160 on the NPR Election team

Spent the last hour in the NPR control room watching co-directors Julia Buckley and Bob Boylen lead the crew through their paces. Bob is directing the on-air action, with hand signals and voice cues (via headsets) to the coverage hosts, Robert Siegel and Linda Werthheimer. Julia manages the action from out in the field, reporters filing from locations across the country, and from the studio, lining up guest and staff analysts, like blogger Robert Smith who provided some levity during his chat with Robert.

Grabbed NPR President Kevin Klose for his insight into tonight’s coverage. He told me NPR has 160 staff people working—in the building and around the country. If you’ve been listening to NPR coverage on NCPR or ncpr.org this evening, you know the team is out there. Just heard Margot Adler’s report on the statewide races in NY. Still waiting for congressional returns from the north country.

Later,
Ellen