You Washingtonians who get your morning news fix from National Public Radio may have noticed something over the years: All those NPR hosts, well, kinda sound the same. Thereâs a very distinct NPR voice: Quiet, calm and careful.
Well, itâs not an accident. Turns out NPR actually has someone on staff to help radio hosts perfect that soft and lulling voice: David Candow.
âWeekend Edition Saturdayâ host Scott Simon talked about Candow during a âQ&A Cafeâ interview last week at Nathans restaurant.
âThere is a man named David, whoâs called âThe Host Whispererâ and he works with people on their delivery skills,â said Simon. (The nickname is a play off the 1998 film, âThe Horse Whisperer.â)
Candow is a longtime staffer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. who has held sessions with NPR hosts and reporters.
âI must say when David was brought in the first time, I was among of those people who rolled my eyes,â Simon conceded. â[But] I had a few sessions and I became a great believer.â
