New Things Considered

Melissa Block assumes hosting duties on the daily newsmagazine
Edited by Mary Eileen O'Connor

On Tuesday, February 18, veteran NPR news correspondent Melissa Block joins Robert Siegel and Michele Norris as a permanent co-host of All Things Considered, which airs weekdays at 4 p.m. on WHYY 91FM.

Since joining NPR in 1985, Block has worked as a producer, editor, director and reporter, covering both breaking news and human-interest stories. She was on the staff of All Things Considered for nine years, including three as the show's senior producer, before moving to New York as a reporter in 1994. She has also reported overseas for NPR News.

Here, Block puts down her reporter's notebook and answers some questions about her new role:

Q: What are you looking forward to as a host? Will there be any trade offs now that the time you spend getting out of the studio and reporting will be lessened?

Melissa Block: This is an unbelievable opportunity to expand my scope and have daily conversations about virtually everything. It's also a chance to forge a more direct connection with our listeners, who welcome the program hosts into their kitchens and cars every afternoon. That's immensely gratifying.

Q: What drew you to journalism?

MB: I guess it stems from a love of language and storytelling, and a general curiosity about the world. That, and an aversion to law school.

Q: What drew you to radio?

MB: To quote Susan Stamberg, "'I'm catching stories with my microphone -- a magic wand, waved against silence.'" I love the intimacy of radio, its simplicity and flexibility. And at NPR we're given free rein to stitch together multi-layered stories, full of rich sound. It's great fun.