Doug Berman
NPR Executive Producer, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and Car Talk
Peabody Award-winning producer Doug Berman launched NPR’s hit comedy show Car Talk from WBUR-FM in Boston in 1987.
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Full Bio
Peabody Award-winning producer Doug Berman launched NPR’s hit comedy show Car Talk from WBUR-FM in Boston in 1987. In 1992, he left to become chief executive officer of Dewey Cheatham & Howe, the spin-off production company that now produces all Car Talk ventures.
An innovative producer, Berman’s background straddles news, entertainment, publishing, syndication, interactive media and merchandising.
He began his career in news, as a production assistant for NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition. In 1984, he became the first news director at WFCR in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he built a news department and produced and hosted their award-winning daily newsmagazine Around New England.
In 1986, Berman was recruited by WBUR in Boston, where he served as executive producer for news and news director until 1989. He was also elected president of the Public Radio News Directors Association, serving from 1985-1987. In 1989, he became director of national productions for WBUR and focused full-time on developing Car Talk.
From its humble beginnings on WBUR in 1987, Car Talk has grown to a public radio powerhouse. It is heard on more than 370 stations by an audience of more than 2 million people each week, making it one of public radio’s most successful shows ever.
Berman has also broken ground in fundraising and station services. He has produced modular, interactive fundraising programs that have set the standard for public radio, and made Car Talk one of the top fundraising and local underwriting vehicles in the industry.
In 1989, under Berman’s direction, Car Talk launched a twice-weekly newspaper column with King Features Syndicate, now carried by more than 200 newspapers. In 1991, Car Talk released a Dell trade paperback that sold more than 100,000 copies. And in early 1996, Car Talk launched a tremendously popular, commercially sponsored Internet site.
In recent years, Berman has worked with the Public Radio Fundraising Partnership to improve the quality of fundraising nationwide. And since 1994, Berman has served as producer of the national fundraising editions of Morning Edition for NPR.
Berman earned a bachelor of arts in American Studies from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 1984. His hobbies include West African music and throwing a tennis ball for his dog, Zuzu. He is a native of Ardsley, New York, and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!
LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!
MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!
SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
An Evening With Doug Berman
Videos
Engineering Meets Creativity: How to Improve Innovative Work | Doug Berman | TEDxWesleyanU
Wait, Wait… It’s Peter Sagal And Doug Berman Fundraiser
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