Thank you for explaining. But also: Many NPR stations air Radiolab, and that is where I, and probably GP, hear it.

What I'm suggesting is that we step back from referring to our public radio stations - even NPR member and associate stations - as "NPR stations" (with perhaps exceptions for the regional bureaus and arguably WAMU) and instead think of them as a decentralized network of content production.

If you are listening to Radiolab on KQED or WBUR, then NPR had little to do with it (and, I argue, it shows! In a good way!).

Many local public radio stations are member stations of both NPR and PRX, but we never hear people call them "PRX stations". Why? I think the answer is almost certainly because the NPR and CPB fact sheets and on-air station identifications refer to them that way.

But nearly all of the best programs that are distributed to our local public radio stations are actually being ground out by energetic, lesser-known producers and journalists at much smaller local radio stations, with which they identify much more strongly than they identify with a particular syndicator.

If you like Radiolab, understand how the unique culture at WNYC creates a show like that, and consider that your esteem for public radio may be more nuanced than NPR.

Thanks for the clarification. I just think of my local radio as "NPR" since it's about 90% of the daytime content. TBH I thought Radiolab was independently produced but that NPR had picked it up instead of my local station putting it next to NPR content.

Radiolab is definitely one of my favorite radio shows though. The first time I heard it, it was the internal monologue of somebody having an existential crisis on an airline, which was equally bizarre and hysterical.

Do you mind if I ask which is your local / most frequently listened-to station?

I got the notion you work in radio. I'm in range of KLCC or a station which rebroadcasts it.

Awesome! I love KLCC. Oregon has great public radio, with KOPB of course being super popular, but I think the smaller KLCC is just as good. Also, don't sleep on KBOO in Portland.

As for the notion that I work in radio: I have flirted with radio, including a stint at my college radio station and a one-year contract at WNYC, which was a formative part of my career for sure. But I work in cryptography at the moment, and I'm working on pushing boundaries regarding publishing of media via blockchain tech in the hopes that the spirit of public radio can live on in a new economy.

So let's look at today's schedule for KLCC and assess the degree to which it is an "NPR station":

* PRX Remix - a fun, easy, and affordable way to keep your station interesting. I actually wrote some of the syndication code that became this project during my time at WNYC. I have no idea whether it's still in use. ~Not NPR~

5:00 AM Weekend Edition Saturday - as NPR as it gets. I believe this is recorded and produced at the new NPR headquarters in Washington DC. 10:00 AM Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! - Yep, also NPR. And actually, this show exemplifies the kind of annoying, on-the-nose content that sometimes bugs me about NPR. But the production quality is solid, I'll give it that.

11:00 AM Live Wire - I assume this is the podcast. Very much ~Not NPR~, this podcast is a great example of a small group of passionate radio artists punching way above their weight.

12:00 PM This American Life - I suspect that many people think that this show is NPR because of the cadence, production value, and subject matter, but it isn't. This show is recorded and produced at WBEZ and syndicated via PRX. If I may dare suggest: it seems to me that this show is quite proud of being ~Not NPR~

1:00 PM Radiolab - Quintessential WNYC, produced in the bullpen on the 9th floor of the WNYC HQ in Hudson Square, NYC, with plenty of high-quality cannabis and kickass coffee from the nearby La Colombe or Ground Support. Many aspiring producers and audio techs have been given a shot over the years, and no two segments sound quite alike. ~Not NPR~

2:00 PM Travel with Rick Steves - An unusual but perhaps trailblazing phenomenon, this show is engineered, produced, _and_ distributed by Steves and his friends personally in a studio they built specifically for this show. Obviously Rick does amazing work. ~Not NPR~

3:00 PM Eye 5 - KLCC local content, coming to you over the air right from your neck of the woods. No syndication needed. ~Not NPR~

5:00 PM All Things Considered - The only show on this schedule that's even more central to NPR than Weekend Edition. 6:00 PM All Songs Considered - Also NPR. 6:30 PM Alt.Latino - Also NPR.

7:00 PM Dead Air - Another KLCC local show. I might listen in. :-) 9:00 PM Folk Alley - Similar format to Live Wire, Folk Alley produces both a full-time stream and a curated and narrated show, distributed by PRX. ~Not NPR~ 11:00 PM PRX Remix - ~Not NPR~

So, the only parts of today's schedule that make KLCC an "NPR Station" is the morning content from 5-10 and the evening content from 5-6:30. Other than those hours, it looks like they have worked very hard to put together an enriching and diverse schedule which includes syndicated content, independent content, and local content.

I'd say KLCC is much bigger than an outlet for accessing NPR, and deserves recognition and funding consistent with the work that they put in from their comparatively small operation and studio.