Changes Ahead For WRVO

Syracuse.com is reporting some changes ahead for WRVO. WRVO, Oswego is the primary NPR news and information station for the greater Syracuse area. Some staff are leaving but, in the end GM Michael Ameigh plans to increase regional coverage of greater Syracuse.


In a previous post about fundraising I commented that the blend of content from national and regional perspectives had drawn a large loyal "P1" audience for WNPR. Doing that well makes fundraising easier. The resources generated can then make more coverage possible. The key is the quality of the content. I think WRVO is hoping for the same success.


Syracuse.com

Tom Keith Unexpectedly Passes Away

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that Tom Keith, the sound effects master of A Prairie Home Companion died after collapsing in his Woodbury Home this weekend.
Kieth was also responsible for some memorable characters on the show. They included Larry from under the basement, Maurice the maitre d from the Café Boeuf and Timmy the teenager.
There's a tribute on the Prairie Home Website. The show will have a tribute on the broadcast this weekend.

Has Journalist's Ethics Failed to Evolve?

Stop Forcing Journalists to Conceal Their Views from the Public - The Atlantic

Should journalists be allowed to participate in protests and movements? What about other public radio employees? Conor Friedersdorf writes in the Atlantic that WNYC over reacted when they fired Cailin Curan for attending an OWS protest.

I find the comments interesting. Both feel Public Radio should not allow staff to publicly support causes.

The Core Values of Public Radio's listeners seems to suggest our listeners hold us to a higher standard.
Should public radio employees be allowed to express their views on issues that are being reported on by public radio? What about advocating for issues of public concern? 

Mayor Becker says 'no' to KCPW

Becker says 'no' to loan for local public radio station | ksl.com

The month of October is a roller coaster ride for KCPW.

First Salt Lake's Redevelopment Agency says they will give the station a short term loan. Then Lawyers for the city say hold the phone, the Redevelopment Agency may be stepping beyond it's authority. The City seemed ready on Tuesday to approve the loan. Today Mayor Ralph Becker said he could not approve the loan. He will veto it. Now station President Ed Sweeney says a private individual is stepping forward to loan the station the money they need to cover their outstanding debt short term.

Fund Raising Made Easy?

I helped out at my local NPR station this morning asking for pledges. The task was made easier because the listeners clearly value the content produced by NPR, APM and PRI. All of that is complimented by the local and regional coverage provided by WNPR. 

Fundraising begins with the content. The content generates the audience. The more time the audience spends with the station (loyalty), the more likely they are to give. 

Jack Callahan and I provided the impetus for giving by working on the balance of fundraising messages. We did our best to create a balance of case statements and closes. We communicated with each other about what we were going to pitch. We listened to each other and played off each other to drive the message home. We connected ourselves to the programming.

I've worked on other fund drives where the fundraising wasn't as effective. The messages were lost because of too much emphasis on the closes, premiums, funding facts or poorly constructed pitch breaks. Other drives didn't go well because the content was not up to listener expectations. In that case, no matter what was done during the fund drive, pitching was ineffective. This time, this morning, at WNPR it all came together. It wasn't perfect. We could have used some production help but, it worked.

Old Time Radio Convention Closes Door

The big networks gave up on radio dramas in 1962. I listened to some of the final broadcasts of "The Shadow" when I was a kid. A teacher recommended them to me. He was quite enthusiastic about them. For me, if it came down to a choice between "The Shadow" and a basketball game,the game always won. Radio dramas were for the generation before mine.

The audience has almost disappeared. So have the producers and actors.   One of the legends of the Public Radio Program Directors Conference is that one PD asked what would be a good time to air drama on the radio? The answer came back, "1947."Some public radio stations still air these shows. Most notably WRVO, Oswego with "Tuned to Yesterday" weeknights Tuesday through Sunday.

As Scott Gurian reports for NPR, The Old Time Radio Convention met for the last time this weekend. This genre died a long time ago. Still, it was with a touch of nostalgia and sadness that I listened to this piece on NPR's Weekend Edition.

Preparing for the Pitch

I've volunteered to help my local public radio station during their current membership campaign. It's a station I used to manage.

Because I was not a part of the pre-drive preparations, I'm spending a little time preparing. I did some listening to get a sense of what they are focusing on during this drive. It is time well spent. I want to be as engaging and and efficient with my time on-air as possible.

The pitch that's easiest for me is the close. I can recite funding facts. I'm also am pretty good with ease of pledging. I can also talk about how listeners can select their own level while suggesting one for them. Notice that I did not include premiums. Those help establish a level and may help trigger the pledge.

It's the case...the reminder of what public radio offers that is so unique and valuable...that takes a lot more thought. The case is more about why listeners have come to value public radio.

One place I start is the Core Values of Public Radio. That's where I can find bullet points about the value of the service. The Vocabulary of Qualities is my starting point. There's a lot more about the core values of public radio at the PRPD site, Station Resource Group, Walrus Research and the Development Exchange.

Public Radio's content is what drives listening and listener loyalty. Listener loyalty is what drives membership.

Qualities of Mind/Intellect
Love of lifelong learning
Substance
Expand understanding
Connect with the world
On the lookout for unique/excellent content
Curiosity: Asking why not just what
Trust, Credibility, Accuracy, Honesty
Non-manipulative
Non-sensational/No hype
Respect for listener
Purpose
Qualities of the Heart/Spirit
Humor
Idealism
Inspired about public life
Civility/Civil Discourse
Content holds center stage
Guest is the star
Qualities of Craft/Use of the Medium
Uniquely human voice
Conversational
Authentic
Intimate
Deliberate/thoughtful pace
Attention to detail

Loaded Interview Questions

Job interview questions may at times seem benign...they're not. There was the recent question, "How many TVs do you think are in the United States?" It's a behavioral question. 

The interviewer wanted to see how I think and respond under pressure. It made me smile...laugh a little. My answer started with a question. "Have you noticed that you’re spending a lot less time watching television than say...five years ago? There's so much competition for my time because of the web and social media. Plus, I'm finding that always being connected means I have less time for TV. Because of this, I'm learning the value of time spent with friends and family. Something has to give. It might as well be TV."

How much time are you spending watching TV? Let me know. Right now I need to go outside. I have other things to do.

WGBH-Radio Drives for Sustaining Members

WGBH is using a Sustaining Member Pitch to cut down on the number of days they are on the air with fundrives after January First. Check out the lick to see what they are trying to do. Here's the deal, If 2,012 supporters become Sustainers before January 1, we will eliminate the first drive of the year on 89.7 WGBH, Classical New England, and Masterpiece'sDowntown Abbey will be fundraiser-free on WGBH 2 this January. 

The only confusion on my part is concerning fundraising around Masterpiece's Downtown Abbey. I'm wondering why that was added? I'm wondering if that distracts from radio's message?

I heard the pitch on WGBH-FM yesterday. They have over 1.000 participants so far.

KCPW Loan Pulled Back?

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that attorney's found restrictions on using redevelopment funds to cover the station’s operating expenses. Last week KCPW was given a $220,000 loan by The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City. City officials are looking at other options to loan the station money. Station manager Ed Sweeney expressed disappointment at the turn of events.
KCPW did raise $250,000 during its fall fund drive. Apparently that amount is short of what the station needs to meet its loan obligation.

WNYC & Clear Channel Join Forces

WNYC Talk on A New Platform
WNYC's talk programming and the Takeaway will be offered on iHeartRadio...the digital service for for Clear Channel. That's according to a release on the Market Watch Website. This offers a new platform for WNYC's offerings on a digital platform. Digital delivery is becoming more popular with the rise of mobile media. Some automakers will offer 3G capable adapters in their cars soon.  

Will there be a negative reaction to this alliance?
It will be interesting to see and hear reaction from public radio insiders and its listeners.
For those of us on the inside, there's ample research to suggest that public radio listeners come to public radio to get away from commercial radio. This alliance may test our assumptions. Public radio listeners certainly use and appreciate commercial media.

You can read more about the deal here.

Web Content

I'm a proponent of putting public radio content on the station Website...first. 
There...I feel better already for admitting it. Many listeners are getting news on-line. They're not waiting for the hard structures of the newscast deadline. Once a feature is finished why not post it? You don't have to wait for an airing to try to push listeners to your Website. 


For some stations with the resources there's web only content.


There are two examples of Web only content this week. The most prominent is the announcement out of WNYC that Alec Baldwin will be posting 20 podcasts over the next several months called, “Here’s the Thing.” According to a New York Times Blog by Dave Itzkoff and WNYC the interviews will allow Mr. Baldwin to “pursue his passions and interests through conversations with a variety of news makers, artists, actors, writers and public figures who spark his fancy.” There are tentative plans to make the podcasts into radio programs with additional  content from other producers.


The second example is from WBUR in Boston. WBUR and reporter Martha Bebinger launched Healthcare Savvy, an online community of patients who are starting to shop for health care based on quality and cost. It's and example of crowd sourcing information. Healthcare Savvy has more than 150 members. It's a mix of patient and healthcare providers. According to Amanda Hirsch of PBS' Media Shift, Healthcare Savvy was born to provide a space for discussion as well as a compendium of resources on health costs.  The project is funded in part by the California Endowment Health Journalism Fellowships, a program of the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

CBC May See $100 Million Budget Cut

Pledge to CBC looks shaky

The CBC is embroiled in controversy and, criticism from the right. With charges of secrecy coming from its main competitor Quebecor, they may now need to find ways to cut back. This despite promises from the new government in May that their budget was safe.

Take a look at this article in The Winnipeg Free Press and an editorial in the same paper.

Article

Editorial

KCPW Gets a Bailout

Good news in Salt Lake. KCPW got a loan from the City Council to cover their debt.
KCPW General Manager Ed Sweeney is confident the station will be able to repay the loan before the end of the six month term. 
KCPW is primarily an NPR news and information format with additional programming from APM and PRI.
According to PPM data for Salt Lake City provided by Radio Research Consortium their Share and AQH in the metro if about a quarter of the size of the audience for KUER. KUER is their primary competitor for the public radio news audience.
There's more in the Salt Lake Tribune.

College radio stations fear budget cuts could silence them – USATODAY.com

A posting yesterday commented on how some colleges and high schools are selling or entering in an LMA with larger non-commercial stations and moving student content on-line. Not everybody agrees this is the best thing to do.
350 college radio stations formed a loose alliance today to fight against a steady stream of universities that have been selling or transferring their FM licenses to non-student operations. This is usually in response to tighter budgets and a rapidly changing media industry. To many of the students involved in college radio losing an FM signal is a lost learning opportunity.
College radio stations fear budget cuts could silence them – USATODAY.com

KCPW Could Default on Loan

Utah public radio stations see drop in donations

• KCPW could default on its loan.
• Membership dollars are off by over $200,000.
• KCPW goes head to head with KUER in Salt Lake City for the NPR News listener.
• KUER has also seen a drop in membership dollars.

Shape of Things To Come

The Shape of Things
The Shape of Things to Come was an okay movie. It was adapted as Things to Come (1936) Actually, it put me to sleep. There way too much preaching. The song by the Yardbirds (Shape of Things) was much better. Jimmy Page plays the solo. But that's not the point of this posting.

In a recent blog I pointed to a frequency swap in Rhode Island that allows Latino Public Radio to offer programming 24/7 and gives Rhode Island Public Radio an FM signal on Providence. The other winner was Wheeler School. The Head of School, Dan Wheeler is quoted as saying, "streaming the student shows is actually the way our students listen to the radio these days."  The programming that was previously aired on 88.1 FM the Wheeler’s student station, will shift almost entirely to Internet streaming through a new website.  www.wheelerschoolradio.org.


The Future of Radio
I recently had a discussion with Paul Kamp and Richard Cerny of Backbone Networks Corporation. They see what Wheeler has done as the future of College and High School Radio...and perhaps the future of radio. They have 40 clients for their service. College Radio does not need to be tied to expensive terrestrial based stations. Backbone and their major competitor Live 365 make "Having your own Internet radio station is a lot easier than you ever imagined. Backbone Radio is truly a radio station on your Macintosh." Now, think about what Dan Miller said. "Streaming the student shows is actually the way our students listen to the radio these days." Cerny and Kamp also pointed out that Internet Radio is coming to automobiles. Some luxury models will be offering it soon. The same things was supposed to happen for HD Radio but, I don't think the same fate lies ahead for internet radio because of the proliferation of mobile media. The only thing holding back mobile media is spectrum. Demand for mobile media is likely to spur more spectrum. There does not seem to be a lot of demand for HD Radio.


Being There
The way the audience get their information and entertainment is changing rapidly. Public radio needs to be on the platforms being used by its audience and future audience. WUMB (A station I spent a cup of coffee with) is doing some of this by offering multiple streams of programming using Live365. The offer Celtic, Contemporary Folk, Traditional Folk, Blues and and a couple more streams on their 24/7 Music Streams. It's an attempt to super-serve their audience. Clear Channel is now offering I Heart Radio. Clear Channel is putting their 750+ radio stations on platforms that are preferred by many younger listeners. It also links their stations offering a service that promises to be similar to Pandora allowing users to create their own radio station. WUMB is not necessarily going after the same demographic, but on-line listening and mobile media is being adapted by a broad spectrum of public radio's older demographic.  WUMB has an iPhone App for their terrestrial signal. I'm not sure they have it for the Music Streams.


Backbone is optimistic about the future of internet radio. Their service can be used by low power stations, community radio stations, college stations and high school stations to extend their reach. It can also be used by stations willing to cut the chord entirely.

Changes at KLCC

A declining audience and declining in listener sensitive income lead to some big changes in Eugene.

Music is not gone but, there's a lot more NPR news and information before noon. All Things Considered starts at 3pm.  Schedule

FINE TUNING | The area’s largest public radio station makes some big changes

R.I. Latino radio station going 24/7

This is a win/win/win situation in Rhode Island. The Latino community gets full-time public radio service, The NPR station Providence gets the FM signal it was desperately seeking in Rhode Island's major market, and The Wheeler School keeps it's student station on the Internet while offering NPR programming to Rhode Island. "Dan Miller, who is Wheeler’s Head of School, said, “Because we are the license-holder, we can not only bring Rhode Island Public Radio to the FM dial, but we can also help create a permanent home on the AM dial for Latino Public Radio.” The lease-agreement “also creates an affiliation between Wheeler School, Rhode Island Public Radio and National Public Radio, which we consider to be a very positive affiliation.” He said streaming the student show “is actually the way our students listen to the radio these days."

R.I. Latino radio station going 24/7 in new place | Rhode Island news | projo.com | The Providence Journal

BBC Announces Further Reductions

The BBC has announced further reduction that could mean the loss of 2,000 jobs. The streamlining is deemed necessary because, "the licence fee settlement agreed with the Government in October 2010, which sees the licence fee frozen to 2017, and the BBC assuming new funding responsibilities, including for the World Service, S4C, BBC Monitoring and local TV and broadband." With fees frozen and costs rising, savings needed to be found.

You can find the BBC's release from the BBC Trust here.