Robert Siegel, a senior host of NPR's award-winning evening newsmagazine All Things Considered, got started in radio news when he was a college freshman in 1964. He's still at it.
As a host, Siegel has reported from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Israel. He now concentrates on domestic stories. During the fall of 1992, Siegel took a short leave from the show to anchor Talk of the Nation, NPR's nationwide live call-in program.
Before joining All Things Considered in 1987, Siegel served for four years as director of NPR's News and Information Department, overseeing production of NPR's newsmagazines All Things Considered and Morning Edition, as well as special events and other news programming. During his tenure, NPR launched its popular Saturday and Sunday newsmagazine Weekend Edition. Siegel joined NPR in December 1976 as an associate producer, and was appointed public affairs editor in 1977 and senior editor in 1978. In 1979, Siegel was chosen to open NPR's London bureau, where he worked as senior editor until 1983.
From 1971 to 1976, Siegel worked for WRVR Radio in New York City as a reporter, host, and director of news and public affairs. While at WRVR, he was one of a team that received an Armstrong Award for the series "Rockefeller's Drug Law." Before going to WRVR, he was morning news reporter and telephone talk show host for WGLI Radio in Babylon, New York.
Siegel shared in NPR's 1994/95 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award for "The Changing of the Guard: The Republican Revolution," NPR's coverage of the first 100 days of the 104th Congress. His coverage of the peace movements in East and West Germany earned him a 1984 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award for excellence in broadcast journalism. Siegel's two-part documentary "Murder, Punishment, and Parole in Alabama" earned the 1997 American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award. The series revealed a criminal justice system beset by the financial difficulties of keeping violent offenders in long-term incarceration. His other awards include the National Mental Health Association's 1991 Mental Health Award for his interviews conducted on the streets of New York in an All Things Considered story, "The Mentally Ill Homeless."
A graduate of New York's Stuyvesant High School and Columbia University, Siegel began his career in radio at the college radio station WKCR-FM where he anchored coverage of the 1968 Columbia demonstrations. The station's work received an award from the Writers Guild of America East.
Siegel is the editor of The NPR Interviews 1994, The NPR Interviews 1995, and The NPR Interviews 1996—compilations of NPR's most popular radio conversations from each year
Robert Siegel on KCRW
More from KCRW
LA’s religious groups empower immigrants amid deportations
ImmigrationReligious institutions have long been a refuge for immigrants. Now, they’re mobilizing in response to recent actions from the Trump administration.
How much would Hollywood suffer if China blocks film releases?
EntertainmentChina is limiting the number of Hollywood films in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Has the noise of Trump’s first month covered up a lack of sound policy?
PoliticsWhich news headlines are worth the worry? If Democrats want to raise the alarms on Trump, they’ll have to communicate. Plus, KCRW takes listener questions.
OC leaders want former supervisor to serve longer prison sentence
Orange CountyFormer OC Supervisor Andrew Do pleaded guilty last year to bribery. Some supervisors say his plea deal with the federal government is too lenient.
NPR Special Report: Trump 100 Days
PoliticsOn Wednesday, April 30th, NPR will mark the 100th day of the Trump Administration with a Special Report, hosted by Michel Martin.
Trump tries to tariff the US to greatness — will it work?
PoliticsThe president reversed course on his tariff plan hours after it took effect. Can he bring back the nostalgic economic prosperity voters desire?
Dept. of Defense ‘chaos’ and the political legacy of Pope Francis
PoliticsCan the “chaos” at the Department of Defense be resolved, or is it just how this White House operates? Plus, KCRW examines the political legacy of Pope Francis.
Will LA City and County clash over separate homeless agencies?
HomelessnessLA County supervisors approved a plan to create a county-only homeless agency after years of joint partnership with the City of Los Angeles.
1 in 4 LA fast food workers were paid below minimum wage in 2024. Why?
Food & DrinkFast food workers lose about 16% of their pay every year, a new Northwestern University study found.