Removing The 'Public' From Public Radio

Earlier this week, the online music streaming service Pandora announced it would soon be getting into the business of radio – or rather, podcasts. Pandora says it will stream the podcast “Serial,” the hugely successful investigative series. Pandora says it will also carry its parent show, “This American Life.”

Both shows are hoping to find new audiences, but the deal is also raising questions about whether public media may be moving away from its traditionally commercial-free format. In other words: is the public in public media headed for the exits?

Jay Allison, an independent journalist and producer of “The Moth Radio Hour,” and Nicholas Quah, the writer of Hot Pod Newsletter, join Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson to address this question.

Guests

• Jay Allison, independent journalist and producer of “The Moth Radio Hour.” He’s also the co-founder of Public Radio Exchange (PRX) and founder of WCAI Cape Cod. He tweets @jay_allison.
• Nicholas Quah, writer of the Hot Pod newsletter. He tweets @nwquah.

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