http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-966410.mp3
Macomb, IL – Carl Kasell's long radio career included some 30 years as news anchor on Morning Edition. He is now a roving ambassador for NPR - a role that brought him to Macomb where he met with Tri States Public Radio listeners.
Kasell also helped Tri States Public Radio begin its Tower Campaign. The station's radio tower has reached the end of its useful life. The station is raising money to build a new tower before the current one fails.
While in Macomb, Kasell talked to News Director Rich Egger about his involvement in radio, which began in 1950 when Kasell was in high school. His school's drama department offered a course in radio.
Kasell also worked in college radio and in commercial radio. He moved to Washington DC in 1965 and joined NPR in 1977.
Kasell said he never made an effort to break into television. He said radio always appealed to him.
"Alistair Cooke came by NPR one day and we talked about that and he said 'A little girl told me one time that she liked radio better than TV because the pictures were better.' I think he was right," Kasell said.
Kasell said breaking news is what he remembers most about all his years as morning news anchor. He said a lot of news happens in the morning.
"The Challenger disaster, the assassination attempt on the Pope. 9-11 began in the morning, the Oklahoma City bombing began in the morning," Kasell said. "So many things happen in the morning."
He credits many people at NPR with working together to do a good job on those stories.
Kasell said he would wake up at 1:05am when he served as Morning Edition's news anchor. He woke up at 1:05 rather than 1:00 "...because I like to sleep in."
In addition to his work as as roving ambassador for NPR, Kasell is part of the cast on the network's quiz show Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. Kasell, who still lives in the Washington DC area, will fly to Chicago about 30 times this year to record the show.
In addition, ten other shows will be recorded at other locations.