Deliberate Indifference – Inside Alabama’s Prison Crisis
You’ve probably heard of our new narrative podcast, Deliberate Indifference. And, given all the heavy news the past few months alone, you may think this is the last thing you want to listen to.
I urge to reconsider.
As citizens, we have a right to know how more than 500 million of our tax dollars are being spent and if that money is producing effective results. And as a public service institution, it’s our job to give you that information.
So when you listen, you’ll hear the stories about conditions inside Alabama’s prisons that are so bad, it sparked a legal battle between Alabama and the U.S. Justice Department.
My colleague Mary Scott Hodgin began working on this project before the pandemic, which added a whole other layer to the reporting, because it’s an important story impacting real people on all sides of this issue. Every minute of this seven-part series is riveting.
While the subject matter is heavy, you can listen at your convenience and stop at any time – episodes are about 30-40 minutes each. If you can only hear one episode, I suggest episode three, Habitual Offenders, where we unpack the ramifications of strict sentencing laws, “locking up the bad guys,” and “getting tough on crime.” These sentencing laws meant the country’s prisons (including Alabama’s) couldn’t keep up with the growing population.
But prison overcrowding didn’t happen overnight, and it won’t be fixed overnight. The questions this episode raises should be concerning for everyone.
On an altogether different note, this week marks the last episode of On Being on WBHM. And, as a reminder, there’s a small program change going into effect on Sunday, June 26th.
(Through “Programming Notes,” we hope to keep you connected to what is happening at WBHM both internally and on-air. Have feedback you’d like to share? Or a programming question? Let me know!)
Incoming Transmission! Pt. 2
You may remember earlier this year when WBHM held a special Transmitter Drive. With your support, we raised the final $50,000 to purchase and install a new transmitter. In total, this project cost $230,000. For this edition of Program Notes, I checked in with WBHM’s engineer Darrell McCalla who oversees this project for an update […]
Meeting You Where You Are
Last week, I attended the Public Radio Content Conference – the premier gathering for non-commercial programmers, content managers and leaders in the public media ecosystem. This was the first in-person conference in more than two years and, it was good to reconnect with my colleagues in person — not just because of the pandemic, but […]
Rise and Shine
I spent early August substitute hosting Morning Edition for Miranda Fulmore who was on a well-deserved vacation. And while everyone has their routine, I thought I’d share a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes in the very early hours of the day. I get up at 3 a.m. which also means I really try […]
There’s Lots of Moth’s in the Air
This week, I’m writing about The Moth – not the insect, the storytelling phenomenon! If you haven’t heard, The Moth is true stories told live, without notes. It’s personal storytelling that connects us as human beings. These stories are told in different ways to millions of people each year including right here in the Heart […]
Welcome Back to Program Notes!
I spent a (mostly) restful two weeks off visiting with extended family – most of us hadn’t seen each other since before the pandemic. But even on vacation, I still listen to public radio wherever I am. Sure, I could (and often do) listen online, but there’s a part of me that’s also a fan […]
What’s in a name?
Every so often, I hear from listeners who politely (or sometimes not so politely) take WBHM to task for mispronouncing words. As Program Director, it’s my job to make sure we sound not just consistent on the air, but credible as well. Whether it’s a classical composer or name or place in the news, this […]
