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Code Switch

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This article is about the NPR outlet and podcast. For the use of more than one language in speech, see Code-switching.

Code Switch
Presentation
GenreRace and Culture
LanguageEnglish
UpdatesWeekly
LengthAbout 30 minutes
Publication
Original releaseMay 2016
ProviderNational Public Radio

Code Switch is a podcast from National Public Radio (NPR), and an online outlet covering race and culture.[1] Code Switch began in 2013 as a blog, and a series of stories contributed to NPR radio programs.

The Code Switch podcast launched in 2016, hosted by Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji. In 2022, BA Parker joined the podcast as a co-host.[2] In 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd protests, it became one of NPR's top ranked podcasts.[3] In 2020, it was named Apple's Podcast of the Year.[4]

History

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Code Switch was launched in 2013 with a $1.5 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; it developed as a blog and contributed stories to a variety of NPR programs.[5] Harvard's Neiman Lab describes the project as "designed to increase coverage of race issues and reach out to new audiences" at NPR and affiliated media outlets.[6]

The blog began publishing on April 7, 2013, with Gene Demby's introductory essay "How Code-Switching Explains The World".[7][8]

The outlet's name refers to the linguistic phenomenon of code-switching, when speaker moves between multiple languages or dialectics. Demby's introductory essay said the project construed the concept broadly, with the linguistic concept also serving as means of analyzing aspects of race and culture in identity: "Many of us subtly, reflexively change the way we express ourselves all the time. We're hop-scotching between different cultural and linguistic spaces and different parts of our own identities—sometimes within a single interaction."[9]

Content

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Harvard's Neiman Lab described the Code Switch project as a "forward-thinking effort given the rapidly changing demographics in the U.S.[;] Code Switch has grown into a place where reporters tries to consider issues around race with nuance, whether that's the myth of the colorblind millennial, or going deep on the hit Broadway musical Hamilton."[10] The outlet has also drawn notice for reporting and commentary on topics ranging from sports[11] and reality television,[12] to the Supreme Court.[13]

Code Switch founder and reporter Kat Chow has also described the project as especially interested in the "second beat" of a story: "If there is breaking news, we want to take a step back and see what this actually means. What is there to report on that hasn't already been said?"[14]

Staff

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Team members have included Gene Demby, who is lead blogger and cohosts the podcast[15] with reporter Shereen Marisol Meraji; Tasneem Raja, senior digital editor;[16] supervising senior producer Alicia Montgomery;[17] Matt Thompson[6] and Kat Chow.[18]

Podcast

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In May 2016, the Code Switch team launched a podcast by the same name.[19] Episodes are released weekly on Wednesdays.[20]

The Guardian characterized the podcast as "courageous conversations."[21] Wired said Code Switch's July 14, 2016, episode "Black and Blue" offered "thoughtful conversation about race and policing."[22] Los Angeles Magazine said, "NPR's 'Code Switch' began as a popular blog, but its evolution into a podcast seems natural...it explores issues of race, culture, and politics in a personal way that flourishes in an audio format."[23]

Awards and reception

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In December 2020, Apple Podcasts announced that Code Switch had been selected as 'Show of the Year', marking the first time that Apple Podcasts recognized a single podcast of the year.[4]

In 2021, Code Switch won an Ambie Award for Best Society and Culture Podcast.[24] In 2024, Code Switch won the Ambie Award for Best Scriptwriting, Non-fiction.[25]

In 2015, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists awarded Shereen Marisol Meraji the "Radio, Feature News – Large Market" award for her Code Switch segment "Tandas".[26]

Code Switch won the Online News Association for best online commentary at a large outlet in 2014.[27]

Despite generally positive reaction to the blog, some users in early years complained about practices and policies on moderating comments.[28]

In 2016 Los Angeles Magazine recommended the Code Switch podcast as one of "5 Podcasts You Must Listen to This Summer".[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wang, Shan (June 2, 2016). "What does the intersection of race and culture sound like? NPR's Code Switch is looking for the right mix". Neiman Lab. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  2. ^ "Meet B.A. Parker — our new co-host!". npr.com. NPR. July 27, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "How NPR's 'Code Switch' Podcast Became a Hit Telling Stories "The Way They Needed to Be Told"". The Hollywood Reporter. June 27, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Bonifacic, Igor (December 1, 2020). "'Code Switch' from NPR is Apple's podcast of the year". Engadget. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Grinapol, Corinne (May 10, 2016). "NPR's Code Switch Podcast Is Debuting at the End of the Month". FishbowlDC. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Ellis, Justin (May 13, 2013). "Monday Q&A: NPR's Matt Thompson on Code Switch, covering race and culture, and developing a mobile audience". Neiman Lab. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  7. ^ Demby, Gene (April 8, 2013). "How Code-Switching Explains The World". Code Switch. NPR. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  8. ^ Parham, Jason (April 8, 2013). "NPR Launches New Blog Covering "Race, Culture and Ethnicity"". Complex. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  9. ^ G., R.L. (April 10, 2013). "How black to be?". The Economist. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  10. ^ Ellis, Justin (October 5, 2015). "Tasneem Raja on how NPR's Code Switch navigates the increasingly crowded race-and-culture beat". Neiman Lab. Archived from the original on September 4, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  11. ^ Prince, Richard (August 21, 2016). "Media Turn on the Olympics' 'Ugly American'". The Root. Archived from the original on August 24, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  12. ^ Butler, Bethonie (March 16, 2016). "'The Bachelor' and what we really mean when we say 'diverse'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  13. ^ Prince, Richard (June 26, 2016). "CNN Hiring of Ex-Trump Aide Raises Ethical Concerns in Media". The Root. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  14. ^ Hallman, Charles (November 12, 2015). "Code Switch deepens race conversation on the airwaves". Minnesota Spokesman Recorder News Online. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  15. ^ "NPR Launching Code Switch Podcast | Cision". Cision. May 23, 2016. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  16. ^ Mullin, Benjamin (December 18, 2014). "Tasneem Raja named senior digital editor at NPR". Poynter. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  17. ^ Ragusea, Adam (July 14, 2016). "Code Switch's Alicia Montgomery on leading conversations about race". Current. Archived from the original on July 15, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  18. ^ Steigrad, Alexandra (July 14, 2016). "NPR Tackles Race, Gender and Identity in America With Code Switch Podcast". WWD. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  19. ^ Neyfakh, Leon (April 10, 2016). "The Fight for the Future of NPR". Slate. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  20. ^ Jao, Charline (June 15, 2016). "Interview: Kat Chow and Shereen Marisol Meraji of NPR's Code Switch". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  21. ^ Locker, Melissa (May 16, 2016). "Small Town Horror provides radio scares while Code Switch gets its own podcast". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  22. ^ "5 Podcasts You Need to Hear to Get Through This Week". Wired. July 18, 2016. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  23. ^ a b Abarbanel, Aliza (July 20, 2016). "5 Podcasts You Must Listen to This Summer". Los Angeles Magazine. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  24. ^ "2021 WINNERS". The Ambies — Awards for Excellence in Audio. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  25. ^ "2024 Ambie Winners and Nominees". The Ambie Awards. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  26. ^ "NAHJ Journalism Awards: Fusion Wins George Ramos "Chale" Investigative Award; CNN & ESPN top winners list". nahj.org. National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  27. ^ "2014 Awards | Online News Association". journalists.org. Online News Association. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  28. ^ Lapin, Andrew (June 5, 2014). "A year in, NPR's Code Switch still figuring out commenting". Current. Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
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