KGOU Newsletter for December 2007
"I Heard It on KGOU" Essay Contest
You may have heard the staff of KGOU say that we're "listener supported", or that "listeners make the programming possible". We can actually take it much further, because listeners are the reason KGOU exists. So, when we hold our dedication ceremony for our new studios next month, and celebrate our 25th anniversary as a public radio station, we want to recognize the listeners' point of view. To that end, we invite KGOU listeners to think about why you listen to this public radio station, and write a short essay along the lines of the  This I Believe essays on NPR. The theme is "I Heard It on KGOU", and the contest is open to any listener, whether you've been tuning in for the entire 25 years, or for only a short time.
Put your sentiments into 400 words or less, and send your essay to General Manager Karen Holp at manager@kgou.org by Friday, January 4. The best ones will be posted on the website, and one will be chosen to be read by the author at the dedication ceremony on Friday, January 18 at 5 p.m.
Capitol Steps Coming to Oklahoma
 You've heard their hilarious specials on KGOU, but now they're leaving the Beltway and heading west! The Capitol Steps, a group of former and current Capitol Hill staffers, will perform their brand of political satire at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, December 13 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Cox Convention Center. Cost for the event is $75 per ticket for Chamber members and $100 for non-members. Register online at the Chamber's website or email register@okcchamber.com.
Coming Up This Month on Oklahoma Voices . . .
The KGOU News team is working on some interesting and insightful stories for Oklahoma Voices, heard Mondays at 11 a.m.:
December 10, we’ll air Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett’s speech to Greater OKC Chamber members about the upcoming school bond vote, and Kurt Gwartney will take us on a radio tour  of the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History’s “Collecting Oklahoma” centennial exhibit.On December 17, News Director Scott Gurian reports on the case of Theresa Hernandez, an Oklahoma City woman who is charged with murder after suffering a stillbirth and testing positive for methamphetamine. We’ll find out who is opposing the prosecution, and why. And on December 24, KGOU’s Susan Shannon will host a program featuring speeches from the 2007 Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony.
NPR Appoints New Ombudsman
Journalist, author, media critic and educator Alicia C. Shepard has been named Ombudsman for NPR, appointed for a two-year term. The Ombudsman is the public's representative to NPR, serving as an independent source of information, explanation, amplification and analysis regarding NPR's programming.
"Lisa brings a strong portfolio in analyzing and explaining journalism and media policy," said NPR President Kevin Klose. Recently, Shepard was a principal contributor to the American Journalism Review on such topics as ethics and the newspaper industry. She has also been awarded the National Press Club’s top media criticism prize three times. Shepard has taught undergraduate and graduate-level journalism courses at Georgetown University, American University and the University of Texas. In 2000, NPR was the first U.S. broadcast news organization to create an Ombudsman position with the goal of bringing transparency to journalism decision-making processes. Since then, several other prominent news organizations have followed suit, including PBS and CBS News. Klose says the position is a critical one for NPR, receiving more than 75,000 listener inquiries each year and responding to questions, comments and criticisms. 20 Years of Car Talk – And Still Not Canceled!
Iran Sparks Fireworks at Democrats' Debate
Just one month before the Iowa caucuses, Democratic presidential candidates clashed over Iran, and tackled trade and immigration during a radio debate December 4 sponsored by NPR and Iowa Public Radio.
 The entire two-hour broadcast is available for listening or downloading at npr.org, plus you can view a photo slideshow, hear more from the candidates on a question posed after the broadcast concluded,
and read an analysis of the candidates' responses double-checked by NPR correspondents.NPR is still working to schedule a radio debate with the Republican presidential candidates. Interactive Map Augments Election Coverage
 NPR.org has a resource for tracking the presidential campaign from the primary season through the general election – an interactive map that contains a calendar of presidential primaries and historical voting information for each state.
As the campaign season continues, NPR will continue to update the map, including information about Senate, House, and gubernatorial candidates (with analysis by political junkie Ken Rudin), live results data for the presidential primaries, and additional background information for each state. Election night, the map will feature returns and results. In Texas, Climate Creeping onto Agenda
 With plenty of gas-guzzling SUVs, air conditioning and coal-burning power plants, Texas emits more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other state. And if Texas were a country, it would be the seventh-largest carbon dioxide polluter in the world. But while many Texans think bigger is better, there are signs of an attitude change on energy consumption.
Listen to John Burnett's report that aired on Morning Edition November 26, and see an audio slideshow at npr.org.
Correspondents' Choice ~ Paris
As a part of NPR’s web-only series, Sylvia Poggioli describes the lavish dining experience awaiting customers at Le Train Bleu (The Blue Train), a luxurious restaurant in the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris. Bon appétit!
 Take a Blue Train to Sumptuous Dining
NPR's Holiday Gift Picks
 Looking for a last-minute gift this holiday season? NPR has compiled a list
of editors' picks of books, DVDs, CDs, and recipes. Visit the Holidays 2007 page for some ideas for even the most difficult-to-please person on your list.
And, to set the holiday mood, you'll also find NPR's perennial holiday audio, including all-new Hanukkah Lights stories, Click and Clack's retelling of A Christmas Carol and David Sedaris's misadventures as Crumpet the Elf.
Gift Brings Van Gogh's 'Ox-Cart' to Oregon Museum
 A dark, early painting by Vincent Van Gogh is coming into public view for the first time in more than 50 years. An Oregon family donated the work, described as priceless, to the Portland Art Museum. See the painting, and hear Susan Stamberg's report that aired on Morning Edition December 3.
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