The Takeaway

The Takeaway was a weekday radio news program co-created and co-produced by Public Radio International and WNYC. Its editorial partner is WGBH-FM; at launch the BBC World Service and The New York Times were also editorial partners. In addition to co-producing the program, PRX also distributes the program nationwide to its affiliated stations. The program debuted on WNYC in New York, WGBH in Boston, and WEAA in Baltimore.[1] At time of its last broadcast, the program had approximately 241 carrying stations across the country, including markets in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Portland, Boston, and more.[2]

For other uses, see Takeaway (disambiguation).

The Takeaway
GenreNews: Global news, National USA News, analysis, commentary, interviews, discussion, perspectives, breaking news, UG content
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationWNYC New York Public Radio
SyndicatesPublic Radio Exchange
Hosted byMelissa Harris-Perry
Created byPRI Public Radio International & WNYC New York Public Radio
Executive producer(s)Lee Hill
Recording studioNew York, NY
Original releaseApril 28, 2008 –
June 2, 2023
Audio formatStereophonic
Websitewww.thetakeaway.org
Podcastfeeds.wnyc.org/thetakeaway

The show has had several permanent hosts since its inception in 2008, sometimes with a single host, other times with two hosts. The program began with two co-hosts Adaora Udoji and John Hockenberry. Celeste Headlee replaced Udoji to become the second permanent co-host of The Takeaway. After Headlee left The Takeaway, Hockenberry remained the solo host for the next five years, he was eventually replaced by Tanzina Vega. After Vega's hosting tenure, Melissa Harris-Perry took over hosting duties until the show's end in 2023.

On February 17, 2023 WNYC, and PRX announced that The Takeaway had been cancelled, and the last episode of the show would air on June 2, 2023.[3][4]

Mission

The program's stated intent is to deliver "national and international news and cultural stories through a conversational and unprecedented personality-driven format."[5] The program launched on April 28, 2008, initially airing in two separate live feeds—from 6 am to 7 am on WNYC 93.9 FM and from 8 to 9 am on AM 820.[6] [7]

On January 25, 2010, as part of WNYC-FM's new schedule the show was moved to WNYC-AM, a later hour, and expanded to four hours.[8] On September 3, 2012, the show was reduced to one hour.[9]

The program has received major philanthropic support from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,[10] the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,[11] Rockefeller Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation.[12]

Presenters

The show initially launched with Nigerian-American broadcaster Adaora Udoji and John Hockenberry as co-hosts. Udoji left the show after eight months.[13] Over the course of several months in 2009, The Takeaway featured various guest co-hosts, including African-American journalist Farai Chideya, WDET news director Jerome Vaughn; television presenters Daljit Dhaliwal and Lynn Sherr; and broadcast journalists Katherine Lanpher and Celeste Headlee. In addition, staffers Femi Oke and Todd Zwillich also guest-hosted. After several stints as guest co-host, Headlee joined the show as permanent co-host September 21, 2009[14] until her departure August 17, 2012.[15]

Hockenberry anchored until August 2017, stepping down without an appointed replacement.[16] Todd Zwillich served as an interim host.[17]

On March 27, 2018, it was announced that Tanzina Vega, formerly of CNN and The New York Times, would be the new host of The Takeaway. Vega started hosting the program on May 7, 2018. Later that year, Amy Walter, of the Cook Political Report, joined as Friday host.

On July 23, 2021, Vega announced her departure from The Takeaway and WNYC.[18] Melissa Harris-Perry was named as interim host following Tanzina Vega's departure.[19]

On October 18, 2021, Harris-Perry was named permanent host and managing editor of the program.[20]

Format

With the program's debut, public radio had more than one program available throughout the morning drive across time zones for the first time. The format of the program was influenced by discussions at the Stanford Joint Program in Design.[21] It has a different tone and approach from NPR's Morning Edition, delivering national and international news and cultural stories through a conversational and personality-driven format rather than a magazine, packaged pieces format like Morning Edition. The web presence of the program allows listeners to respond immediately to news and participate in editorial decision-making, as well as building a significant online community around the content.

Effective September 2012, with an expiration of a Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant and limited uptake at public radio stations, The Takeaway was reduced to one hour, feeding at 9 am Eastern with an updated hour feeding at 12 noon Eastern for the Pacific Time Zone and midday Eastern markets. WGBH Boston airs the program every weekday at 10 am and 2 pm Eastern.[22]

The difference between the expectations of public radio listeners and the tone of the program initially led to a negative response from some listeners.[23][24][25][26] However, a 2012 study noted that the program had succeeded in attracting a more diverse audience, with African American listenership exceeding public radio averages by 60%.[27] The show also received multiple awards, including The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Community Lifeline Award (shared with WNYC for coverage of Hurricane Sandy in 2012) and the 2011 Radio and Television Digital News Association/UNITY Award (for their series "Fluid Identities").

Controversies

In 2011, The Takeaway dismissed part-time freelancer Caitlin Curran, after she had participated in the Occupy Wall Street protests. According to WNYC's company guidelines: "Individuals may not participate in an advocacy manner in events involving causes or issues that New York Public Radio covers or may cover." At the time, The Takeaway was covering the protests extensively. The dismissal was widely criticized.[28]

On December 1, 2017, New York magazine published journalist Suki Kim's story alleging that John Hockenberry had created a toxic work environment for his co-hosts and lower-level co-workers and had even crossed the line of sexual harassment.[29] In WNYC's own reporting about the story, journalist Ilya Marritz stated that four women had "approached WNYC News to say they recently filed harassment complaints with the station and have been dissatisfied with the response from human resources."[30] In the wake of these revelations former host Adaora Udoji published an editorial in U.S. online edition of The Guardian, describing her experience as "an excruciating, painful ride that would haunt me nearly 10 years later."[31]

Five days after the Hockenberry story was published in New York magazine, WNYC suspended two of their best known hosts, Leonard Lopate and Jonathan Schwartz pending investigations into "inappropriate conduct". Two weeks later WNYC announced that both hosts had been fired for violating WNYC's "standards for providing an inclusive, appropriate, and respectful work environment."[32]

On January 26, 2018, WNYC announced that Chief Content Officer Dean Cappello would no longer oversee WNYC News and WNYC Studios, nor would he oversee any direct reports.[33]

The cancellation of The Takeaway was mired in controversy. WNYC cited the expensive nature of producing a daily radio program, as well as a decline in the listening audience. They noted that the carriage of the program on public radio stations across the United States has dropped 13% in the last several years. LaFontaine Oliver CEO of NYPR cited a $7 million deficit for the company in 2023. Members of the NYPR employees' union countered by pointing out that executive compensation remains completely intact, executive compensation numbers estimated to be $1.85 million with Oliver himself taking three quarters of a million dollars.[34][35]

References
  1. "PRI and WNYC Radio's The Takeaway with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji to Launch On Air and Online on Monday, April 28". WNYC. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  2. "'The Takeaway' canceled by WNYC, PRX". Current. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. Falk, Tyler (17 February 2023). "'The Takeaway' canceled by WNYC, PRX". Current. American University School of Communication. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. Pinto, Nick (9 March 2023). "Inside the Cancellation of WNYC's 'The Takeaway'". Hell Gate NYC. Alley Group. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  5. "PRI and WNYC Radio's The Takeaway with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji to Launch On Air and Online on Monday, April 28". WNYC. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  6. "PRI and WNYC Radio's The Takeaway with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji to Launch On Air and Online on Monday, April 28". WNYC. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  7. Joe Nocera (3 May 2008). "An Upstart Up Against a Jewel". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  8. Ostrow, Joanne (21 December 2009). "Takeaway takes on FM status quo". The Denver Post. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  9. Janssen, Mike (9 July 2012). "Takeaway shifts to middays in bid for broader carriage". Current.org. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  10. CPB: Corporation for Public Broadcasting Announces Funding Support for PRI and WNYC Radio's The Takeaway with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji
  11. PRI.ORG | PRI receives Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  12. PRI.ORG | PRI partners with Skoll Foundation Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "Public Radio Icon John Hockenberry Accused of Harassing Female Colleagues". NY Magazine. December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  14. "WNYC and Public Radio International Announce New Co-Host for The Takeaway". WNYC News. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  15. "Izzi Smith joins NPR programming, Headlee leaves The Takeaway, Brooks heads project for deaf/blind". Current. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  16. "'Takeaway' host Hockenberry to step down in August". Current. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  17. "Celeste Headlee on Twitter: "@silouette74 I left the Takeaway -- my last day was Friday."". Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  18. Falzone, Maxwell Tani (23 July 2021). "WNYC 'The Takeaway' Host Tanzina Vega Leaves Amid Internal Tensions". The Daily Beast.
  19. "'Takeaway' host Tanzina Vega resigns".
  20. "Melissa Harris-Perry Named Host and Managing Editor of the Takeaway from WNYC Studios and PRX". 18 October 2021.
  21. "Fast Company". Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  22. "Current.org - Retreats from Morning Edition turf, 2012". Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  23. "Nostalgic Rumblings - a radio blog". Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  24. "Commentary by Skipp Porteus". Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  25. "Axolotl.com" Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
  26. "The Errant Aesthete"
  27. "Current.org - Retreats from Morning Edition turf, 2012". Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  28. "Live Chat: Brooke Gladstone on WNYC Freelancer Dismissal and Public Radio's Political Conundrum" Archived 2011-11-05 at the Wayback Machine. On the Media.
  29. "Public Radio Icon John Hockenberry Accused of Harassing Female Colleagues". New York. December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  30. "Harassment and Bullying Allegations Rock WNYC After Departure of Celebrated Host". WNYC News. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  31. "I was a co-host with John Hockenberry on WNYC. The experience was scarring". The Guardian. London. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  32. "New York Public Radio Fires Hosts Lopate and Schwartz". WNYC News. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  33. "New York Public Radio Reshuffles Executive Leadership Amid Harassment Allegations". WNYC News. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  34. Falk, Tyler (17 February 2023). "'The Takeaway' canceled by WNYC, PRX". Current. American University School of Communication. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  35. Pinto, Nick (9 March 2023). "Inside the Cancellation of WNYC's 'The Takeaway'". Hell Gate NYC. Alley Group. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
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