Diane Rehm's voice

[Anonymous]

I love her too! And actually, I specifically love her voice - it is always so measured and calm, even when dealing with aggressive interviewees. I wish I had her composure.

[Anonymous]

Disfiguring accident = No longer a supermodel. You can stay in the field as a photographer, fashion magazine editor, stylist, etc. but no one is going to enjoy looking at your face anymore and that enjoyment, or at least absence of pain, is a critical component of the job.

This is better than my PP analogy. I think NPR should've shown her a job in production to say "thanks, we value you." It's a prestigious job to produce All Things Considered, for example. No shame in that.

This whole discussion reminds me to ask: how is someone like her covered by the ADA? Is it a bona fide job requirement that your voice be melodious if you have your own talk show? Could a boss push a broadcaster aside once his voice become nauseating, and still be in compliance with the ADA?

[Anonymous]

I can think of lots of non-melodious male talk show hosts, past and present. I don't recall lots of discussion in this vein about them.

[Anonymous]

I love her. I think she's a great interviewer...these negative comments surprise me, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can think of lots of non-melodious male talk show hosts, past and present. I don't recall lots of discussion in this vein about them.

There's a huge gulf between "non-melodius" and DR's voice. Don't try to make this about gender. She squawks, she doesn't speak.

[Anonymous]

OP,
Then don't.
Some of these comments are amazingly mean, ageist and insensitive. Shame on you. Change the station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's just so strange that she stays on the air. If my interior decorator went blind one day, she would have my sympathy but I wouldn't hire her to design my next home. I wouldn't hire a wardrobe consultant who is clinically color-blind. Estee Lauder isn't hiring people who've permanently lost their sense of smell as perfumers. I don't get it.

I think she is exceedingly popular and that's why they keep her on.

[Anonymous]

Love her! Her voice doesn't bother me in the slightest. I actually find her voice comforting in some way.

[Anonymous]

P.S. It's amazing at how well acquainted the critics are with her voice. A melodious voice is NOT a requirement. A mind is. She's got one. I actually like that she speaks slowly, she makes everyone slow down and think. It's quite a concept.

[Anonymous]

Today her voice was so bad that the guests had to read the questions for themselves to answer. That's ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I love Diane Rehm. I didn't hear today, but she is a great interviewer. I like her slow talking as it gives time to consider the information.

[Anonymous]

She just got back from a voice treatment; that's why her voice sounded so wobbly today. It usually sounds much better. I love her, and I agree with earlier posters that if you listen to her for a while, you don't even notice that her voice sounds somewhat different. I agree that her questions, manner and mind make her an excellent host. And I like that she asks questions slowly; it gives me time to think about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Disfiguring accident = No longer a supermodel. You can stay in the field as a photographer, fashion magazine editor, stylist, etc. but no one is going to enjoy looking at your face anymore and that enjoyment, or at least absence of pain, is a critical component of the job.

This is better than my PP analogy. I think NPR should've shown her a job in production to say "thanks, we value you." It's a prestigious job to produce All Things Considered, for example. No shame in that.

This whole discussion reminds me to ask: how is someone like her covered by the ADA? Is it a bona fide job requirement that your voice be melodious if you have your own talk show? Could a boss push a broadcaster aside once his voice become nauseating, and still be in compliance with the ADA?

Wow. Nauseating. Really? Wow. Can aliens zap an anonymous poster on a parenting forum with a laser and wipe them from the face of the earth because they are intolerant AND nauseating?

How would that be? Hmmm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today her voice was so bad that the guests had to read the questions for themselves to answer. That's ridiculous.

Yes. They should have been allowed to stomp her and kick her in the kidneys each time she failed to fire back her questions as rapidly Chris Matthews on crack. Because that's so enjoyable to have an interviewer shouting multiple compound questions rapidly before the interviewee has time to answer.

[Anonymous]

Yeah it's ridiculous to give a talented, intelligent person some slack. Your heartlessness is epic.