On May 3, 1971, at 5 p.m., All Things Considered debuted on 90 public radio stations.
In the years since, almost everything about the program has changed, from the hosts, producers, editors and reporters to the length of the program, the equipment used and even the audience.
However there is one thing that remains the same: each show consists of the biggest stories of the day, thoughtful commentaries, insightful features on the quirky and the mainstream in arts and life, music and entertainment, all brought alive through sound.
All Things Considered is the most listened-to, afternoon drive-time, news radio program in the country. Every weekday the two-hour show is hosted by Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, Mary Louise Kelly and Ailsa Chang. In 1977, ATC expanded to seven days a week with a one-hour show on Saturdays and Sundays. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.
Audie Cornish | 
Ari Shapiro | 
Mary Louise Kelly |
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Ailsa Chang |
Photos by Stephen Voss/NPR
During each broadcast, stories and reports come to listeners from NPR reporters and correspondents based throughout the United States and the world. The hosts interview newsmakers and contribute their own reporting. Rounding out the mix are the disparate voices of a variety of commentators, including Sports Commentator Stefen Fatsis, and Political Columnists David Brooks and E.J. Dionne.
All Things Considered has earned many of journalism's highest honors, including the George Foster Peabody Award, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and the Overseas Press Club Award.
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American religious institutions are facing a crisis: they don't have enough clergy to lead congregations, particularly in rural areas.
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The United Nations' annual climate conference, COP 29, has wrapped. The goal was to raise money from to help developing nations cut climate pollution and prepare for future threats.
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The U.S. appears looks like Taiwan's most important security guarantor against neighboring China — though President-elect Trump has signaled he will be tough on both China and on Taiwan.
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Earhart, her navigator and their plane disappeared during their attempted 1937 circumnavigation of the globe. A deep sea exploration company thought it might have solved the mystery, but it lives on. -
Demers was diagnosed with hearing loss when he was 4 years old. As a kid, he saw nothing funny about it — but then he learned to make people laugh. He just dropped his fourth stand-up special. -
Sen. Marco Rubio has spent much of his time focused on Latin America, so odds are if he's confirmed as secretary of state, Latin America will become more of a priority.
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Fifty years ago, the discovery of a human ancestor "Lucy" generated worldwide attention. NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with paleoanthropologist Zeray Alemseged about the legacy of the discovery.
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NPR's Scott Detrow and Tamara Keith have long discussed the merits of brining a Thanksgiving turkey. Chef and cookbook author Sohla El-Waylly joins this year's discussion and offers some tips.
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NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with Elizabeth Ann Kahane about her book "Come Join The Parade!!" which documents the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade through the years.
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NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with sports journalist Reem Abulleil, Rafael Nadal's impact on men's tennis and what the sport could look like as top players retire.
