WETA switches back to classical music format

WETA-FM in Washington, D.C., resumed broadcasts of classical music last night in a format change that was closely coordinated with WGMS, a local station that replaced Mozart with oldies pop tunes. The Washington Post reports that several WETA staff members, including talk show host Rebecca Roberts and Program Director Maxie Jackson, will lose their jobs. WAMU-FM, now the city's sole all-news NPR station, has picked up A Prairie Home Companion, which WETA dropped, and may make other changes. The Post's Marc Fisher reviews the new sound: "Best sign so far: Full-length works, albeit relatively short ones, even in morning drive time." Jake Shapiro questions the change: "Internet radio, on-demand audio, and the deepest offerings of new online music services are a better match for the classical fan than the rare asset of a big signal in our nation's capital -- even if the adoption rate for new platforms and devices hasn't caught up to terrestrial's reach yet."

Woodruff to return to the "NewsHour"

After a stint as a NewsHour special correspondent, Judy Woodruff signs on full-time Feb. 5 as a senior correspondent and back-up anchor to Jim Lehrer. Gail Shister of the Philadelphia Inquirer interviewed Woodruff about her decision to return to daily journalism.

Glass to critics: "Public television is terrible"

During an appearance at the Television Critics Association press tour yesterday, This American Life creator and host Ira Glass explained why his new TV show will be on Showtime, not PBS. "Public television is terrible," Glass says. "This isn't the greatest thing for me to say, but it's the truth. In terms of innovation and what they do, you know, it's just not that interesting most of the time." Roger Catlin reported on Glass's comments in today's Hartford Courant. [Page down to second item.]