Larry Mantle
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Martin Scorsese sounds like a kid
That’s what I discovered when interviewing him for an “AirTalk” segment that airs Wednesday morning in our first hour. It was infectious to hear his excitement about movies and what he’s continuing to learn about the art form.
Scorsese is well-known for his championing of film preservation and appreciation of silent cinema. In his current movie, “Hugo,” he’s been able to combine his love of movie history with a family-friendly story he filmed for his 12-year-old daughter. Though some of our “Film Week” critics thought the film was a cold creampuff, it emotionally connected with me.
As a fan of Scorsese’s earlier films and his latest, hearing his dedication to learning how best to use new technology was a pleasure. One of the highlights of our conversation was hearing Scorsese laugh as he recounted George Lucas telling him, “this is what I’ve been talking about!” when hearing his friend was finally embracing special effects and 3-D. We should all be so open to learning new tricks.
Former L. A. Times Editor Russ Stanton is SCPR's new VP of Content
For once I guessed right! I was getting ready for work this morning telling my wife, Kristen, about our afternoon staff meeting to announce who would be taking this important editorial leadership position for KPCC. I hadn’t heard any rumors, and hadn’t received any inside word.
I told Kristen about my lack of info on the hire, but told her Russ Stanton was my guess. I’m happy to know I was correct and look forward to working with him.
The best listeners in radio support us in many ways
Sunday morning, over 200 members of KPCC’s Leadership Circle gathered for our annual brunch at the Museum of Latin-American Art in Long Beach. It’s an event I look forward to, as it gives those of us on the air a chance to talk about the process of doing our shows with some of our most loyal and generous listeners.
Every year, I’m particularly struck by how knowledgeable these listeners are about the evolution of KPCC over the past few years. They remember things I’d forgotten, such as how I used to talk about running down the hall to share an idea with the “AirTalk” production team, as we didn’t even work in the same area. A lot has changed since we moved into our new building less than two years ago.
Madeleine Brand and NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin were terrific – talking about the stunning performance by Newt Gingrich at last Saturday’s South Carolina primary, and looking ahead to next week’s Florida primary. Ken and I picked up that theme on Monday’s “AirTalk.”
Our CEO Bill Davis talked about KPCC’s future plans for expansion in 12 distinct areas of reporting – traditionally called “beats,” but termed “verticals” in our shop (I have to ask someone why).
After the brunch, most of us toured the current exhibition in the museum. It was a fun event on a beautiful Southern California day.
I share the details just to give all listeners who are interested a sense of what the Leadership Circle is about. I know it’s a level of giving that puts it out of reach for many of our most devoted listeners. However, the gifts from Circle members help all of us who are listeners.
Regardless of what you contribute to KPCC, your contribution extends beyond funding your listening alone. You’re truly providing this service to others, as well. It’s an act of generosity that we deeply appreciate. Thank you very much.
AirTalk's higher education summit
Wednesday evening, we brought together the Presidents of USC and Pitzer College, along with the Chancellors of UCLA and the state Community College system. It was a great chance to put these four leaders in a room together to talk about the biggest challenges facing their institutions.
One of the jobs of a college CEO is to put a positive face on unpleasant trends, such as fast-rising tuition, bidding wars over “star” professors, and large cutbacks in funding for public institutions. As expected, we heard some of that, but I was impressed that the panelists consistently acknowledged that the current model was going to have to change.
One of the biggest areas of concern is over teaching methodology itself. Does it still make sense to teach introductory students by placing hundreds of them in a large lecture hall so that they can listen to the dot below? Now that lecturers are competing with electronic devices, probably not. Looking even bigger picture, is the physical campus going to downsize, as the need for traditional classrooms declines?
Clearly cost increases in higher education are going to reach the point where they can’t be sustained. Eventually, debt becomes so large that prospective students decide they can’t afford to take it on.
We closed our conversation by talking about the political homogeneity that’s evident at most non-religious schools. Is it a problem that public and top-level colleges and universities tend to have liberal arts faculties that skew liberal?
Pitzer President Laura Skandera Trombley thought not. She pointed out that students at her college are free-thinkers who regularly challenge the views of their professors. Dr. Trombley also mentioned the ideologically-diverse guest speakers who come to campus. I’m sure that’s true. My question, though, is whether that’s a sufficient substitute for the in-house passionate conservative professor who’s also, presumably, going to stimulate wide-ranging debate. I’d argue there’s also a benefit to professors in being surrounded with colleagues who strongly disagree on fundamental issues.
Though there are conservatives who say widespread discrimination exists against humanities and social sciences professors who aren’t liberal, part of the problem is probably cultural. Just as real estate developers likely skew conservative, academics skew liberal. Even if college leaders engage in ideological “affirmative action” in an effort to reflect broader views, it might be hard to find those conservative sociology professors you’d like to hire.
On a personal note, before Wednesday night’s program, I found out that Dr. Trombley is the daughter of Mary Skandera, the assistant principal at the Inglewood elementary school I attended in the late-1960s. I told Dr. Trombley that I fondly remember her mother and how much latitude and respect she gave me as a sixth-grader at Centinela Elementary. I’m hoping to talk with Mary Skandera directly to tell her how much I appreciate her, to this day.
Also at Wednesday night’s event, my former high school English teacher was in attendance. I hadn’t seen her in 35 years, but recognized her right away. She complimented me on my use of language, which made me feel like a 16-year-old again – in a good way!
Bob O'Rourke (1939-2011)
I lost a good friend yesterday – a man I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for 25 years—longtime VP of Public Relations for Caltech, Bob O’Rourke. Bob was not only a dedicated booster of Caltech; he was always working to connect people he knew when their interests intersected. He was a matchmaker in every area but romance (as far as I knew).
I last visited Bob about two weeks ago and, even as his body was failing, his robust personality was fully there. He was interested in connecting me with an acquaintance of his who was doing significant philanthropic work in our area. His mind never stopped working.
Bob also dedicated his last years to furthering research into the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, the disease that eventually took his life. He joined me on “AirTalk” just over a year ago to talk about how he was diagnosed with the illness and little is known about its causes.
Bob used his force of personality and persuasive abilities to lobby UCLA into performing a lung transplant on him. After waiting for nine months to get a match, Bob got a new lung to replace one of his diseased ones. Unfortunately, the donor lung never properly functioned in Bob’s body and, from that point, the illness’s course was clear.
During these past few months that Bob was home on hospice care, I had the chance to visit him a few times and enjoy his and his wife Sandy’s company, despite his difficulty in breathing. He made sure our conversations were upbeat and warm. His was the best example of facing impending death head-on and with spirit fully intact.
I’m sure that for Sandy, their children, grandchildren, and those very closest to him, it was extremely difficult and stressful to provide full-time care and to see the man they love so much struggle for breath. However, I have no doubt how much pride they have in the man who set the best possible example for how to live with fast-approaching death.
I’ve reached the age of 52 with this being my first loss of a good friend. I’ve seen the passing of several family members, but, until now, no friends. This loss is tough. There will never be another Bob O’Rourke, but his impact on this community and his friends will outlive us all. Bob, I’ll miss you.
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