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"Take the hits and keep on going": A conversation about journalism with NPR's Scott Simon

On this episode, we sit down with Scott Simon, longtime journalist and host of NPR's Weekend Edition to talk about the state of the news — plus highlights from Simon's remarks at the recent WHQR 40th anniversary luncheon.

On today’s show, we’re hearing from Scott Simon — a longtime practitioner of the Chicago school of journalism, whose guiding philosophy is to comfort the afflicted — and to afflict the comfortable.

Since 1985, Simon has been most recognizable as the voice of NPR’s Weekend Edition, in addition to his work as an essayist and author of both fiction and nonfiction books. He’s distinguished himself as a war correspondent, and an unflagging fan of sports, specifically the Chicago Cubs and Bulls — as well as an empathetic and insightful essayist.

Last month, Simon spoke to a capacity crowd at WHQR’s annual luncheon and, on today's show, we’ll hear his opening remarks, as he takes stock of where journalism is today. You can also hear his full appearance, complete with his answers to audience questions (as asked by WHQR board member and County Commissioner Rob Zapple), below:

Scott Simon speaks at the WHQR 40th Anniversary Luncheon

Also on today's show, we’ll hear our own interview with Simon, where we pushed a little deeper into the conversation about the state of news and — to use a metaphor we think would he would appreciate Simon — talked a little inside baseball.

Music:

  • "The Giving Tree" — If These Treese Could Talk
  • "In Passage" — Blue Dot Sessions
Ben Schachtman is a journalist and editor with a focus on local government accountability. He began reporting for Port City Daily in the Wilmington area in 2016 and took over as managing editor there in 2018. He’s a graduate of Rutgers College and later received his MA from NYU and his PhD from SUNY-Stony Brook, both in English Literature.