‘1A’ show comes to Pittsburgh
you and needs you and encourages to speak your mind, no matter what’s on your mind.”
The name “1A” is meant to evoke two things: the First Amendment and the front page of a newspaper, where the most pressing and newsworthy stories of the day catch readers’ attention, both above and below the fold.
It didn’t hurt that the show launched just after the 2016 presidential election. No matter who won, producers knew that the national dialogue would be ratcheted up to 11, he said, because America either would have an upstart at the wheel or its first female head of state.
Part of his job, Mr. Johnson said, is to reaffirm people’s willingness to listen and, to borrow a phrase from Martin Luther King Jr., to turn down the volume and “to disagree without being disagreeable.” If everyone is screaming, he says, no one is listening.
There is a typical NPR listener, he conceded, but the show reaches a wide swath of the nation. He works hard to create an equalizing relationship where everyone feels his voice not only is being heard but also is respected. “We have to remember what the N in NPR stands for,” he said. “We have an obligation to speak to everyone and not treat people like demographics.”
To draw in younger and more diverse listeners, the show has embraced social media in a big way. Listeners can still call in on certain stories, but that can slow the show down and shuts out audiences who aren’t listening live. They’re encouraged instead to comment or ask questions via email, voice mail, Twitter or on Facebook, during and on days leading up to the broadcast.
The show dives head-first into politics and policy, but it also touches on pop culture. He approaches his subjects, especially controversial topics, with an almost clinical view that allows him to act more like a judge than an advocate. That said, there are some things he will not debate on “1A,” such as climate change. “We’re not debating the merits of science.”
Watching the show unfold from the control room is like watching a meticulously choreographed ballet. Working from a script that combines live interviews with readers’ written comments and voicemail, it feels very personal, and Mr. Johnson never misses a beat, even though it seems like there’s at least five different things going on at the same time.
“It’s like air traffic control,” he said.
Having never been to Pittsburgh, he’s excited to see what the city has to offer, especially since he knows almost nothing about it. Well, except for one thing.
“I know it’s the Stillers and not to say anything about the Iggles,” he joked.