PDs not to blame for lack of innovation, Sutton argues

In his latest blog post, public radio consultant John Sutton weighs in on the discussion about the future of Car Talk. The lack of innovative programming in public radio, he argues, is due not to risk-averse program directors but to a lack of focus on making new shows that succeed on local stations.

New shows “often have the mission piece down, but most new programs are sorely lacking when it comes to audience performance and fundraising support,” Sutton writes. Producers should follow Ira Glass’s example, Sutton says, and incubate their shows at stations before taking them to the national level.

“There’s a big difference between putting together an hour of good audio content and making a great radio program,” he writes. “It is something that is learned, not taught.”

Live webcast on major revenue opportunities schedued Tuesday

Readers are invited to join a Public Media Futures forum on the system's big revenue opportunities coming in the next decade, which will be video-streamed live on Tuesday at noon Eastern time or 9 a.m. Pacific. Online viewers will be invited to comment and ask questions. The forum will wrap up around 5 p.m. Eastern time, 2 p.m. Pacific.

The forum will be held at the University of Washington in advance of DEI's annual Public Media Development and Marketing Conference in Seattle, July 12-14. A PMDMC session at 2:45 p.m. Thursday will summarize the forum discussion.

Public Media Futures forums are coordinated by Mark Fuerst, Current's director of strategic initiatives, and jointly sponsored by the communication schools of American University and the University of Southern California.