'It's a calling,' says Korva Coleman on reporting the facts every hour, every day

Summary

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Episode Overview

Title: "It's a calling," says Korva Coleman on reporting the facts every hour, every day
Podcast: Consider This from NPR
Date: December 27, 2025
Host: Tamara Keith
Guest: Korva Coleman (NPR Newscaster)

This episode spotlights veteran NPR newscaster Korva Coleman, exploring the relentless, behind-the-scenes commitment required to deliver hourly news updates at NPR. Through anecdotes and personal reflections, Korva discusses accuracy, pronunciation, the emotional toll of big news moments, and what keeps her and her colleagues motivated—especially as public media faces increasing challenges.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Art of Newscasting at NPR

• Ubiquity of NPR Newscasts:

  • Newscasts air every hour, 24/7, serving as the country’s top source for quick, reliable news.
  • "We're always here." – Korva Coleman (01:35)
  • NPR Newscasts are the #1 podcast in the U.S., with “The Daily” and NPR’s “Up First” trailing ("We leave them in the dust... But they're nice people." – 01:59 – Korva Coleman)

• Early Morning Routine & On-Camera Challenges:

  • Korva starts her day at 11:55 PM Eastern Time (02:21).
  • She faces unique “visual newscast” pressures, unlike radio predecessors:
    • "Carl, I know you're having a wonderful time in the afterlife, but you never had to find stockings in the middle of the night." – Korva Coleman (02:34)

Getting the Facts—and Pronunciations—Right

• Pronunciation Nightmares:
  • Korva is known for mastering difficult names and terms, searching for correct pronunciations by calling embassies directly.
  • Icelandic volcano “Eyjafjallajökull” was one such challenge:
    • "There was no way to look at that and even sound it out... You call the embassy." – Korva Coleman (04:53)
  • Another was the Malagasy president, earning her a literal crown:
    • "In honor of my getting it right, I was presented with a small paper crown." – Korva Coleman (05:42)

The Team Behind the Broadcast

• Small But Mighty Morning Team:

  • The early shift is covered with just three producers and editors, alongside the anchor.
  • "They are always hard at work… as Dave Mattingly and I are writing like the wind, the producer is looking ahead..." – Korva Coleman (06:08)

• Role of Editors:

  • Editors help with grammar and correcting factual errors, sometimes geographical:
    • "Once I put a major fire east of Manhattan, which of course would be the Atlantic Ocean." – Korva Coleman (06:47)

Defining Career Moments & Journalistic Integrity

• 9/11 Coverage (07:12)

  • Korva shares her experience anchoring during 9/11, delivering the pivotal first newscast as news unfolded:
    • "We had to experience it as well as report on it... your job is to show up at your job tomorrow morning." – Korva Coleman (07:43)

• Reporting on Presidential Vulgarity (08:54)

  • Navigating controversial language, the team’s process for vetting wording on live radio:
    • The copy went through multiple editorial and legal reviews.
    • "That is the most collaborative piece of copy I think I have ever written... By 9am that morning, we were ready to go." – Korva Coleman (08:56)

The Motivation: Journalism as Calling

• Endurance Amid Adversity:

  • Journalism at NPR is seen as a "calling" akin to other public good professions.
  • "I approach journalism as a calling, as some would say... I can't imagine not being a journalist, and I cannot imagine myself as anything other than an NPR journalist." – Korva Coleman (10:30)
  • Despite increased challenges for public media, a deep commitment to purpose and trust in listeners sustains her and her team.

• Shared Passion Across NPR and Affiliates:

  • Both the host and Korva reminisce about their work at affiliate stations, highlighting shared values and resourcefulness.
  • "We're all npr." – Korva Coleman (12:30)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the NPR Newscast’s Popularity:

  • "NPR newscasts are the number one podcast listened to in the United States, according to PodTrack. Number two is the Daily and we leave them in the dust."
    – Korva Coleman (01:59)

• On Getting up Early:

  • "Carl never had to match earrings to his jacket. Was he camera ready? No, he did not have to do that... you never had to find stockings in the middle of the night."
    – Korva Coleman (02:34)

• On Pronunciation Challenges:

  • "This was so impossible... it's like they never heard of vowels. There was no way to look at that and even sound it out... You call the embassy."
    – Korva Coleman (04:53)

• On Covering Historic Events:

  • "We had to experience it as well as report on it... your job is to show up at your job tomorrow morning."
    – Korva Coleman (07:43)

• On Journalism as Calling:

  • "I approach journalism as a calling... I cannot imagine myself as anything other than an NPR journalist. And because I feel I have this deep calling, that faith, that knowledge, that relationship we have with listeners is what sustains me through everything."
    – Korva Coleman (10:30)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:35] — Korva explains the constant presence of NPR’s newscasts
• [01:59] — On NPR Newscasts’ top podcast status
• [02:21] — Korva’s early start and visual newscast realities
• [04:53] — Strategies for correct pronunciations (Icelandic volcano, Malagasy president)
• [06:08] — Small morning production team
• [07:12] — Recalling 9/11 coverage
• [08:54] — The process of reporting presidential profanity
• [10:30] — Journalism as calling and what keeps Korva committed

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Tone & Style

The episode blends reverence for the craft of journalism with the humor and humility of seasoned broadcasters. Korva’s candid stories evoke warmth, resilience, and the high standards upheld at NPR. There’s both a sense of solemn duty (especially during historic news events) and lighthearted camaraderie among newsroom colleagues.

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Summary Conclusion

This episode offers an intimate look at the unwavering commitment of NPR newscasters like Korva Coleman—revealing the early hours, high standards, newsroom mishaps, and the sense of purpose that underpins their work. Especially amid funding challenges for public media, Korva’s reflections underscore not just a career, but a calling to keep the public informed with accuracy and integrity, hour after hour, day after day.

Transcript

[Tamara Keith]

Hey there, it's Tamara Keith. Before we start the show today, the days left in this year are numbered and we're feeling reflective about the values and commitments of public media. Public media is what makes Consider this and all the podcasts you love from NPR unique. From its founding, Public Media was meant to educate listeners and illuminate stories from underrepresented communities to provide cultural insight that expands your perspective. Our commitment to those principles will never change at npr. But with federal funding for public media eliminated, we now rely on your support to bring you Consider this more than ever. That's why we're extra grateful this holiday season and want to pause to appreciate the generosity of NPR supporters and all of our listeners who have already stepped up to donate. Thank you so much. If you haven't made a year end donation yet, you can cross something off your to do list right now and support public media by signing up for npr. It's a simple recurring donation that gets you perks with a whole bunch of NPR podcasts, including Consider this. Join us at plus.NPR.org. Chances are, before you heard the first story on today's show, you heard an NPR newscast.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.

[Jael Snyder]

I'm Jael Snyder.

[Korva Coleman]

I'm Jeanine Hurst.

[Dave Mattingly]

I'm Dave Mattingley.

[Korva Coleman]

I'm Lax Lakshmi Sang. Newscasts are the five minute news summaries that you always hear at the top of every hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We're always here.

[Tamara Keith]

If you don't already recognize her voice, that's Korva Coleman, one of NPR's newscasters. Newscasts are one of NPR's most popular products. Millions of listeners tune in each week.

[Korva Coleman]

I can also tell you that NPR newscasts are the number one podcast listened to in the United States, according to PodTrack. Number two is the Daily and we leave them in the dust. The number three, I should add, in fairness, is NPR's up first and we leave them in the dust, too. But they're nice people and NPR is up first.

[Tamara Keith]

Korva starts her day really early.

[Korva Coleman]

I get up at five minutes of midnight Eastern time.

[Tamara Keith]

And that's not just to read in on the news. There is also the fact that Korva is on camera, too, for visual newscasts.

[Korva Coleman]

Carl Castle, one of my most beloved predecessors, had an old saying and he used to say he got up at 1:05am every morning and people would say that's an odd time to get up 1:05. But Tam, Carl never had to match earrings to his jacket. Was he camera ready? No, he did not have to do that. Carl, I know you're having a wonderful time in the afterlife, but you never had to find stockings in the middle of the night.

[Tamara Keith]

Consider this Day in and day out, it's NPR's newscasters who deliver the news to our audience more than anyone else. Coming up, we talk to Korva Coleman about what it takes to get the story and get it right every hour of every day. From npr, I'm Tamara Keith.

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[Jael Snyder]

What if public radio stopped sounding like this?

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm.

[Jael Snyder]

And started sounding like this. NPR is doing everything possible to keep this trusted and free public service going. With your support. We will not be silent. Please give [e-mail] Thanks.

[Tamara Keith]

It's Consider this from npr. One of the things listeners probably don't think about is how often radio journalists see words for the first time right before we have to say them out loud. And that's especially true for newscasters. So when we began our conversation for this week's Reporter's Notebook, I asked veteran NPR newscaster Korva Coleman how she gets pronunciations. Right.

[Korva Coleman]

So the famous name that I have is the Icelandic volcano, which is Ayafenajokola. And this is the volcano, volcano that erupted in 2011, and there was so much ash in the air, no one could fly. Traffic was disrupted. This was so impossible. Just when you looked at it, it's like they never heard of vowels. There was no way to look at that and even sound it out. You just don't know. What do we do? You call the embassy. And I'm like, I'm so sorry to trouble you, but do you mind if I say this for you a lot? And they were like, oh, Ayo vanukolat, let us say it for you again. So that's a fun one.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

And you can still say that one in your sleep.

[Korva Coleman]

Oh, I can. But actually, my favorite one, for which.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

I have a crown, I'm seeing that you do, in fact have a crown.

[Korva Coleman]

This is the president at One time of Madagascar Harry. Fortunately, Raja Onari, Nam Pianina and I cheated. I called the embassy for that one too. Now, these are lovely people who do like vowels but don't believe in consonants, apparently. So they were eager to walk me through that. In honor of my getting it right, I was presented with a small paper crown.

[Tamara Keith]

So how big is the team you work with?

[Korva Coleman]

Very small in the morning. Of course, everyone has heard of Dave Mattingly, my co anchor, but we work with a team of only three producers and editors. They are always hard at work. They are always putting things together. So as Dave Mattingly and I are writing like the Wind, the producer is looking ahead for always looking to find the best audio for you that they possibly can. Your editors are making sure that you don't end your sentences on a preposition. If I can confess a major failing that I have, I seem to be a little bit geographically challenged. I have a tendency to say things like east when I mean west. Once I put a major fire east of Manhattan, which of course would be the Atlantic Ocean. And maybe there's an island, perhaps. And fortunately my editors will always say, I think you mean west.

[Tamara Keith]

Are there any moments from your career.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

Where something really big happened while you.

[Tamara Keith]

Were on the air that really stick with you?

[Korva Coleman]

Yes, the first thing I can think of is I was at work on September 11th all those years ago, and at the time I was the midday newscaster, a shift that Lakshmi Singh now holds. And I started the day just as any other day, but I ended the day with the 4:00pm Eastern Time newscast. From NPR News in Washington, I'm Glenn and I can still recite my lead, which was the United States was attacked this morning by unidentified assailants, two passenger planes.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

And now I have chills.

[Korva Coleman]

That was an incredible day because we watched the evolution of what was happening. We had to experience it as well as report on it. But at the same time, people are doing what I'm doing. I'm calling my husband, telling him I'm going to stay. I had to call my mother and tell her the same thing. And being glad at the end of the day that I made that choice. I was really lucky. My late uncle who served in the Navy in Vietnam, was really kind to me. I called him on my way home and he said, this will not go unanswered. Your job is to show up at your job tomorrow morning. And that just sort of gave me the wind in my sails that I think I needed. I will tell you one that I get a lot of questions about Is that newscast in January 2018. Donald Trump was president at the time, and NPR had reporting that he had used an epithet to refer to some countries. And for purposes of this interview, I will just call that mmm, whole countries.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

And it's not the A word.

[Korva Coleman]

Yeah. It's far from it. That is the most collaborative piece of copy I think I have ever written. It was decided that we would say it. We were going to do it. I wrote it. My editor looked at it. My producer looked at it, my executive producer looked at it. The deputy managing editor for the mornings for NPR looked at it. Our wonderful team from legal looked at it. The vice president for news looked at it. And by 9am that morning, we were ready to go. And so I took a deep breath and said, I have something to tell you.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

And I did just put on my White House correspondent hat for a second. At the time, it was reporting based on things the president had said behind closed doors.

[Tamara Keith]

Well, at a rally just recently, he said it out loud in public, recounting.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

That one time he said that thing. So now he said it live on C Span. At the very least, I feel vindicated.

[Tamara Keith]

Yeah.

[Korva Coleman]

Oh, my goodness. I have to fan myself that seriously. I think I still have the piece of paper I would frame it. I have it safely tucked away because I think this should be given to NPR as a keepsake. It was a memorable day.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

So you have a very tough personal schedule, certainly, and at times the news is very tough. What keeps you committed to this day in and day out?

[Korva Coleman]

I actually have given this a lot of thought, especially as this has been not just a difficult year for journalism, it's been a super difficult year for public media and particularly public radio.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

Yeah.

[Korva Coleman]

I think all of us, tam, have come to a moment where we took a breath and we realized we were going to recommit to what we were doing. But I approach journalism as a calling, as some would say. I think about people who are called to nursing. I think about people who are called to social work teaching. I think about people who are called to the ministry. I think about journalism in the same way. It's a calling for me. This is something that I have to do. I can't imagine not being a journalist, and I cannot imagine myself as anything other than an NPR journalist. And because I feel I have this deep calling, that faith, that knowledge, that relationship we have with listeners is what sustains me through everything.

[Tamara Keith]

We are purpose driven.

[Korva Coleman]

Exactly.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

Like, to the core.

[Korva Coleman]

Yes.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

Or at least that's what we tell ourselves to get up in the morning.

[Korva Coleman]

We do. But also, there's a way that we know it deeply about ourselves, the way we know it about each other, the way we know it about all of our colleagues at member stations around the country, how they too, with few resources and just as much passion as we have. We're both out of member stations, tam. We know what it's like.

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

Which station did you come from?

[Korva Coleman]

I came out of WAMU, Washington, D.C. where did you come from?

[Unidentified NPR Colleague]

KQED San Francisco, KPCC Pasadena. Spent some time with my friends at kvpr Valley Public Radio in the Central Valley of California and Fresno, WOSU in Columbus, Ohio, and WCPN in Cleveland. I've got an Alphabet soup for you.

[Korva Coleman]

We're all npr.

[Tamara Keith]

This episode was produced by Leena Muhammad. It was edited by Adam Raney. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. It's Consider this from NPR News. I'm Tamara Keith.

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[Dave Mattingly]

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[Korva Coleman]

The wealthiest industry in the world.

[Dave Mattingly]

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