The Bryant Park Project was a short-lived morning radio newsmagazine from National Public Radio that ran for 10 months in 2007 and 2008. The show's name was derived from Bryant Park in Manhattan, which NPR's New York studios overlook.[1] While the Bryant Park Project (a.k.a. "the BPP") was originally a working title,[2] the show debuted with the name intact on October 1, 2007.[1] The multi-platform show was broadcast live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday and, at its height, was carried by 13 NPR member stations, mostly in small markets. The Sirius Satellite Radio station NPR Now repeated the show (on tape unless breaking news necessitated live updates) from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern, 7 to 9 a.m. Pacific.
The show's founding host was Alison Stewart, previously of MTV News, ABC News and MSNBC, but Stewart went on maternity leave in April 2008. In her absence, the program was co-hosted by Rachel Martin, formerly the show's newscaster, and Mike Pesca, until Martin left on June 27, 2008, to take a position as White House correspondent for ABC News. The show's regular newscaster was Mark Garrison, but Korva Coleman often substituted from NPR's Washington bureau. The show's executive producer was Sharon Hoffman[3] and the supervising senior producer was Matt Martinez.[2]
On July 14, 2008, the New York Times reported that NPR would be cancelling the Bryant Park Project as of July 25, 2008.[4] Stewart, who had planned to return from maternity leave, resumed her role on July 21 and hosted the final week of broadcasts.[5]
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