'We Interrupt This Broadcast.' Veteran radio industry exec Joe Garner discusses creation of new podcast with broadcaster Bill Kurtis & NBC's Brian Williams on historic events in broadcast journalism

It is said that “breaking news” is the first draft of history. “We Interrupt This Broadcast: Before it was history, it was news” marks the first time the stories of these historical events are told exclusively by the broadcasters and TV journalists whose work created those drafts in real-time. Created by Joe Garner, author of the eponymous New York Times Best-Selling Book, this 12-episode audio docuseries launching July 20, 2021, celebrates the crucial role broadcast journalism has played throughout our nation’s history. Hosted by legendary broadcaster Bill Kurtis and narrated by NBC’s Brian Williams, each episode unfolds with the brisk pace and tone of a thriller while presenting an in-depth look into the reporting of, and reaction to, events that have since become benchmarks in history. The contributors are a “Who’s who” in broadcast journalism. Along with the thrilling broadcast news audio, exclusive, rare, and never-before-heard recordings are woven throughout each episode. Speaking of the new podcast, Williams told our own host: "This is nothing short of American history in audio form." The docuseries, produced by i4 Media Ventures, LLC, will be presented over six seasons. Each season is comprised of 12 episodes, all published simultaneously: 10 episodes in each season are based on events that occurred in the broadcast era and two are based on seminal moments that occurred in early American history (such as the passing of the 19thAmendment) and dramatized as if reported by broadcast journalists. Each episode concludes with the journalists offering candid and critical analysis on how they and their fellow reporters covered the event. “None of us lucky enough to have these anchor jobs got into the business for the perfectly average Tuesday in August,” notes Williams, who is an executive producer as well as narrator of the podcast. “While I have nothing against Tuesdays in August, we measure ourselves, our talent and ability, by how we work without a net. The rush to the studio and the need to describe and explain breaking news in real time.  Calm becomes a critical commodity -- awareness of how the world works helps, and that includes a working knowledge of politics, history, aircraft, weapons, geography and about a dozen other subjects.” “Not only do people remember where they were when a momentous story broke,” Williams added, “They remember who reported it to them, and who talked them through it.” Kurtis, an acclaimed documentarian, 30-year veteran of CBS News, and host of the podcast, said, “I have spent a good deal of career reporting and analyzing these world-changing events and I am pleased to participate in this project, which amplifies and hones in on the very important work that broadcast journalists do to ensure the news is reported quickly, accurately, and fairly.” Season One features the following landmark moments in American and world history from the Hindenburg disaster and D-Day Invasion to the assassination of John F Kennedy and the tragedy of Columbine and 9/11.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-aidan-byrne0/support