Code Switch: Difference between revisions

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|url = {{URL|http://npr.org/sections/codeswitch/}}

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'''''Code Switch''''' is a race and culture outlet and a weekly [[podcast]] from American public radio network [[NPR]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Shan|title=What does the intersection of race and culture sound like? NPR's Code Switch is looking for the right mix|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2016/06/what-does-the-intersection-of-race-and-culture-sound-like-nprs-code-switch-is-looking-for-the-right-mix/|accessdate=4 August 2016|work=Neiman Lab|date=June 2, 2016|archive-date=4 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804091813/http://www.niemanlab.org/2016/06/what-does-the-intersection-of-race-and-culture-sound-like-nprs-code-switch-is-looking-for-the-right-mix/|url-status=live}}</ref> It began in 2013 with a [[blog]] as well as contributing stories to NPR radio programs. The Code Switch podcast launched in 2016. In the wake of the [[George Floyd protests]], it became one of NPR's top ranked podcasts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How NPR's 'Code Switch' Podcast Became a Hit Telling Stories "The Way They Needed to Be Told"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-nprs-code-switch-podcast-became-a-hit-telling-stories-way-they-needed-be-told-1300714|access-date=2020-08-02|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|archive-date=2020-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819012055/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-nprs-code-switch-podcast-became-a-hit-telling-stories-way-they-needed-be-told-1300714|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==

''Code Switch'' was launched in 2013 with a $1.5 million grant from the [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]]; it developed as a blog and contributed stories to a variety of NPR programs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grinapol|first1=Corinne|title=NPR's Code Switch Podcast Is Debuting at the End of the Month|url=http://www.adweek.com/fishbowldc/nprs-code-switch-podcast-is-debuting-at-the-end-of-the-month/156042|accessdate=4 August 2016|work=FishbowlDC|date=May 10, 2016|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819102934/http://www.adweek.com/fishbowldc/nprs-code-switch-podcast-is-debuting-at-the-end-of-the-month/156042|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Harvard University|Harvard]]'s [[Neiman Lab]] describes the project as "designed to increase coverage of race issues and reach out to new audiences" at NPR and affiliated media outlets.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last1=Ellis|first1=Justin|title=Monday Q&A: NPR's Matt Thompson on Code Switch, covering race and culture, and developing a mobile audience|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2013/05/monday-qa-nprs-matt-thompson-on-code-switch-covering-race-and-culture-and-developing-a-mobile-audience/|accessdate=25 August 2016|work=Neiman Lab|date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827205828/http://www.niemanlab.org/2013/05/monday-qa-nprs-matt-thompson-on-code-switch-covering-race-and-culture-and-developing-a-mobile-audience/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The blog began publishing on April 7, 2013 with [[Gene Demby]]'s introductory essay "How Code-Switching Explains The World".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/04/08/176064688/how-code-switching-explains-the-world|title=How Code-Switching Explains The World|last=Demby|first=Gene|work=Code Switch|publisher=NPR|date=8 April 2013|accessdate=5 September 2016|archive-date=12 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212152602/https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/04/08/176064688/how-code-switching-explains-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/04/npr-launches-new-blog-covering-race-culture-and-ethnicity|title=NPR Launches New Blog Covering "Race, Culture and Ethnicity"|last=Parham|first=Jason|date=April 8, 2013|work=Complex|access-date=August 4, 2016|archive-date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919102432/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/04/npr-launches-new-blog-covering-race-culture-and-ethnicity|url-status=live}}</ref>

The outlet's name refers to the linguistic phenomenon of [[code-switching]], when speaker moves between multiple languages or dialectics. Demby's introductory essay said the project construed the concept broadly, with the linguistic concept also serving as means of analyzing aspects of race and culture in identity: "Many of us subtly, reflexively change the way we express ourselves all the time. We're hop-scotching between different cultural and linguistic spaces and different parts of our own identities—sometimes within a single interaction."<ref>{{cite news|last1=G.|first1=R.L.|title=How black to be?|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/johnson/2013/04/code-switching|accessdate=25 August 2016|work=The Economist|date=April 10, 2013|archive-date=28 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828123217/http://www.economist.com/blogs/johnson/2013/04/code-switching|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Content==

[[Harvard]]'s [[Neiman Foundation for Journalism|Neiman Lab]] described the ''Code Switch'' project as a "forward-thinking effort given the rapidly changing demographics in the U.S.[;] Code Switch has grown into a place where reporters tries to consider issues around race with nuance, whether that’s the myth of the [[Color blindness (race)|colorblind]] [[Millennials|millennial]], or going deep on the hit [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] musical [[Hamilton (musical)|''Hamilton'']]."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ellis|first1=Justin|title=Tasneem Raja on how NPR's Code Switch navigates the increasingly crowded race-and-culture beat|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2015/10/tasneem-raja-on-how-nprs-code-switch-navigates-the-increasingly-crowded-race-and-culture-beat/|accessdate=4 August 2016|work=Neiman Lab|date=October 5, 2015|archive-date=4 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904003553/http://www.niemanlab.org/2015/10/tasneem-raja-on-how-nprs-code-switch-navigates-the-increasingly-crowded-race-and-culture-beat/|url-status=live}}</ref> The outlet has also drawn notice for reporting and commentary on topics ranging from sports<ref>{{cite news|last1=Prince|first1=Richard|title=Media Turn on the Olympics' 'Ugly American'|url=http://www.theroot.com/blog/journal-isms/media-turn-on-the-olympics-ugly-american/|accessdate=25 August 2016|work=The Root|date=August 21, 2016|archive-date=24 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824082053/http://www.theroot.com/blog/journal-isms/media-turn-on-the-olympics-ugly-american/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[reality television]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Butler|first1=Bethonie|title='The Bachelor' and what we really mean when we say 'diverse'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/03/16/the-bachelor-and-what-we-really-mean-when-we-say-diverse/|accessdate=25 August 2016|work=The Washington Post|date=16 March 2016|archive-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916164534/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/03/16/the-bachelor-and-what-we-really-mean-when-we-say-diverse/|url-status=live}}</ref> to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Prince|first1=Richard|title=CNN Hiring of Ex-Trump Aide Raises Ethical Concerns in Media|url=http://www.theroot.com/blog/journal-isms/cnns-hiring-of-ex-trump-aide-raises-ethical-concerns/|accessdate=25 August 2016|work=The Root|date=June 26, 2016|archive-date=27 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827120919/http://www.theroot.com/blog/journal-isms/cnns-hiring-of-ex-trump-aide-raises-ethical-concerns/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Code Switch reporter Kat Chow has also described the project as especially interested in the "second beat" of a story: "If there is breaking news, we want to take a step back and see what this actually means. What is there to report on that hasn’t already been said?”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hallman|first1=Charles|title=Code Switch deepens race conversation on the airwaves|url=http://spokesman-recorder.com/2015/11/12/code-switch-deepens-race-conversation-airwaves/|accessdate=25 August 2016|work=Minnesota Spokesman Recorder News Online|date=12 November 2015|archive-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920020851/http://spokesman-recorder.com/2015/11/12/code-switch-deepens-race-conversation-airwaves/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Staff==

Team members have included [[Gene Demby]], who is lead blogger and cohosts the podcast<ref>{{cite web|title=NPR Launching Code Switch Podcast {{!}} Cision|url=http://www.cision.com/us/2016/05/npr-launching-code-switch-podcast/|website=Cision|date=23 May 2016|access-date=4 August 2016|archive-date=18 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918220044/http://www.cision.com/us/2016/05/npr-launching-code-switch-podcast/|url-status=live}}</ref> with reporter [[Shereen Marisol Meraji]]; [[Tasneem Raja]], senior digital editor;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mullin|first1=Benjamin|title=Tasneem Raja named senior digital editor at NPR|url=http://www.poynter.org/2014/tasneem-raja-named-senior-digital-editor-at-npr/309207/|accessdate=4 August 2016|work=Poynter|date=18 December 2014|archive-date=9 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809031602/http://www.poynter.org/2014/tasneem-raja-named-senior-digital-editor-at-npr/309207/|url-status=live}}</ref> supervising senior producer Alicia Montgomery;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ragusea|first1=Adam|author-link1=Adam Ragusea|title=Code Switch's Alicia Montgomery on leading conversations about race|url=http://current.org/2016/07/code-switchs-alicia-montgomery-on-leading-conversations-about-race/|accessdate=4 August 2016|work=Current|date=July 14, 2016|archive-date=15 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715153507/http://current.org/2016/07/code-switchs-alicia-montgomery-on-leading-conversations-about-race/|url-status=live}}</ref> Matt Thompson<ref name=":0" /> and Kat Chow.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Steigrad|first1=Alexandra|title=NPR Tackles Race, Gender and Identity in America With Code Switch Podcast|url=http://wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/npr-tackles-race-gender-identity-in-america-code-switch-podcast-10490079/|accessdate=4 August 2016|work=WWD|date=14 July 2016|archive-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806095238/http://wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/npr-tackles-race-gender-identity-in-america-code-switch-podcast-10490079/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Podcast==

In May 2016, the ''Code Switch'' team launched a podcast by the same name.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Neyfakh|first1=Leon|title=The Fight for the Future of NPR|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/04/the_fight_for_the_future_of_npr_can_public_radio_survive_the_podcast_revolution.html|accessdate=25 August 2016|work=Slate|date=10 April 2016|archive-date=25 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825091015/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/04/the_fight_for_the_future_of_npr_can_public_radio_survive_the_podcast_revolution.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Episodes are released weekly on Wednesdays.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jao|first1=Charline|title=Interview: Kat Chow and Shereen Marisol Meraji of NPR's Code Switch|url=http://www.themarysue.com/interview-npr-code-switch/|accessdate=4 August 2016|work=The Mary Sue|date=June 15, 2016|archive-date=20 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620103449/http://www.themarysue.com/interview-npr-code-switch/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Guardian characterized the podcast as "courageous conversations."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Locker|first1=Melissa|title=Small Town Horror provides radio scares while Code Switch gets its own podcast|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/may/16/podcast-jon-hamm-small-town-horrors-npr-code-switch|accessdate=4 August 2016|work=The Guardian|date=16 May 2016|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816120350/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/may/16/podcast-jon-hamm-small-town-horrors-npr-code-switch|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'']] said ''Code Switch'''s July 14, 2016 episode "Black and Blue" offered "thoughtful conversation about race and policing."<ref>{{cite news|title=5 Podcasts You Need to Hear to Get Through This Week|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/07/this-week-in-podcasts-july-18/|accessdate=5 August 2016|work=Wired|date=July 18, 2016|archive-date=5 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805113805/http://www.wired.com/2016/07/this-week-in-podcasts-july-18/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Los Angeles Magazine]]'' said, "NPR’s 'Code Switch' began as a popular blog, but its evolution into a podcast seems natural...it explores issues of race, culture, and politics in a personal way that flourishes in an audio format."<ref name="LAM">{{cite news|last1=Abarbanel|first1=Aliza|title=5 Podcasts You Must Listen to This Summer|url=http://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/5-podcasts-must-listen-summer/|accessdate=5 August 2016|work=Los Angeles Magazine|date=20 July 2016|archive-date=27 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727100146/http://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/5-podcasts-must-listen-summer/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and reception==

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In 2015, the [[National Association of Hispanic Journalists]] awarded [[Shereen Marisol Meraji]] the "Radio, Feature News - Large Market" award for her ''Code Switch'' segment "Tandas".<ref>{{cite web|title=NAHJ Journalism Awards: Fusion Wins George Ramos "Chale" Investigative Award; CNN & ESPN top winners list|url=http://nahj.org/fusion-wins-george-ramos-chale-investigative-award-cnn-espn-top-winners-list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922114028/http://nahj.org/fusion-wins-george-ramos-chale-investigative-award-cnn-espn-top-winners-list/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 22, 2015|website=nahj.org|publisher=National Association of Hispanic Journalists|accessdate=25 August 2016}}</ref>

Despite generally positive reaction to the blog, some users complain about practices and policies on moderating comments.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lapin|first=Andrew|title=A year in, NPR's ''Code Switch'' still figuring out commenting|date=5 June 2014|work=Current|url=http://current.org/2014/06/a-year-in-nprs-code-switch-still-figuring-out-commenting-2/|accessdate=5 September 2016|archive-date=29 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629114444/http://current.org/2014/06/a-year-in-nprs-code-switch-still-figuring-out-commenting-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016 ''Los Angeles Magazine'' recommended the ''Code Switch'' podcast as one of "5 Podcasts You Must Listen to This Summer".<ref name="LAM"/>

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In December 2020, ''Apple Podcasts'' announced that ''Code Switch'' had been selected as 'show of the year', marking the first time that ''Apple Podcasts'' recognized a single podcast of the year.

In 2021 the show won an Ambies award for "Best Society and Culture Podcast".<ref>{{Cite web|title=2021 WINNERS|url=https://www.ambies.com/2021winners|access-date=2021-11-07|website=The Ambies — Awards for Excellence in Audio|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107195300/https://www.ambies.com/2021winners|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==