There have been plenty of fictional accounts on TV and in the movies of life behind bars. But next month, National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" news program will take a real-life look at correctional facility life with "Prison Diaries."
Four Utah NPR stations, including KUER, KPCW and KUSU, will air the special series each Tuesday in January.
An advance sampling of the programming proves it is both informative and startling.
The five-part series also proves that radio can still create powerful images in the mind by relying on the human imagination.
In one sequence, a convict talks about "the fence" and "razor wire" that allows for slim chance of escape, and another discusses how nothing ever changes in prison, how the routine is always the same. Still another, a robber, tells why he likes to hold a gun to people's faces. "I love that look in their eyes," he said. "Robbing people was fun."
The 30-minute weekly reports don't feature justconvicts. Officers, wardens and judges are also interviewed in Rhode Island and North Carolina prisons.
This is a no-holds-barred look at prison life, as producer Joe Richman spent six months documenting lives that are usually hidden from the public. Richman found that as prisoners and staff became more comfortable with tape recorders, the stories became more intimate and revealing.
Mark your calendars for Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. This is definitely an NPR special not to be missed.
KUER (FM-90,1) will air "Prison Diaries" Tuesdays in January during a 4-6 p.m. block.
KPCW (FM-91.9, Park City) will broadcast the programs Tuesdays between 5-6:30 p.m.
KUSU (FM-91.5, Logan) will air the specials inside a 3-6 p.m. Tuesday block.
KCUA (FM-92.5, Coalville) will have the shows on between 5-6:30 p.m. each Tuesday.
JOHN W. PETERSON, a Utah broadcasting veteran, died suddenly of a heart attack last month at the age of 55. He was the Weber State University sports information director from 1973-79 and also the voice of the Wildcats on both KLO and KJQN for some 12 years. Born in Ogden, he taught broadcasting at Weber State until 1984 and most recently taught communications at Delta College in Stockton, Calif., and at Dubai Women's College in the United Arab Emirates.
A NEW TREND in radio seems to be playing more blocks of music and, therefore, more blocks of commercials. Do most listeners really stick with the same station during seemingly endless commercials? I know I switch the dial promptly during long commercial blocks.
RADIO HAPPENINGS — Paul Harvey actually airs on KSOS-AM (800), not KSOS-FM (106.9) as was incorrectly reported last week. It turns out the Harvey show's own Web site isn't totally accurate, as the veteran radio commentator also airs on KMTI (AM-1490) in Manti . . .
"The Blaze," KUFR, FM-102.3, is giving KBER's morning show, "Bob and Tom" on FM-101.1, some competition. If sexy talk and numerous obscenities are your style, then the "Cory Draper" show is for you. These two shows make the "Freak Show" with Mick and Allen on KURR ("Rock 99") seem G-rated. Draper even has his own Web site, independent from the station at www.corydraper.com. He's joined by Micky Foxxx (yes, three x's) and "Mr. Clean" (Matt Vance) . . .
Speaking of Mick and Allen on KURR, Allen Handy may be spending time underwater on Monday, Dec. 11, at one of the Sutherlands store parking lots for a new stunt by the DJ, who, surprisingly, isn't all that comfortable in water. This new stunt is a fund-raiser for a new Christmas Box House planned for Ogden . . .
"The Radio From Hell" show on KXRK has been giving away trips to Mexico all week . . . "The Z-Morning Zoo" on KZHT Monday had Laurie from Dreamzone.com on the show, giving more dream advice and interpretation . . . "Shawn on Dobie" on KKAT were busy Tuesday morning suggesting possible new names for the Salt Lake Buzz. The best two were "The Box Elders" and the "Brine Shrimps." Dobie has also been performing on the comedy club circuit on the side, most recently in Ogden.
E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com