Challenges and Reflections in Public Media

Host Diane Rehm sat behind the mic at our home station, WAMU, for nearly 40 years. Her eponymous news talk program aired from 1979 to 2016 to nearly 3 million listeners each week.

In some ways, her success in radio defied the odds. In 1998, she was diagnosed with the neurological condition spasmodic dysphonia. It gave her the distinct voice that over time became synonymous for many with civil conversations on frequently tough topics.

In 2014, President Barack Obama presented Diane with a National Humanities Medal in recognition of her work.

In 2016, she stepped away from her live show, handing the reins to 1A and making the move to her own weekly podcast.

Now, she's saying goodbye to public radio for good, with the end of her podcast and the start of new independent projects.

She joins us to talk about what her tenure in radio and news.

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