The NPR Podcast Directory, which features hundreds of free podcasts produced by NPR, NPR Member stations and other public radio producers, has now reached the 617-title count with the addition of the new NPR News "In Character" series, seven podcasts from public radio station WYEP/Pittsburgh, and nine more from other station contributors. Furthermore, since launching in August 2005 with 33 titles, NPR reports that its podcasts have generated more than 200 million downloads, and they currently average 12 million downloads per month. In the fourth quarter of 2007, there were 36.5 million downloads of NPR Podcasts, which marks an increase of 19 percent over the previous quarter.

NPR’s new In Character series examines iconic characters from American literature, film, television and theatre. Each segment profiles the origins of the personality and the reasons behind its lasting impact on American life. The other 16 new podcasts explore politics, music, literature, health and science. New partner WYEP has introduced music podcasts including What In The World, about new world music albums, and the local Pittsburgh music showcase Third Thursdays At WYEP. Other new podcasts include Relatively Speaking, exploring family issues, from Mississippi Public Broadcasting; Grammar Grater, a course in linguistics for the Information Age from Minnesota Public Radio; and four daily podcasts about the 2008 elections, hosted by the KPCC/Southern California Public Radio news team.