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Archives of
NPR:
Cultural Programming
and Program Services Division:
Audience Services
and Program Evaluation Files
Processed by: Linda J. Kerecman
July 1994
6.0 lin. ft.
Administrative History | Scope and Content | Provenance | Series Descriptions
National Public Radio's Cultural Programming and Program Services Division, Audience Research and Program Evaluation unit obtains, evaluates and interprets data concerning NPR's audience, then uses these data for various purposes including predicting audience response to programming and promotions, initiating underwriting, guiding promotional campaigns and influencing producer's programming decisions. Key figures connected with the Audience Research and Program Evaluation unit include David Giovannoni, a research analyst who was significantly involved in the development of the Public Radio Audience Profile Project, and Effie Metropolous, who coordinated much of the audience data and served as an NPR contact for the Radio Research Consortium. Other notable correspondents include Tom Church, a member of the Radio Research Consortium and employee of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Communication Research Division.
The Archives of the National Public Radio Cultural Programming and Program Services Division, Audience Research and Program Evaluation Files covers the years 1971 to 1990, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1978 to 1985. The papers include correspondence, graphic materials, reports, surveys and testimonies. The collection documents issues of interest to the Audience Research and Program Evaluation unit employees as they collected data and generated/received reports meant to suggest methods for increasing National Public Radio's audience and upgrading its programming.
This collection is divided into 8 series:
- Series 1: Audience - General
- Series 2: Budget
- Series 3: Member Stations
- Series 4: Programming
- Series 5: Ratings
- Series 6: Reports
- Series 7: Surveys
- Series 8: Testimonies
These boxes were transferred from National Public Radio to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries in August of 1991 as part of a larger accession of 255 boxes.
Series 1: Audience - General, 1973-1989 (2.5 lin. ft.)
This series contains data related to audience research , specific programs (i.e. All Things Considered) and several individual stations. Additionally, this series features graphics and records related to the Public Radio Audience Profile (PRAP), including the history and background of the PRAP project. The materials are arranged alphabetically.
Series 2: Budget, 1980-1984 (0.1 lin. ft.)
This series contains records specifically dealing with the Audience Research and Program Evaluation unit's accounting (FY 1983), National Public Radio's budget (FY 1980; FY 1984), and underwriting. The materials are arranged alphabetically.
Series 3: Member Stations, 1979-1987 (0.25 lin. ft.)
This series features information related to National Public Radio's member stations, including audience listening patterns, individual station reports and records indicating the number of NPR member stations found in ADI (Areas of Dominant Influence) markets. The materials are arranged alphabetically.
Series 4: Programming, 1974-1985 (1.0 lin. ft.)
This series contains records for various programming topics including classical music programming, program evaluation, program audience data, and Samuel C.O. Holt's report "Islands in the Stream: Some Thoughts on Public Radio Programming". The materials are arranged alphabetically.
Series 5: Ratings, 1982-1988 (0.5 lin. ft.)
This series features various ratings records, including reports on radio listening by African American and Hispanic audiences. The materials are arranged alphabetically.
Series 6: Reports, 1973-1990 (2.5 lin. ft.)
This series contains a variety of reports related to audience research, public radio, cable and audience demographics. It also features Roper Reports for the years 1977 to 1990. The materials are arranged alphabetically.
Series 7: Surveys, 1971-1987 (1.5 lin. ft.)
The surveys included within this series cover topics ranging from the African American radio audience to cable and programming. The materials are arranged alphabetically.
Series 8: Testimonies, 1978 (1.5 lin. ft.)
This series features two separate testimony records, that of Frank Lloyd to the Subcommittee on Communications House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee on the Public Broadcasting Financing Act of 1978, and Frank Mankiewicz's testimony before the same committee. The materials are arranged alphabetically.
A complete guide in Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) format can be downloaded here.
