Right Angle, Wrong Answer

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You can run, but you can't hide forever.

Sharron Angle, the ultra-controversial, ultra-conservative Tea Party-backed Republican nominee running against incumbent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, has restricted media exposure to right wing talk radio and their cable brethren on Fox. She's even been captured on tape literally running away from reporters who had the nerve to ask her to explain positions on her own website.

But on Tuesday, Angle was scheduled to face questions from veteran Nevada political journalist Jon Ralston on his TV program Face to Face. And NPR's Ina Jaffe explained why not only Nevadans, but political junkies nationwide, anxiously awaited the showdown, or possible meltdown, broadcast statewide on all three NBC affiliates.

Audio Embed: Morning Edition 6/29/10... See the encounter on Face to Face.

Notice that Jaffe's report is national, and doesn't come from the member stations of Nevada Public Radio?

That's because the regional public radio monopoly doesn't have any news reporters on staff. KNPR's one specific local news hire, Kyril "Ky" Plaskon, stayed 2003-2005 before leaving for CBS affiliate KLAS-TV, where he was a general assignment reporter until September 2008 layoffs that claimed a total of 17 station employees.

Nevada Public Radio originates a public affairs interview program called "State of Nevada" and some local commentary, but not news.