PRI to Transform Evening Listening with 'Fair Game from PRI with Faith Salie'; Comic, Actor, Rhodes Scholar Faith Salie Hosts Satirical News/Entertainment Show.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Public Radio International (PRI) announces the creation of "Fair Game from PRI with Faith Salie," a high energy, interactive news and entertainment program produced by PRI and based in New York. Slated to premiere nationally this fall, "Fair Game" is hosted by the irreverent Faith Salie, Harvard alumna, Rhodes Scholar and star of "Significant Others," Bravo's critically acclaimed improvisational sitcom. With "Fair Game," PRI again moves the industry in a new direction, designing the hour-long weekday evening program as a hybrid of the satirical news and late-night variety show for a young, culturally connected, politically savvy demographic. The "Fair Game" Web site will be a vital part of the show's appeal, incorporating the most powerful attributes of social networking. Not only will visitors be able to interact online with the producers and one another, they will also help shape the program by posting content, rating musical performances and weighing in on the latest broadcast.

PRI President and CEO Alisa Miller says, "Research clearly shows that 20- and 30-somethings consume media on multiple platforms simultaneously. 'Fair Game' will capitalize on those listener preferences and offer a lively show in the ways listeners want to get and interact with it. The resulting influx of new, younger listeners to public radio benefits everyone. Our taking this step is consistent with our history of developing and supporting innovative programs -- 'This American Life' with Ira Glass, PRI's 'Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen,' 'The Tavis Smiley Show' and 'Open Source from PRI' with Christopher Lydon to name a few."

"Breaking new ground," adds Melinda Ward, PRI's senior vice president, Content, "is one of the things we do best at PRI. 'Fair Game' is the latest of many original, imaginative programs we've introduced to the public airwaves. And 'Fair Game' is just the start. We've got other major program initiatives in the pipeline, all intended to expand our affiliate stations' reach and impact on air, online and on demand."

"Fair Game" is hosted by Faith Salie. She has worked on and appeared in several dramas and sitcoms -- from a memorable turn in gold lame on "Sex and the City" to reaching the arcane iconic status of a "tradable life form" for "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" fans. A pop-culture pundit on a variety of VH-1 shows as well as a stand-up comedian, Salie has also written several shows for the Oxygen Network. "Fair Game" marks her first foray into public radio, where she'll be immersed in the show as co-creator, host and writer/producer.

The creator and executive producer of "Fair Game" is Kerrie Hillman. Hillman was the senior producer of the Peabody Award-winning PRI's "Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen." Before joining "Studio 360," she was senior producer of PRI's "Beyond Computers," a weekly program on technology and society. She has reported for PRI's "The World," KQED news and "The California Report." Hillman was an associate producer for "Digital West," KQED television's Emmy-nominated science and technology news magazine.

"Fair Game from PRI" will be recorded at WNYC/New York Public Radio's studios.

About Public Radio International

PRI is public radio's leading source for innovative programming and audio content. The Minneapolis-based network provides over 400 hours of programming each week, content that is broadcast and streamed online by its 745 public radio station affiliates nationwide, which reach 32 million listeners each week. PRI owns Public Interactive LLC, public broadcasting's leading Web services company. PRI is also the managing partner of the satellite radio company American Public Radio LLC, established with Chicago Public Radio, WGBH Radio Boston and WNYC, New York Public Radio. PRI's cultural programming is available via XM Public Radio. Its news and information programming is available via Sirius Satellite Radio.

PRI is known for driving innovation in public radio through partnerships with stations, independent producers and other organizations, and for working collaboratively to pool resources and share risk, cultivate new talent and bring diverse voices and perspectives to the public airwaves. Its best known offerings include "The Tavis Smiley Show," produced by Smiley Radio Properties Inc.; "Open Source from PRI," produced by Open Source Media Inc.; "This American Life," produced by Chicago Public Radio; PRI's "The World," a co-production of BBC World Service, PRI, and WGBH Radio Boston; "Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?," produced by Wisconsin Public Radio; and PRI's "Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen," produced by PRI and WNYC, New York Public Radio; as well as 24-hour program services -- "Classical 24," produced by American Public Media; and BBC World Service, produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. For more information on PRI and its programs, visit the PRI Web site at www.pri.org.