Coincidently, this painting is featured in a current exhibition on display in the Dudley H. Davis Center at the University of Vermont, called "Americans Who Tell the Truth", a collection of portraits by Robert Shetterly.
As an augmentation to our nascent educational radio program, I've been fervently listening to and seeking out other great radio journalists and interviewers to gain insight and a model to strive for. As usual, NPR is a idealistic model for informational talk radio, but many other professional and reputable radio hosts exist.
One such host is Bill Moyers. He currently is the host and producer of Bill Moyers' Journal on PBS:
"Bringing back the landmark PBS series that first aired 35 years ago, Bill Moyers Journal will be reinvented for the 21st century to reflect the new challenges facing journalism and the issues confronting democracy. As always with a Moyers project on PBS, this one will be on mission, timely, and important.
The goal is to enrich the conversation of democracy with fresh and original voices-perspectives seldom available anywhere else on television-that reflect a diversity of wisdom, experience, and insight. Each week in a one-hour broadcast, BILL MOYERS JOURNAL will feature produced analysis of vital issues, strong interviews with unique voices on politics, the arts and letters, science, religion, and the media, as well as debates on public issues and documentary specials."
In the last week or so, I've become a dedicated fan and "student" of Bill Moyers, vying for his exceptional approach to American struggles and inquiring top intellects and genuine contemporary perspectives on how to deal with or solve those struggles.
Visit the homepage of Bill Moyers Journal here.
I highly suggest podcasting and listening to the following three episodes as a powerful introduction to Bill Moyers' Journal:
1. 12/28/2007 with Historian Tom Cahill
2. 4/27/2007 with Jon Stewart and Josh Marshell
3. 10/5/2007 Essay on Amish Grace
In addition, Bill Moyers' has an incredible profile and history full of revolutionary trials and successes. A brief history from Wikipedia reads:
"During the Kennedy Administration, Moyers was first appointed as associate director of public affairs for the newly created Peace Corps in 1961. He served as Deputy Director from 1962-63. When Johnson took office after the Kennedy assassination, Moyers became a special assistant to Johnson, serving from 1963–1967. He played a key role in organizing and supervising the 1964 Great Society legislative task forces and was a principal architect of Johnson's 1964 presidential campaign. When Walter Jenkins resigned from Johnson's staff in October 1964, Moyers became the President's informal chief of staff until 1966. From July 1965 to February 1967, he also served as White House Press Secretary.[3] In the New York Times on April 3, 1966, Moyers offered this insight on his stint as press secretary to President Johnson: "I work for him despite his faults and he lets me work for him despite my deficiencies."[4][5] The details of his rift with Johnson have not been made public, but may be discussed in a forthcoming memoir".[6]
"Recipient of the 2006 Lifetime Emmy, "Bill Moyers has devoted his lifetime to the exploration of the major issues and ideas of our time and our country, giving television viewers an informed perspective on political and societal concerns," according to the official announcement, which also noted, "the scope of and quality of his broadcasts have been honored time and again. It is fitting that the National Television Academy honor him with our highest honor – the Lifetime Achievement Award."[7] He has received well over thirty Emmys and virtually every other major television journalism prize, including a gold baton from the Dupont Journalism awards, a lifetime Peabody award, and a George Polk Career Award (his third George Polk Award) for contributions to journalistic integrity and investigative reporting. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has been the recipient of numerous honorary degrees."
I hope that Bill Moyers' graceful and ingenious journalistic and critically analytical abilities will penetrate your psyche and rationale as much as mine.
