Bill Siemering
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Siemering was the first Director of Programming
of National Public Radio, and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation
genius grant. He invented the first signature program of public radio, All Things Considered
. This followed his authorship of the new public network's first statement of its mission and goals. Siemering went on to create other signature programs including SoundPrint and the predecessor to Fresh Air
with Terry Gross
, which he helped transform from a local to a national program.
. As he recounted, "My previous summer jobs had including bailing hay and harvesting grain, working in a hotel laundry and sometimes cleaning the lavatories. WHA seemed like an improvement: it was air-conditioned and the job required no heavy lifting." He also taught high school speech in Madison. In the 1960s, while manager of WBFO-FM at the State University of New York at Buffalo
, he established the first store-front broadcast facility in the African-American community, enabling residents to produce 25 hours a week of programs. In the late 1970s, he became manager of the main public FM radio station in Philadelphia, WHYY.
Siemering is now the president of Developing Radio Partners, an organization dedicated to supporting independent radio stations in young democracies through professional development in journalism, programming, station management, and finance.
, put it this way: "We are the produce of seeds of thinking and action planted by Mr. Siemering. We are disciples who extend his ideas. We cherish knowing him because he gives our lives focus and brings meaning to our work. Tune around the radio dial and I guarantee you will hear Bill Siemering talking to you."
fellowship, the so called MacArthur genius grant. Typical of Siemering, his work was not finished. He used the funds to assist community radio stations in South Africa's townships. He returned to South Africa in 1995 as a Knight International Journalism Fellow. From 1996-97, he served as president of the Washington, D.C., based International Center for Journalists, a leading print and broadcast journalism training program. Most recently, Siemering served for five years as a senior radio advisor for the Open Society Institute
(OSI), which funds civil society initiatives in more than fifty countries and is among the world’s largest private foundations. His work with OSI took him to Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Ukraine, Macedonia, and Moldova, and included assessing station news and information programming, management and technical needs, journalism and management training, and mentoring. He has spent most of his time in South Africa and Mongolia.
As to his being a "genius," Siemering has always been reluctant, insisting that his "inventions" were group efforts and commenting on his many job departures, saying, "If I was so smart, I wouldn't have had to reinvent myself so often." He also has a practical objection to the term: "Whenever I give a talk, I insist the introduction never include that word because it is obvious I'm not and then listeners think to themselves, 'If that guy's a genius, why the hell didn't I get a MacArthur!'" (The MacArthur Foundation itself doesn't use the term "genius". They refer to recipients of their award as "Fellows". It's the public and the press that use the "genius grant" term.)
Throughout his life, Siemering has maintained his steadfast belief in the power of radio. At the end of his "Manifesto" written for the online site Transom.org, Siemering was full of his usual optimism:
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
of National Public Radio, and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
genius grant. He invented the first signature program of public radio, All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
. This followed his authorship of the new public network's first statement of its mission and goals. Siemering went on to create other signature programs including SoundPrint and the predecessor to Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
with Terry Gross
Terry Gross
Terry Gross is the host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, an interview format radio show produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and distributed throughout the United States by National Public Radio....
, which he helped transform from a local to a national program.
History
Siemering got his start at one of the nation's oldest radio stations, WHA in Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. As he recounted, "My previous summer jobs had including bailing hay and harvesting grain, working in a hotel laundry and sometimes cleaning the lavatories. WHA seemed like an improvement: it was air-conditioned and the job required no heavy lifting." He also taught high school speech in Madison. In the 1960s, while manager of WBFO-FM at the State University of New York at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, he established the first store-front broadcast facility in the African-American community, enabling residents to produce 25 hours a week of programs. In the late 1970s, he became manager of the main public FM radio station in Philadelphia, WHYY.
Siemering is now the president of Developing Radio Partners, an organization dedicated to supporting independent radio stations in young democracies through professional development in journalism, programming, station management, and finance.
Utne Reader
The Utne Reader said about him, "Bill Siemering has done more than anyone to revive and inspire the art of sound." Dennis Hamilton, long the Vice President of Programming at Minnesota Public RadioMinnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio , is the flagship National Public Radio member network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, Classical Music and The Current, MPR operates a 42-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest serving over 8 million people...
, put it this way: "We are the produce of seeds of thinking and action planted by Mr. Siemering. We are disciples who extend his ideas. We cherish knowing him because he gives our lives focus and brings meaning to our work. Tune around the radio dial and I guarantee you will hear Bill Siemering talking to you."
MacArthur Foundation
Even though the industry to which he had given his life seemed slow in recognizing it, the confirmation of Siemering's high worth came from another source. In 1993, he was awarded a MacArthur FoundationMacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
fellowship, the so called MacArthur genius grant. Typical of Siemering, his work was not finished. He used the funds to assist community radio stations in South Africa's townships. He returned to South Africa in 1995 as a Knight International Journalism Fellow. From 1996-97, he served as president of the Washington, D.C., based International Center for Journalists, a leading print and broadcast journalism training program. Most recently, Siemering served for five years as a senior radio advisor for the Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
(OSI), which funds civil society initiatives in more than fifty countries and is among the world’s largest private foundations. His work with OSI took him to Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Ukraine, Macedonia, and Moldova, and included assessing station news and information programming, management and technical needs, journalism and management training, and mentoring. He has spent most of his time in South Africa and Mongolia.
Self-Reflection
In an essay Siemering wrote when he was in his late 50s and unemployed, he said, "You've spent over thirty years practicing the art and craft of your profession and now you have dust. It's as if a pianist loses the use of his hands."As to his being a "genius," Siemering has always been reluctant, insisting that his "inventions" were group efforts and commenting on his many job departures, saying, "If I was so smart, I wouldn't have had to reinvent myself so often." He also has a practical objection to the term: "Whenever I give a talk, I insist the introduction never include that word because it is obvious I'm not and then listeners think to themselves, 'If that guy's a genius, why the hell didn't I get a MacArthur!'" (The MacArthur Foundation itself doesn't use the term "genius". They refer to recipients of their award as "Fellows". It's the public and the press that use the "genius grant" term.)
Throughout his life, Siemering has maintained his steadfast belief in the power of radio. At the end of his "Manifesto" written for the online site Transom.org, Siemering was full of his usual optimism:
While we can always be better, we should never lose sight that public radio is an essential part of the lives of millions of listeners. I know of no other programming that generates such strong feelings. You hear it all the time. Think for a moment what your life would be like without public radio. Amazing, isn't it? This connection between producers and listeners is unique. Let's celebrate it. Let's dance with our listeners.