UMass Lowell to pull support for Open Source

The University of Massachusetts-Lowell will end support for public radio's Open Source as of December, reports the Lowell Sun. "It's basically an expensive program that, given our financial situation, doesn't make sense for the university," said David MacKenzie, the university's interim chancellor. "I just felt we had other things that were higher on the priority list." The show's producers "haven't the least hesitation" in promising to keep it going, writes host and co-creator Christopher Lydon on Open Source's blog. "We need your help and encouragement as we have from the start, or maybe just a little more so," he tells listeners. (Current article on the show.)

Disney gains audience, buzz factor

In the kid's media biz, "the buzz today is around Disney," according to the New York Times.

Andy Carvin reviews Google for Educators

PBS TeacherSource blogger Andy Carvin is underwhelmed by Google for Educators, a new website for K-12 teachers.

CPB hires ad exec to lead public awareness campaign

CPB hired ad and PR veteran Del Galloway to lead its Public Awareness initiative.

Moyers: "Tomlinson had a chilling effect"

Bill Moyers on PBS, from a Boston Globe Q-and-A: "It’s a place where if you fight you can survive, but it’s not easy. The fact of the matter is that Kenneth Tomlinson had a chilling effect down the line."

WRFG's Ebon Dooley dies

Ebon Dooley, co-founder and broadcast director of WRFG-FM in Atlanta, died Oct. 12, according to the station. Dooley also represented affiliate stations on the Board of Directors of the Pacifica Foundation. Greg Guma, Pacifica's executive director, called Dooley "a warm and courageous man." "He was truly committed to the idea that radio could bring about social change, that the things we do make an actual difference," said a WRFG host in the Atlanta Progressive News.

Marimow steps down as head of news at NPR

More on the resignation of NPR's Bill Marimow in the Baltimore Sun. "He was committed to excellent journalism, but the job also requires attention to other things, to radio programming and the connection of that programming to member stations," Jay Kernis, NPR's v.p. of programming, tells the paper. "His attention was focused on part of the picture, and we needed focus on a bigger picture." Also, the latest version of the New York Times' article.