The World in Words on PRI's The World

FAIN: TR-50539-14

Public Radio International (Minneapolis, MN 55401-2097)
Patrick Cox (Project Director: August 2013 to present)

Production of 20 radio episodes, lengthier podcasts, and an interactive website on the role of language in different cultures.

"The World in Words" (TWIW) is a unique feature that explores global language-related stories in the context of a daily news shows. A co-production of PRI, the BBC World Service, and WGBH/Boston, "The World" is public radio's preeminent global news program. The show has long included stories about language within its editorial agenda. NEH funding will provide additional resources to deepen the humanities content of a select number of TWIW segments and podcasts. NEH funding will support twenty short-format segments (3-5 mins.) for broadcast and twenty longer-format podcasts (10-20 mins.) that expand the treatment of the on-air topics. Language Editor Patrick Cox will work with scholars to apply more academic rigor to the pieces than is possible in the day-to-day news production, while retaining a lively and entertaining approach and sound. In addition, NEH funding will enable PRI to enhance TWIW's online presence to encourage greater listener engagement, interactivity and social media sharing.