Legacy Interviews

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“When an old person dies, it's as if a library has burned to the ground.”
– African Proverb

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There’s something quietly powerful about watching and listening to people speak—candidly and informally—about their time in public broadcasting. These individual interviews add depth and texture to the larger story of public media, bringing to life what can’t be captured by timelines or program guides.

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There’s also real value in the diversity of experiences. No two stations were quite the same, and no two people followed the same path. Some found their way to public broadcasting after being shut out of commercial media. Others stayed because the mission—education, access, service—reflected their values. Their stories offer a window into the spirit of public media: the ideals, the frustrations, and the steady sense of purpose that carried them through, even when resources were thin and recognition was limited.

In the end, these interviews are about people. Not just what they did, but why they did it—and what it meant to them.

 

That’s what makes them worth preserving. Each voice contributes something essential that facts and figures simply can’t convey.

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