The World was established by Steve Salyer[2] CEO of Public Radio International and Jerry Timmins[3] Head of Region, Americas at BBC World Service in 1995. PRI brought initial funding and WGBH's Boston production base. The BBC brought access to BBC Newsgathering, BBC World Service staff and a London production base. The programme was initially co-presented from both Boston and London with Eddie Meyer being the first BBC based London host.
In 1997, The World began producing a segment entitled "Global Hit", highlighting musicians and musical trends in the global news context.[4]
Lisa Mullins hosted The World from 1998 to 2013. Since 2010, Werman has stepped in for Mullins as host. Beginning in 2013, he has served as the show's full-time host.[5]
On April 14, 2020, the BBC announced it would end its production partnership on The World effectively July 1; the announcement caused WAMU in Washington, D.C. to move the show back to its 8 p.m. timeslot.[6] The last episode of Boston Calling aired on June 27.[7]
In July 2022, Werman began producing The World from the University of California, San Diego to help develop the university's Democracy Lab.[8] As of June 2023, he broadcasts two days a week from the Department of Communication Social Sciences Research building.[9]
On December 5th, 2023, it was announced that The World reporter Carolyn Beeler would join Werman as the program's co-host. Beeler joined The World as a reporter in 2015. At the time of her becoming co-host, she oversaw the show's environmental coverage.[10]
Production
The Nan and Bill Harris Studios in Boston
The World is produced from the Nan and Bill Harris Studios at the WGBH building in Boston, Massachusetts.[11] The show airs on over 300 public radio stations and has 2.5 million weekly listeners.[6] Additionally, portions of The World aired in the United Kingdom as Boston Calling until 2020 and in whole in Canada through CBC Radio One.[7][12]
The theme music of The World was produced by Eric Goldberg, who received the gig in 1995. In February 2015, the theme was redone to introduce a more contemporary sound with Marco Werman's new role.[1] The current theme was written by Ned Porter.[13]
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