tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.comments2023-10-28T06:19:33.110-04:00Current.org BlogDruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04113068910907963072noreply@blogger.comBlogger497125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-48451554147325471692012-07-30T15:34:24.937-04:002012-07-30T15:34:24.937-04:00I don't know enough about the specifics...most...I don't know enough about the specifics...most of which are not public info...to really deem this as a "good" or "bad" thing. But I do have some thoughts on the issue:<br /><br />1. PRI spokesperson Julia Yager tells trade-mag Current that the "sale was not triggered by the BBC World Service's decision to end its distribution contract with PRI." True or not, that smacks of B.S. You can't possibly expect anyone to believe that whopper without providing more proof.<br /><br />2. Unremarked in this story is how the recent decision to end The Takeaway's run as a morning show, and instead re-position it as a mid-morning or mid-day show. I don't see how that ISN'T related to WGBH's acquisition of PRI, since cross-town archrival WBUR produces mid-day staple "Here & Now" which is currently distributed through PRI, but I rather doubt that'll stay that way past whenever the existing contract ends. I think ending TT's morning run was a decision made by PRI's $2mil operating deficit in FY2011 coupled with TT's relatively low carriage (only 55 stations in almost three years). But I think positioning it as a mid-day show means H&N's days with PRI are numbered. Granted, I can easily see how my analysis here could be totally flawed...but I'll bet five bucks that I'm right.<br /><br />3. NPR's Charter specifically forbids it from owning or leasing broadcast facilities. If NPR went out and bought stations to air its content on, member stations would be throwing a giant fit over it. And not without justification, given NPR's naked moves to appeal directly to listeners via the web and bypass member stations. Yet somehow member stations have given a collective yawn to APM and PRI doing essentially the same thing. <br /><br />It's an inherent conflict of interest; one that, so far, has not really reared its head with APM and is reasonably unlikely to do so with PRI, either...the only likely conflict would be WGBH trying to block WBUR from airing "This American Life" (or Ira Glass's ME fundraising bits) which would probably have a limited impact on WBUR while simultaneously annoying the heck out of Ira himself.<br /><br />But imagine if PRI still had the rights to the BBC World Service? I could see WGBH wanting to block WBUR from airing that; it makes up a major part of WBUR's schedule. The potential for abuse...no matter how unlikely...is very, very real.Aaron Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07971835990882097517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-20407552481771119842012-07-29T23:05:36.407-04:002012-07-29T23:05:36.407-04:00As Treasurer of KPFK, it seems that in evaluating ...As Treasurer of KPFK, it seems that in evaluating the health of a Pacifica station, specifically KPFK, one of the west coast stations "in relatively good financial shape," one has to consider the number of fund drive days and the recent history of increases. Increasing fund drive days has become a kind of opiate, masking the real problems of increased expenses, with top heavy management, plus lack of efficiency and resistance to new ideas. Like many non-profits, perhaps, management doesn't want to cut itself or its perks or make other necessary corrections. One can pretend there are no consequences but the consequences are clear in a consistently decreasing listenership to virtually a flatline. The degree to which KPFK increases the fund drive days defeats the Pacifica Mission Statement, especially when regular programming is pre-empted for "special programming" geared towards exchanging "donations" for products. <br /><br />Until 2005, KPFK was under 40 fund drive days a year and, as listenership fell, it was up to 67 in 2008, turning even more listeners off. This year the budget was 80 days and the only solution from management to meet it expenses for the rest of this fiscal year is to increase the drive days in August from 10 days to "two or three weeks" up to a total of 95 days. Management's present budget for next year starts at 94 days and, based on past history, may well exceed that. <br /><br />Yes, opiates can mask the problem for a while but like any junkie with an always bigger habit, if they don't get into rehab, the user almost inevitably dies of an overdose.Kim Kaufmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01044084254606857646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-77990266161888863382012-07-27T11:16:45.232-04:002012-07-27T11:16:45.232-04:00Arlene Engelhardt joined Pacifica as Executive Dir...Arlene Engelhardt joined Pacifica as Executive Director in December 2009. Since then she has reduced Pacifica's overall deficit spending from $2.7 million in FY 2009 to $2.0 million in FY 2010 to $0.6 million in FY 2011.<br /> <br />Arlene took a great deal of heat and abuse for it but she managed to stop Pacifica's steep plunge into bankruptcy -- or at least slow it down considerably, for the danger is not yet over. <br /> <br />I know financial realities aren't sexy like "who's your favorite radio personality?" -- but Pacifica cannot continue to spend more than its income. That is why further expense cuts are necessary. There are creditors to pay and, if they are not paid soon, Pacifica will almost certainly be in bankruptcy court within a year, or two years at the outside. At the end of FY2011 Pacifica as a whole had about 2 weeks' operating cash in the bank and $1.6 million in outstanding accounts payable to outside creditors. <br /> <br />Bankruptcy is an expensive craps shoot. It is the bankrupty trustee's duty to liquidate assets to pay the creditors. The trustee might not choose the assets to liquidate that we would prefer (like what?) -- but could choose any one of Pacifica's five broadcast licenses for which there is a buyer, or the buildings, or the Pacifica Radio Archives, or some combination.<br /> <br /> The Pacifica Board, in its wisdom, decided to shoot the messenger rather than solve the problem.Carol Spoonerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13133114331437786430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-66574894596075975592012-07-07T12:40:20.140-04:002012-07-07T12:40:20.140-04:00Carole is greatly missed by us members of the Circ...Carole is greatly missed by us members of the Circumnavigators Club of Chicago. Her gracious manner was reserved, but her heart was steadfast to make our world a better place.<br />Dave Gotaas<br />Northbrook, ILAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15612856335713655408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-56261691861906492372012-07-05T14:57:36.771-04:002012-07-05T14:57:36.771-04:00This is a courtesy posting for Rick Lewis, who is ...This is a courtesy posting for Rick Lewis, who is "in a small Andean village in Ecuador at the moment, and high-tech options are limited." But he wanted to leave this comment:<br /><br />Carole Nolan was an indisputable heroine of public radio’s formative years. She was a creature of a big, hidebound metropolitan school district who became one of the great pioneers in moving major-market stations, which ironically were long among the weakest performers, to independent community status. She accomplished it with quiet genius which to many of us seemed to come out of nowhere. Chicago and the nation are still enjoying the dividends of the marvels she achieved.<br /><br />Rick Lewis, Miami, FLDruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04113068910907963072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-35799792387992480592012-06-21T15:26:56.046-04:002012-06-21T15:26:56.046-04:00This would bother me more if NPR/PBS actually perf...This would bother me more if NPR/PBS actually performed its original mission of providing an outlet for information and voices that don't get an airing on commercial outlets. Instead, it's the same old pundits, politicians and "experts" with their same old spin and speculation. I was done with NPR back in 2010 when, shortly before the election, I heard Cokie Roberts say that voters were more concerned about civility in Washington than about the economy! NPR needs to talk to people outside the media/government bubble more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-87266838161874420262012-06-18T19:50:09.456-04:002012-06-18T19:50:09.456-04:00"Who knows what the best hands are?"
A ..."Who knows what the best hands are?"<br /><br />A question asked during a gamble, and that's what the spectrum auctions and repacking game is... a gamble with a part of the public trust.<br /><br />Over time, the US need for television spectrum will continue to grow, especially as rural area become larger in years to come, and spectrum is needed to provide first-service or additional television channels.<br /><br />We don't need policy makers gambling with public resources.<br /><br />For broadcasters—commercial or non-commercial—to be allowed to gamble or give away the public's alotted spectrum is akin to your local or regional government giving away an often-used public park or essential utility.Ted at flashscan8.ushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01408398203407013167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-418531037186288632012-06-17T05:45:26.164-04:002012-06-17T05:45:26.164-04:00Observing all of this, I really, really wish that ...Observing all of this, I really, really wish that the people resigning would start telling us the details of those conversations with commission membersKathrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17015238667631433682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-66382366329908244012012-06-16T17:48:46.000-04:002012-06-16T17:48:46.000-04:00Google the Paul Harvey piece on Barton at religion...Google the Paul Harvey piece on Barton at religiondispatches.org. and Read Giberson and Stephens The Anointed. They have the goods on Bartonfoxofbamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329204323614353093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-1668312646387703362012-06-15T10:56:30.666-04:002012-06-15T10:56:30.666-04:00This is an outrage that will not be greeted with o...This is an outrage that will not be greeted with outrage by the conservative media in Alabama. Your story has been linked here: http://www.locustfork.net/GWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03565424494081446529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-20188587072920746222012-06-15T08:14:48.454-04:002012-06-15T08:14:48.454-04:00The fact that David Barton is an evangelical Chris...The fact that David Barton is an evangelical Christian, a historical revisionist, and a liar is not the worst of it.<br /><br />More than anything, he is a Dominionist who believes his own salvation in the afterlife depends fully on his establishing theocracies across earth.<br /><br />He will never cease his march to make Christian theology the law, and to outlaw everything and everyone else.<br /><br />Constant vigilance is needed to detect, expose, and thwart his efforts.Ned Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14472216196387149342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-76876822213135012222012-06-15T07:23:32.528-04:002012-06-15T07:23:32.528-04:00This is a pretty frightening development. The Chri...This is a pretty frightening development. The Christian Dominionists' attempts to control American culture continue unabated. We might as well rename this country The United States of Christ and get it over with.PolishBearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02852002327139965654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-87730902147048490432012-06-14T14:28:57.674-04:002012-06-14T14:28:57.674-04:00Barton is the worst kind of pseudo-historian - som...Barton is the worst kind of pseudo-historian - someone who believes that the soothing panacea of his version of events is worth all the revisionism, context issues, errors, and lies. What an ENORMOUS crock to fire these people for their failure to take this single minded proselytizer and his traveling agitprop circus seriously.Robert McCraryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09021360340012356165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-27911667735262683062012-06-14T14:18:32.189-04:002012-06-14T14:18:32.189-04:00This is very troubling. Allan has been a leader in...This is very troubling. Allan has been a leader in public broadcasting for many years. <br />I admire his deep commitment to public service media, and all he’s accomplished for education and public safety in Alabama. <br />I also have the greatest respect for his judgment, and unwavering commitment to editorial integrity and the public trust.mbreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00747508340848023131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-16016426836132049082012-06-14T13:08:18.272-04:002012-06-14T13:08:18.272-04:00Good story, Dru. Sorry to hear about this.Good story, Dru. Sorry to hear about this.mbarzilaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11031513981453732712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-82809135590165845632012-06-14T02:16:32.148-04:002012-06-14T02:16:32.148-04:00I don't think Alabama has Congressional distri...I don't think Alabama has Congressional districts, do they? I think they call them Congregational districts down there. Which explains some things.<br /><br />I've seen some of Barton's videos and their outrageous claims on YouTube. He's a despicable history revisionist, crafting lies that believers deeply want to believe and are willing to give up independent thought and fact-based history in order to craft the world in which they want to live.<br /><br />Congratulations to Pizzato for sticking up for truth and reality in public media programming. It's just too bad the religious ideologues got the upper hand. But in Alabama, what can you expect?John Proffitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05047062942402737006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-16939772845380255472012-06-14T00:24:57.146-04:002012-06-14T00:24:57.146-04:00I'm so upset to hear of these firings. Alan an...I'm so upset to hear of these firings. Alan and Pauline had the best interest of APT at heart and this situation illustrates just how much Governor Bentley is politicizing public television in the state of Alabama.KJ4473https://www.blogger.com/profile/14361807326513292736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-4139069751988309692012-06-10T18:44:26.586-04:002012-06-10T18:44:26.586-04:00The fact that they're planning on giving out t...The fact that they're planning on giving out the number seems to be to borderline deceptive. There's absolutely no reason for that unless the intent is to fool the public into believing that the show is still being produced: sort of like the Scientologists sidestepping the fact the L Ron Hubbard has gone to that great Thetan in the sky. . .ImaTrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17458668780214448026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-28070812421764447622012-06-09T13:59:02.189-04:002012-06-09T13:59:02.189-04:00Berman arguing that this Car Talk living on in re-...Berman arguing that this Car Talk living on in re-runs ad infinitum is "good for everyone" is just false. What he means is that It's good for him. My thoughts (a contrary take to be sure): http://adamschweigert.com/car-talk-ends-its-25-year-run-heres-the-silver-lining/Adam Schweigerthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04390891690722423310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-37209243614983433872012-05-30T13:43:27.805-04:002012-05-30T13:43:27.805-04:00Thanks for the mention! This is the first of many ...Thanks for the mention! This is the first of many more technical conversations we'll be hosting. Some will be webinars, some will be conference calls, and we might experiment with other technologies as well (like Google hangout). All hoping to bring the more technically oriented together. Don't forget to check out the Public Media Innovators Facebook group and Google Group.<br /><br />thanks! <br />jeannieJeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04369346419937843713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-33739173352875123582012-05-27T02:05:52.826-04:002012-05-27T02:05:52.826-04:00Many nonprofits are getting interested in text-to-...Many nonprofits are getting interested in text-to-pledge fundraising in large part because orgs like mGive and MobileGiving require them to make $500K or more in annual revenues in order to even qualify for their services.<br /><br />That rules out most of the nonprofits right from the start.<br /><br />The other thing that development directors need to understand, is that there's no quick fix to anything. Instead of seeing text donations as a silver bullet that has to rely on impulse donating, they need to do as Wisconsin Public Television is doing, and see this as one additional marketing channel that can assist, when a well-conceived strategy is implemented over a longer term.<br /><br />We've been working with nonprofits for the past year to assist them with their text message fundraising needs. We built a mobile giving solution that has gained a good deal of attention from smaller nonprofits, colleges and those with operating budgets of ~$1 million. It is a text to pledge service that is flexible and customizable. Details are here for anyone who's interested<br /><br />http://gnosisarts.com/home/SMS_Fundraising<br /><br />I think the key - Wisconsin Public Television is showing - is to get creative with marketing and promotions of your text donation services.<br /><br />Eric Bryant<br />Gnosis Media GroupGnosis Media Grouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01108235890889024513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-67423086927732970682012-05-21T23:07:51.567-04:002012-05-21T23:07:51.567-04:00www.HoosierHistoryLive.org is a live call-in talk ...www.HoosierHistoryLive.org is a live call-in talk radio show about history, and we don't get any public funds. We are trying to make it on donations and underwriting.Molly Headhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230390369103745784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-30780516826698369392012-05-21T23:06:56.169-04:002012-05-21T23:06:56.169-04:00www.HoosierHistoryLive.org is a live call-in talk ...www.HoosierHistoryLive.org is a live call-in talk radio show about history, and we don't get any public funds. We are trying to make it on donations and underwriting.Molly Headhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13230390369103745784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-12854426316002562962012-04-23T15:44:11.263-04:002012-04-23T15:44:11.263-04:00If MPBN acquires the "W-Bach" stations, ...If MPBN acquires the "W-Bach" stations, it might allow Maine Public radio to go 24/7 news and information on it's current network, much like most NPR member stations have done.Jofushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05591730159623555357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3389902.post-81788180824126991002012-04-05T18:19:10.572-04:002012-04-05T18:19:10.572-04:00Besides that he is a good chap!Besides that he is a good chap!hemaworstjehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14697019191867304517noreply@blogger.com