Wade Goodwyn
Wade Goodwyn is a National Desk Correspondent for National Public Radio. Goodwyn began his career in radio as a freelancer, and began working for NPR in 1991. His coverage focuses on news in and around Texas.
Early career
Goodwyn is the son of Lawrence Goodwyn, a journalist, liberal activist, and history professor at Duke University.[1] Wade Goodwyn attended the University of Texas, graduating with a degree in history. His first career was as a political campaign staffer for Lloyd Doggett and Ralph Nader.[2] He spent time in New York as a political organizer, and his time listening to WNYC inspired him to pursue a career in radio in general, and with NPR in particular.[3]
Broadcasting
In 1991, Goodwyn met with All Things Considered host Robert Siegel, who connected him with the NPR hiring office. Without prior experience in radio or journalism, Goodwyn began as a freelancer, learning radio techniques from his first editor, Judith Doherty.[3] To make his career transition financially possible, he moved back to Texas.[2]
In 1993 he went to Waco, Texas to add to National Desk Correspondent John Burnett's coverage of the 1993 Branch Davidian siege. It became a major national story, and Goodwyn managed the first interview of a former Branch Davidian and other scoops which led to his being hired by NPR as a staff correspondent.[2][3][4]
Goodwyn's stories are frequently included in NPR programs like All Things Considered and Morning Edition, covering Texas, the surrounding states, and other stories of national interest.[5] Some of the noteworthy stories covered major hurricanes, the Oklahoma City bombing, the first case of ebola in the United States.[3]
Goodwyn is known for his baritone voice, which he says deepened with age.[3]
Personal life
Goodwyn is married with two children and works out of a home studio in Dallas, Texas.[5]
References
- Yardley, William (October 4, 2013). "Lawrence Goodwyn, Historian of Populism, Dies at 85" – via NYTimes.com.
- Maddox, Will (August 14, 2018). "NPR 's Wade Goodwyn has a voice "like warm butter melting over barbecue'd sweet corn"". Advocate Magazine.
- Hicks, L. Wayne (September 14, 2016). "NPR's Wade Goodwyn on his best work and fighting for his voice". Current.
- Fletcher, Abner (February 28, 2018). "NPR's Wade Goodwyn Reflects On Covering The Branch Davidian Siege, 25 Years Later". Houston Public Media.
- Horgan, Richard (September 19, 2016). "The Enduring Appeal of NPR's Wade Goodwyn". AdWeek.