Media

Hanukkah Lights 2011
NPR's annual holiday program celebrating the Jewish festival of lights. Hosts Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz read from a collection of specially commissioned stories centering on Hanukkah.
When radio became a weapon of war
Midday presents excerpts from the American RadioWorks documentary, "Battles of Belief in World War II." It focuses on how the radio became a modern weapon of war. The first part of the program is the conclusion to he documentary, "Days of Infamy."
Remembering legendary radio dramatist Norman Corwin
Norman Corwin has been called the poet laureate of radio's golden age. He died last month at the age of 101. Midday remembers Corwin with a short documentary on his career, and excerpts from his masterpiece, "On a Note of Triumph", which remains the most listened to radio drama in U.S. history. Later in the hour, author Tim O'Brien discusses his critically acclaimed short story collection on the Vietnam War, "The Things They Carried."
"Sybil" grew up as Shirley Mason in Dodge Center, Minnesota. Journalist and author Debbie Nathan traces her history and looks into the true story behind the famous multiple personality case.
Tom Brokaw at the Westminster Town Hall Forum
Former NBC News anchor and author Tom Brokaw speaks at the Westminster Town Hall forum about his new book, "The Time of Our Lives: A Conversation about America." It's a reflection on the lost American dream and a search for possible solutions by looking at earlier generations.
The NewsHour's Jim Lehrer at the Commonwealth Club
Former PBS NewsHour anchor and executive editor Jim Lehrer speaks at the Commonwealth Club of California about his new book, "Tension City: Inside the Presidential Debates, from Kennedy-Nixon to Obama-McCain."
Remembering Prairie Home Companion's Tom Keith
Midday looks back at the life and career of Tom Keith. He was known nationally as the sound effects man on A Prairie Home Companion, and he also co-hosted The Morning Show on Minnesota Public Radio for 25 years. Friends and colleagues reminisce about the legendary radio personality.
Bonus bonanza
Since the 2008 financial crisis, bankers have been heavily criticized for continuing to make millions in performance-based bonuses while their banks escaped failure only by taking public bailouts. Now big bonuses are going to managers at Gannett News - publishers of the downsized USA Today. Has the media outlet learned nothing from their own headlines?
Russell Banks writes the life of a sex offender
In 50 years of writing fiction, Russell Banks has told the stories of many less-than-perfect people. For his latest novel "Lost Memory of Skin" he takes on perhaps his most troubling character: a young sex offender.