Ari Shapiro, NPR’s London correspondent spoke to an audience of nearly 50 people at the Oak Room at Salt Lake Community College’s Taylorsville Redwood Campus on Oct. 21.
Shapiro showed attendees a side of himself that listeners don’t get to hear on the radio. He explained his love and passion for reporting and shared stories about his career with NPR.
“My perspective on things changes every time I learn of something new on a story. Reporting is a learning process. My goal as a reporter is to learn about things and expand my horizons and to meet people who help me understand the world more completely,” says Shapiro.
Shapiro began his career with NPR as an intern for Nina Totenberg.
He recalled memories of his first assignment where he was required to hand out brown paper bag lunches to NPR reporters who were lined up on the parade route for President George W. Bush’s inauguration.
Shapiro’s internship developed into a career. He’s spent the last 12 years in Washington, and he’s looking forward to his new job as NPR’s London correspondent.
“It has been really interesting reporting on Washington over the last few years, but the shutdown, the debt ceiling and all of the partisan standoffs make me eager to do stories that are about something other than politics,” says Shapiro.
Shapiro told the audience that a story is riveting when you’re able to hear from a person that you empathize with, and radio offers listeners an experience that can’t be found in the newspaper or on television.
“One of the great things about radio is that it feels intimate, and you’re able to relate to the people that you’re hearing on the radio,” says Shapiro.
The event began at 11:30 a.m. wrapped up at 1 p.m. This was the first of Shapiro’s speaking engagements at SLCC. He spoke at the Grand Theatre in the evening.
