Jim Zarroli

Jim Zarroli is a reporter who has covered business and the economy from NPR's New York bureau since 1996. In that position, he regularly covers a wide range of economic subjects, including employment, the stock market, the Federal Reserve System, deregulation, trade, and the media. His pieces can be heard regularly on Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and he is a contributor to NPR's On the Media.

Among the stories he has worked on recently are the accounting scandals at Enron, WorldCom, and other companies; the trials of Martha Stewart and Bernard Ebbers; the spread of tax shelters; the investigation of the insurance industry; the rise of oil prices; as well as numerous corporate mergers. As a reporter in New York, Zarroli also assisted in NPR's coverage of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, an experience that left an indelible mark on him.

Before covering business, Zarroli was a general assignment reporter for NPR. He also covered the United Nations during the first Gulf war and the Bosnia crisis. Zarroli started his radio career at WBUR-FM in Boston, and before that was a reporter at the Pittsburgh Press and the Associated Press. He has written for The Christian Science Monitor, The Los Angeles Times, and The Boston Globe.

Zarroli grew up in a small house in Wilmington, Delaware, with five siblings. He is a 1980 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. He loves traveling to new places, reading, gardening, and he likes most people except those who mistreat animals. He lives with his partner in New York and has two formerly stray cats.

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2:33pm

Wed April 6, 2011
Japan In Crisis

Crisis Stalls Japan's Toyota City As Automakers Wait

Like other Japanese manufacturers, Toyota has had to suspend production since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The impact is being felt acutely in Toyota City, where the company is based. Many small manufacturers there survive by selling parts to the automaker, and the shutdowns are already hurting the local economy.

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8:00am

Sun April 3, 2011
Asia

Blackouts A Hazard For Japanese Hospitals

Rolling blackouts have become everyday events throughout much of Japan in the weeks since a record earthquake and tsunami damaged a nuclear reactor complex in Fukushima Prefecture. The problem has been particularly acute for hospitals, though, as NPR's Jim Zarroli found after he visited a small hospital in the industrial city of Kawasaki, near Tokyo.

12:01am

Wed March 30, 2011
Japan In Crisis

Tokyo Sees Its Lights Go Dim, And Lifestyles Change

In normal times, Tokyo thrives on electricity.

Dazzling digital billboards overlook the shopping districts, doors glide open automatically, and moving sidewalks transport people through malls and train stations.

But the earthquake and tsunami have forced the city to reduce its power usage, forcing residents to alter their lifestyles.

For a young Tokyo hipster, Shibuya is the place to see and be seen. It's a busy, noisy crossroads where people can shop, meet friends and have a drink.

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3:41pm

Thu March 24, 2011
Media

Would De-Funding Kill Public Media? Or Re-Invent It?

Over the years, conservatives have often tried to eliminate money for public broadcasting — without succeeding.

In 1995, for instance, congressional Republicans tried to zero out funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Within a few years, its budget was bigger than ever.

This year Congress gave $430 million to CPB, most of which was funneled to public TV and radio stations. And Republicans are once again calling for funding to be eliminated.

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9:13am

Tue March 22, 2011
Economy

Silicon Valley Job Outlook Brighter, Still Cloudy

In California's Silicon Valley, the economy is finally showing signs of a turnaround. Social media companies like Twitter and Facebook are generating a lot of new excitement, and there's even been a slight uptick in hiring. Still, the recession has done considerable damage to the region's economy, and the unemployment rate remains high.

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