# Why is Diane Rehm still on the air?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-diane-rehm-still-on-the-air/684988>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 31, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-diane-rehm-still-on-the-air/684988 "2014-03-31T14:28:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-diane-rehm-still-on-the-air/684988/41 "2014-04-01T18:20:18Z")

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> [@ThelmaLou](#):
>
> Please explain, first, what you mean by “supported,” and second, why you’re surprised.
> 
> If you mean “financially supported,” her program is produced at and by WAMU at American University, so that’s where any financial support would come from. Local stations pay NPR for the programs, not the other way around. The show’s web site says, “The Diane Rehm Show is produced at WAMU, carried on over 190 stations and distributed by NPR, NPR Worldwide and SIRIUS satellite radio.” These stations pay to carry her for all the reasons listed in the posts above and those reasons are why she attracts listeners. So please explain the surprise part.

Nothing so thoughtful and sophisticated 😉

I just meant that I am sure they get their share of random input about her voice, and wouldn’t be surprised if, at some point, they (or WAMU, or whomever pays for the production of the show), started to look at alternatives.

Please note - I am not supportive of this move, merely commenting that most media outlets these days are so focused on ratings and analysis that an outlier like DR’s voice may get ruled against. A couple of years ago, NPR “helped Bob Edwards retire\*” because they were looking to move in a new direction - I was thinking of that example with my comment.

\*At least Bob ended up with a Sirius program and married to Windsor Johnston!

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**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-diane-rehm-still-on-the-air/684988/42 "2014-04-02T01:11:22Z")

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I think most listeners get used to her voice after a while, but I am surprised to see such accolades for her interviews. I think she often has great guests, but her actual questions are not particularly insightful in my opinion. I think she, not unlike Mark Maron, benefits from having unique guests rather than being a particularly strong interviewer. I don’t think either are bad, but neither deserve the acclaim they get IMO.

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