Best NPR Blogs
National Public Radio has been very savvy about its move into the new millenium. Though it still definitely puts on some of the country's best regarded radio programming, NPR has delved more thoroughly and expansively into the web log community. Its coverage of online reporting and writing has broadened and grown far more diverse in recent years. Here's our selection of the best NPR blogs, as well as blogs that celebrate the best of radio.
Top Five
- Alt.Latino: The Blog: One of the least covered scenes in the music community is the Latin lyrical genre. Most blogs flaunt a bias toward indie or electronica tunes, leaving Latin genres unattended and little appreciated. NPR fills this void with style and comprehension. Alt.Latino writes in both English and Spanish, helmed by bloggers Jasmine and Felix, who are unabashedly hooked on the best in contemporary Latin rock.
- Why We Love It: The best blog around for excellent coverage, interviews, and insight into the alternative Latin music scene.
- Favorite Post: La Bien Querida
- The Picture Show: As pictures are worth one thousand words each, The Picture Show is a veritable dictionary on the beauty, blemishes, and real resplendence that comprise our modern-day world. Every post on the NPR blog centers around a group of photos, the topic of which the writers will extrapolate on in order to provoke a larger conversation. Recent examples of this include features on Mexican pilgrimage and infamous protesters.
- Why We Love It: Engage with the art forms of photography, deep thought, and conversation with this photogenic site.
- Favorite Post: Oscars Through The Years
- A Blog Supreme: A Blog Supreme has attracted a loyal and illustrious following for its top-tier perspective on the contemporary jazz scene. Stalwarts of jazz music will rub shoulders with complete neophytes, both groups attracted to this blog's excellent and clear writing and diverse selection of topic choices. We really appreciated their regular feature, Around the Jazz Internet postings, which compile the best of jazz headlines as they appear online.
- Why We Love It: Every jazz purist and new jazz fan should think of this blog as the perfect way to interact with their passion.
- Favorite Post: Jazz and Radiohead
- Shots: Shots is NPR's well-reputed blog focused on health in America and around the world. Wellness in all of its iterations functions as this blog's primary fodder; health policy is a frequent focus, as is the environment, and diet and nutrition are prime sources for topics. We like this blog for its concision and variety; you can visit nearly every day and, in five minutes, leave the site more informed about a nuance of health that you'd otherwise not come across.
- Why We Love It: One of the Web's most vibrant and diverse health blogs keeps its readership in the know better than almost any other page.
- Favorite Post: Fever Phobia
- Wait Wait...Don't Blog Me!: This blog functions as a complementary web home for the popular NPR series, "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me!" As the show sports an hour's worth of amusing and mind-stirring quiz questions, you can expect a similar whimsy and flair to this site. The blog has really imbued the same sense of belly-laugh inducing humor for which the radio show has earned acclaim. Come here often, and inject a few more funnies into your everyday.
- Why We Love It: This chuckleworthy, pop culture, pop-quizzing blog is, to say the least, regularly amusing.
- Favorite Post: Mindless Arcade Friday
The Rest of the Best
- 13.7: This blog is meant for the science aficionados out there. It blends a focus on science with an eye on our current culture.
- Advancing Ham Radio: This blog focuses on the early days of radio, and a tradition from back then that lingers on today. Ham radio, and its current forms, is the focus of the blog.
- All Songs Considered: One of the most acclaimed music blogs around distinguishes itself with an eye (or ear) for the country's best live music. Readers also get dibs on the best in new music.
- All Tech Considered: The techy geeks out there will be more than satisfied with this site. ATC sifts through the headlines for the most salient and interesting of tech news.
- Blog of the Nation: Dissect the latest current events and politics and get to the heart of the matter with this news blog. It's meant for people who are looking for authentic debate and analysis.
- Blog Talk Radio: Ever been so inspired by what you heard on NPR that you wanna strike out on your own show? Let this blog help you find your audio audience here.
- Broadcast Law Blog: NPR and all radio stations are subject to laws and regulations to ensure their respect for the public. Learn about the legal side of radio programming here.
- Broadcasting Brain: One of the most commendable results of NPR is a listening populace that's exposed to people thinking freely. This blog continues that focus on the liberation of thoughts.
- Broadcasting School: Even the radio gods of NPR had to learn their aural craft somewhere. Get started on your own path toward public radio programming with this educational blog.
- Deceptive Decadence: This is NPR's heralded blog that concentrates on classical music. It removes the stuffy pallor over Beethoven and the like and freshens up your perspective on it.
- Go Figure: Ever wished there was a blog to gauge and assess listeners' experiences with NPR? Voila, a site that focuses solely on your interaction with the public radio giant.
- Inside Music Media: Blogger Jerry understands that music and radio really do go hand in hand. This blog keeps lovers of both art forms well informed about the intersection between them.
- Inside NPR: Learn the ins and outs of National Public Radio here. This blog is a great way to stay informed about NPR's latest updates and progressions.
- Irrational Public Radio: If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then this site's sarcasm is the sweetest compliment to NPR. It's a great way to refresh your appreciation for all kinds of radio.
- It's All Politics: The name has it all for you to wonder about. This is one of the web's finest political blogs and sports no strong bias for any party or leaning.
- Krulwich Wonders: Rob Krulwich brings an inquisitive sense of humor to the science world and his everyday life on this blog. His particular gift is in debunking the gimmicks out there.
- Monkey See: This blog skewers the pop culture scene and warmly roasts up vivid and quirky stories for your reading pleasure. It's a great site for parents of twentysomethings to get hip with.
- My Amateur Radio: This blog concentrates on how amateur disc jockeys and radio makers are working their craft in the modern day. You'll get some great info on the state of radio today.
- NPR Fan Club: Fans and obsessives of NPR, unite in your love for the programming on this site. This blog puts fellow fans in touch with one another about their favorite stations.
- NPR Ombudsman: Blogger Alicia functions as NPR's public representative. This blog has a strong focus on foreign affairs and NPR's news coverage worldwide.
- NPR Tumblr: A group of NPR heads got together to collaborate on this blog. It retains the fresh and current feel of the home site with a bit more edge and grit.
- Planet Money: This blog titularly understands how money can feel like everything and anything to you. The writing brings a sense of sobriety to the finance scene.
- Platform Nation: This blog focuses on the intersection between radio and the gaming community. It's proof that the two will only complement each other as the years go by.
- Public Radio Exchange: This blog continues NPR's stance to bring high quality coverage to the masses. Yet the site has a more personal, grassroots feel to it.
- Public Radio Fan: When you're ready to branch away from solely listening to NPR, let this blog page help you find an ideal broadcast near you. There are national and international options to be recommended.
- Public Radio Kitchen: NPR sponsors this culinary radio page. Create great dishes while enjoying NPR's signature brand of detail storytelling at the same time.
- Public Radio Slave: For people who are a bit more than loyal to public radio, this is the ideal blog to express your devotion. It helps make sense of why public radio is so addictive.
- Radio Mag Online: Those who get a special thrill from hearing about new radio technology will grin when reading this site. It covers almost everything, from new technology to communications headlines.
- Radio Survivor: When radio starts to jar your ears, turn to this site to reinvigorate your passion. It chronicles the presence of radio everywhere, from college campuses to foreign countries.
- Radio Times: When you're looking for an outlet to supplement your NPR listening, we recommend this venue. It touts a focus on the entertainment and culture scene.
- Radio Today: This blog covers the latest news affecting the radio community at large. Though based in Britain, it provides posts that touch airwave scenes the world over.
- Radio World: Those who are looking for a bit more information on how radio all works will thoroughly enjoy this page. Managers and engineers in particular will find much to consider.
- Speaky: NPR's excellent radio coverage has completely permeated the masses, at least according to this blog. It covers someone's venture to get into the radio act himself.
- Spinning and Grinning: This blog helps you see the beginnings of NPR and all public radio for that matter, through a focus on shortwave radio. Ham radios and more are covered here.
- Talk Radio Fan: Blogger Chris convincingly writes about the benefits and pleasures to be had from talk radio programming. Even away from NPR, this blog will refresh your radio love.
- Teen Radio Journey: NPR and great public radio is no longer just for the older crowd. This blog shows how teenagers are showing equally passionate radio appreciation.
- Tell Me More: This blog features a motto that essentially reads that nothing is to be assumed. One thing you can count on, though, is great writing on narrative and all its varieties.
- The Infinite Dial: NPR fans who are interested in seeing the future of radio will want to read this site often. NPR, Pandora, and other popular radio junkets are covered frequently.
- The Record: This blog concentrates on music and how our interactions with our tunes change seemingly hourly. Musicians and industry experts are frequently cited here.
- The Two-Way: NPR's official news blogs enlists the perspicacity of Frank James and Mark Memmott to enlighten readers about the latest headlines. It's an excellent supplement to your favorite news outlet.
- This American Life: The super-famous radio program now has a complimentary blog to balance out its coverage. Keep track of the show's latest features with ease here.
- This Is NPR: Communications experts at NPR work at the helm of this blog. It features an exciting First Listen option, where you can often hear new music first.
- This Week in Amateur Radio: NPR has inspired a new generation of radio lovers to take to the airwaves themselves. Hear here how even non-professional radio can reap many aural rewards.
- Two Kinds of People: Blogger Susan is a self-avowed radio fanatic. Follow her appreciation for the airwaves what they carry in her jaunty blog page.
- Whatever Radio: Bloggers Alexis and Jennifer will prove irresistible to young NPR fans. Each maintains her own blog, yet they're best when they join forces on their online show.
