communityand Central Ohio to largernational and global issues. Iremember my initial nervousinterview and eventual elationat being accepted for the internposition. As a history and comparativestudies major, I hadno journalistic background,but I did have a love for discussionsof public policy, myadopted city of Columbus,and the bearded NPR “Talk ofThe Nation” host Neal Conan.The position involved research for futureshows and correspondence with potentialguests. They needed someone to dig uparticles relating to daily discussion topics.As I loved both research and working withpeople, I knew this was something I couldtackle. I still remember my first task—looking up the environmental impact ofAsian Carp in the Great Lakes. They aregenerally horrible creatures.Over time, the nature of the internshipchanged. A more developed understandingof the show’s production came with involvingmyself in the phone screening process,podcast editing, and various attempts atscript writing. In addition to the developmentof the intern’s tasks, the nature ofthe show was changing. An increase in thenumber of guests and more diverse rangeof topics drove the show to focus on “AllSides” of the issues. Representation andconsideration of multiple facets influencedthis talk program’s dialogue; and this ishow the subject of human diversity findsitself at WOSU.“All Sides” evidenced its attention todiversity when addressing the qualityof programming from the daily newsmeetings to the planning of upcomingshows. The underlying question duringthese meetings was “what are peopletalking about?” This attention to thegreater community—to the issues thatreally matter to people—remains at theheart of what “All Sides” tries to accomplish.Even so, at times it is necessary to considerwhat people are not talking about and lookto what people should consider.In this vein, “All Sides” works to inviteguests to the program who range from thenationally acclaimed to up-and-cominglocal personalities. During my time at thestation, I have been awestruck over themany encounters with our guests. In thepast three years I’ve had the opportunity tospeak with Bexley native, Josh Radnor (starof How I Met your Mother), political junkyKen Rudin, Hustler magazine creator LarryFlynt, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasseTyson. This is just a sampling of thevarious personalities who have gracedthe program. Whether one is a sciencenerd, lover of pop culture, or even an AsianCarp enthusiast, there is undoubtedly an“All Sides” show of interest.This again speaks to the show’s abilityto address a broad audience with diverseinterests. Engaging in topics related toscience, literature, politics, and transnationalissues endows “All Sides” with avariety of followers who can phone inand participate by lending their variousopinions to the program. The show isinherently committed to diversity, becauseColumbus is diverse. Additionally, the staffand individuals who work for “All Sides,” andat WOSU are wonderful individuals committedto educating the broader publicand reporting current issues in an accessiblemanner. Host, Ann Fisher, is genuinelydevoted to providing information andtransformative stories to her listenership. Inturn, the producer Michael DeBonis, associateproducer Amy Juravich, and studentproduction assistants Corinne Gleckler,Karam Sheban, and Rose Zhou provide ateam committed to providing quality journalismand programming every work-dayfrom 10-Noon. Additionally, all membersof Classical 101, the WOSU newsroom,and the many technical geniuses, providea genuinely enjoyable daily work environment.Although I have transitioned froman undergraduate daily intern to a oncea-weekgraduate student volunteer, I stillfeel welcomed and am excited to be partof WOSU.22