Ben Calhoun
Encyclopedia
Ben Calhoun, is radio journalist and a producer for the public radio program This American Life
. He is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and now lives in Brooklyn
, New York. Calhoun has taught at Loyola University Chicago
and given lectures at Northwestern University
. He is best known for his work on Chicago Public Radio
, and has contributed to NPR's Radiolab, Morning Edition
, All Things Considered
, and Day to Day
, as well as WNYC
's The Takeaway
.
in Oberlin, Ohio
, where he was the station manager for WOBC-FM, the student-run and operated station on campus.
as an unpaid intern during the summer of 2000. He was later hired full-time, and was promoted from newsroom coordinator to deputy news director in 2003.
From 2004 until 2008, Calhoun helped direct election coverage for Chicago Public Radio. He routinely appeared on episodes of the Week in Review with Joel Weisman on WTTW
-TV's Chicago Tonight
program, where he provided commentary on current political news. Even though much of Calhoun's work appeared on Chicago Public Radio, where he focused on politics and government, it was featured by National Public Radio, the BBC Radio
, the CBC Radio
, Radio New Zealand
, and other syndicated programs including The World (radio program)
.
In 2005, Calhoun was awarded a grant by the Illinois Humanities Council that allowed him to pursue his interests in documentary work. Additional support was provided by Chicago Public Radio, where he used the grant to direct, edit, and curate an exhibition of audio and photo documentary work entitled "The Daily Meaning: Life Inside America’s Service Industries" that went on display at the Peace Museum on September 2, 2005. In 2006, the documentary was nominated for the Helen and Martin Schwarz Prize by the Illinois Humanities Council. Calhoun served as the executive producer for a documentary entitled "A New Generation of Veterans" which was awarded second place for "Beat Radio Documentary or Series" by the Illinois Associated Press.
In February 2006, Calhoun was named WBEZ-FM/Chicago Public Radio
's political reporter.
Calhoun resigned from Chicago Public Radio in February 2009 to move to New York.
Calhoun is currently working as a producer for the radio program "This American Life".
This American Life
This American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
. He is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and now lives in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York. Calhoun has taught at Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
and given lectures at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He is best known for his work on Chicago Public Radio
Chicago Public Radio
WBEZ is a noncommercial, public radio station broadcasting from Chicago, Illinois. Financed primarily by listener contributions, the station is affiliated with both National Public Radio and Public Radio International; they also broadcast content from American Public Media...
, and has contributed to NPR's Radiolab, Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
, All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, and Day to Day
Day to Day
Day to Day was a one-hour weekday American radio newsmagazine distributed by National Public Radio , and produced by NPR in collaboration with Slate. Madeleine Brand served as host since 2006...
, as well as WNYC
WNYC
WNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
's The Takeaway
The Takeaway
The Takeaway is a morning radio news program co-created and co-produced by Public Radio International and WNYC-New York Public Radio with editorial partners the BBC World Service of the United Kingdom, The New York Times, and WGBH Radio Boston of the United States...
.
Early life and education
Born in Milwaukee, Calhoun earned a bachelor's degree in English in 2001 from Oberlin CollegeOberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, to the south and west of Cleveland. Oberlin is perhaps best known for being the home of Oberlin College, a liberal arts college and music conservatory with approximately 3,000 students...
, where he was the station manager for WOBC-FM, the student-run and operated station on campus.
Professional career
Calhoun began his journalism career when he joined Chicago Public RadioChicago Public Radio
WBEZ is a noncommercial, public radio station broadcasting from Chicago, Illinois. Financed primarily by listener contributions, the station is affiliated with both National Public Radio and Public Radio International; they also broadcast content from American Public Media...
as an unpaid intern during the summer of 2000. He was later hired full-time, and was promoted from newsroom coordinator to deputy news director in 2003.
From 2004 until 2008, Calhoun helped direct election coverage for Chicago Public Radio. He routinely appeared on episodes of the Week in Review with Joel Weisman on WTTW
WTTW
WTTW channel 11 is one of three Public Broadcasting Service member public television stations serving the Chicago, Illinois market; the others are WYCC and WYIN. WTTW began broadcasting on September 6, 1955 and it is owned and operated by Window to the World Communications, Inc., a not-for-profit...
-TV's Chicago Tonight
Chicago Tonight
Chicago Tonight is an evening television news program broadcast weeknights on WTTW in Chicago. Chicago Tonight reports primarily on local news and presents features showcasing local artists and events. The show started in 1984 and for 15 years popular Chicago broadcast journalist John Callaway...
program, where he provided commentary on current political news. Even though much of Calhoun's work appeared on Chicago Public Radio, where he focused on politics and government, it was featured by National Public Radio, the BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
, the CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
, Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
, and other syndicated programs including The World (radio program)
The World (radio program)
PRI's The World is a global news radio, audio and multi-platform program created by Public Radio International based on the program's congruence with PRI's mission, and in order to fulfill the critical need for more original global news created for and provided to Americans. This was partly a...
.
In 2005, Calhoun was awarded a grant by the Illinois Humanities Council that allowed him to pursue his interests in documentary work. Additional support was provided by Chicago Public Radio, where he used the grant to direct, edit, and curate an exhibition of audio and photo documentary work entitled "The Daily Meaning: Life Inside America’s Service Industries" that went on display at the Peace Museum on September 2, 2005. In 2006, the documentary was nominated for the Helen and Martin Schwarz Prize by the Illinois Humanities Council. Calhoun served as the executive producer for a documentary entitled "A New Generation of Veterans" which was awarded second place for "Beat Radio Documentary or Series" by the Illinois Associated Press.
In February 2006, Calhoun was named WBEZ-FM/Chicago Public Radio
Chicago Public Radio
WBEZ is a noncommercial, public radio station broadcasting from Chicago, Illinois. Financed primarily by listener contributions, the station is affiliated with both National Public Radio and Public Radio International; they also broadcast content from American Public Media...
's political reporter.
Calhoun resigned from Chicago Public Radio in February 2009 to move to New York.
Calhoun is currently working as a producer for the radio program "This American Life".