Xin Jin
A Trip to NPR Headquarters
Xin Jin
Spring 2016
On one of our regular Friday field trips, I had an opportunity to visit NPR’s headquarters in DC. As a journalism student and a listener of public radios, I fully enjoyed a nice hour-long tour in NPR.
NPR is located in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington DC. Once in the lobby, I saw a museum-style storyboard that stretched along the wall telling the history of NPR. It was founded in 1970 and began with 90 member stations. However, our tour guide says, nowadays, NPR has more than 975 public radio stations all over the country.
The NPR building.
The architecture and design of the building is modern and beautiful. It was converted from an old warehouse and is LEED certified. On the roof, it has seven large satellite dishes for the public radio satellite system. Inside the building, workers have sleeping areas, fitness center, stand up desks, and so on. I was very surprised to me to see the comfortable working area. Our tour guide explained that since some of the NPR journalists are onsite 24 hours a day, the organization wants to provide a cosy environment for its tired workers.
Adeline Yu at a studio in NPR.
We went to various places of the building. However, the place I liked the most was a studio where the shows are produced and aired. There are many computer monitors in the control room and there is a big radio station clock on the wall, which always reminds producers their rigid production schedules. Our classmates and I were excited to sit on the chair where hosts and guests would be seated with microphones. Our tour guide further explained to us how producers and broadcasters cooperate when they air a show. As a student journalist, it was very important for me getting an insider’s view of how a news program produced.
The music department in NPR.
The music editor’s library was also a highlight for me. The shelves were full of books, CDs, and toys. One of staff told us that they have around 5000 CDs. Even more, they have a piano in the corner. I am wondering whether a broadcaster would play piano for his listeners.
After visiting the tour, I want to work in this comfortable and fancy building with professional journalists.
If you are a listener to NPR or a journalist like me, this needs to be on your must-do’s list in Washington, DC.
Xin Jin is a senior studying journalism and economics in COM.
