NPR
‘Day to Day’ debuts to high expectations
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Any pressure the producers of Day to Day might feel is understandable. The new show’s selling points read like a wish list compiled by someone burping
up buzzwords from pubradio confabs. NPR pitches the newsmag — its first since
Weekend Edition Sunday, 16 years ago — as a midday show newsy enough
to draw listeners on lunch breaks back to NPR, but zesty and offbeat enough
to pepper the schedule with diversity and youthfulness. Not only that, but stations are looking to Day to Day to lift ratings
between their towering drivetime tentpoles, Morning Edition and All
Things Considered. Further, as pubcasters hunt high and low for partnerships, Day to Day
builds off an editorial and promotional relationship with Microsoft’s online
magazine Slate — a pairing that has alarmed a few media watchdogs.