Did you know that every public radio program has a clock? Broadcast clocks are set templates that stations like ours use to track the timing of a show's stories and interviews, newscasts, and funding credits each day.
This fall NPR is making some changes to its newsmagazine clocks, in partnership with member stations across the country. This will help align programs with the way people listen to radio today, and provide stations with more flexibility to include the local news and info that's important to their audiences.
Regular Morning Edition features like StoryCorps and the sports commentaries by Frank DeFord will continue, though you may hear them in different parts of the program. NPR is also adding five seconds to its national funding credits (The "Support for NPR is provided by..." messages you hear during NPR programs). There will continue to be eight scheduled credits per hour in both newsmagazines.
So how will you notice the changes? Starting November 17, you're likely to hear several more regular breaks for local news and info in Morning Edition, and a 4-minute local feature segment in each hour of All Things Considered. In both clocks, music breaks are longer, giving Alabama Public Radio more opportunities to share details on upcoming stories while still having time to insert our local material.
APR is sharing feedback with NPR about these changes as they roll out. If you have questions or comments, please let us know by visiting our Contact Us page.