ABOVE PHOTO: Tavis Smiley and Cornel West
Trice Edney News Wire
The final edition of Smiley & West, the public radio program featuring Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, will air the weekend of December 27, 2013. The show, which became best known for its controversial condemnations of President Barack Obama’s administration, ran for three years.
Beginning in January 2014, Tavis Smiley will return to public radio with a new two-hour format. The show will continue to focus on a wide range of issues including politics, business, health, sports, arts and culture, and will feature a broad spectrum of newsmakers and commentators. Tony Marcano, formerly of Weekend Edition on NPR, will be the program’s senior producer.
“I was blessed to work with my dear Brother Tavis and we stood on the forefront of bringing prophetic perspectives to loyal listeners on the important issues we face today,” said West. “As I move forward, I carry with me the knowledge that Smiley & West leaves a definitive mark in public radio.”
“Creating a radio show to co-host with Dr. Cornel West is one of the highlights of my career,” Smiley said. “I have been blessed to work alongside the person I regard as America’s leading public intellectual.”
Smiley and West said they are appreciative to Public Radio International (PRI) for the opportunity and grateful to the listening audience for its embrace. They emphasized that Smiley & West would not be the outstanding show it is without the expertise and hard work of producer Joe Zefran.
Both agree that it is critical to offer differing viewpoints on the airwaves, especially the stories of the more than 45 million Americans living in poverty.
Smiley will be devoting more time to the Tavis Smiley Network, the first online programming network for BlogTalkRadio.
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