Elizabeth Ziegler

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I am the news director for Idaho State University's radio station, KISU-91.1 FM, Pocatello, Idaho, the only public station serving this corner of southeast Idaho. After becomming disenchanted with newspaper work, I turned to public radio, something I had dabbled in years earlier as a volunteer music programmer, music librarian, and general go-to-girl for KMUN-91.9 FM, Astoria, Oregon.

Basically, I did a personal media check and decided to follow my heart. I asked myself, what types of media do I use, as a consumer. The answer was the Internet and public radio. I listen to public radio all day, every day. It's in my car, it's on while I make my coffee in the morning and when I finally pull back the covers before crawling into bed.

Our local station had offered listeners national and world news since its inception seven years ago. But ever since my first listen, when I first moved to town three years ago, I was suprised the station didn't offer local news coverage. Apparently, I wasn't the only one.

I contacted the station, pitched my idea, and now I'm on every day at six, seven and eight in the morning, and again at 5:30 p.m. I love it, but I wish the station I work for had the budget to employ me full-time, to not only sum up the stories of the day, but set me lose in the world to dig up news and features. Frankly, I miss that.

As for the Internet, I am working on my own web-site and blog where I can post my independent work. Because, with or without funding support from my station, and even if I don't rise to the top of this competition, I am going to produce the stories that I, at the very least, want to hear -- stories I can be proud of.

What's your favorite public radio show?

This American Life is my all-time favorite show. I listen to it when it airs on my local station, I listen to archives on-line and if I had a television, I'd probably watch it on there, too. It is the one show where I truly feel like a "fan."

I look forward to it every week, I am sad when it's a re-run, but listen anyway, and I'm usually smitten with every story, every single contributor. And that's rare. In other words, I'm hard to get. I'm a very critical person, nit-picky about writers, writing, and hosts. But, Ira, you are truly good at your job. And This American Life lives up to its name, and touches me every week in a place that is as close to patriotic as I'll probably ever get.

What's your secret talent?

Nearly two decades after my last gymnastics class, I can do a back-walkover from a standing position. For some reason, this has amazed the very few who have ever seen me do it.

What song is stuck in your head right now, you know, a music wedgie?

Honestly, the theme song for Talk of the Nation -- the horn part. I hear it every weekday morning at the station and the thing is like a virus, I can't get it out of my head.

What sound is most characteristic of where you live?

Union Pacific trains colliding "humping" in the middle of the night. They echo throughout the valley, screeching like whale songs, then BAM! It's one thing I love about this place.

What's your favorite sound memory?

It might be a lack of sound. I remember the first time I submerged my head underwater at a publc pool. The muted voices jumbled together and surrounded me as I let myself sink slowly, feeling utterly at peace until my parents and swimming teacher jumped in the water to "rescue" me. I was two. It was nice -- a comforting sound. They are still wondering why I did it.

Which station do you listen to most?

KISU-91.1 FM Pocatello, Idaho

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