Inside Media: C-SPAN on the Air

Guest: Brian Lamb

Brian Lamb's low-key interviewing style is simple: "Stay out of the way, and let the guest make all the comments," he explained.

Lamb, the president and CEO of C-SPAN and a self-described "news junkie," talked to a Newseum audience about the network he founded in 1979 with "22 checks from 22 people" and its place on the media landscape.

C-SPAN broadcasts live, unedited proceedings from Congress and reaches 91.7 million households. Its coverage has expanded to include C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3, as well as satellite radio and the Internet.

Lamb said C-SPAN is not guided by ratings or profits.

"We're in the business of providing a public service. We don't sell eyeballs to advertisers. We're just a different economic model," he said.

Lamb currently hosts "Q&A," a one-hour program that covers a wide range of topics with notable guests and airs on Sunday evenings. The program's focus, Lamb explained, is on educating viewers and not on famous names.

"On Sunday night, I want you to sit down and say to yourself, ‘I didn't know that.'"

"Inside Media," produced by the Newseum, is open to the public. Seating is on a space-available basis.