How to Pitch: This American Life

An element of fun and surprise is required for stories here, though previous radio experience isn't

By Kate Parham - September 8, 2011

The information in this article is current and accurate.

Circulation: 1.7 million listeners
Frequency: Weekly

Background: Founded in 1995, This American Life is an award-winning weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations nationwide. It's produced by Chicago Public Media, distributed by Public Radio International and is often the most popular podcast in the country, with around 650,000 people downloading each week. Listeners can get the show through free streaming on the website, by listening to the radio, subscribing to the free weekly podcast, downloading old episodes on iTunes or purchasing CDs.

"The show started as a place where writers and performers could broadcast their stories and a place for journalism that wasn't following the big news," says founding producer Nancy Updike. "After 9/11, we started doing more journalism, including sometimes tackling whatever was in the news in a given week. That shift wasn't a conscious decision; it just worked out that way as people on staff followed their interests." There has been no change in ownership or leadership since the beginning: Ira Glass is still the host and executive producer, and several staff members have been with the show from its early days....