Strange Times

What are we going to do about it?

 

I’m a-goin’ back out ’fore the rain starts a-fallin’

I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest

Where the people are many and their hands are all empty

Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters

Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison

Where the executioner’s face is always well hidden

Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten

Where black is the color, where none is the number

And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it

And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it

Then I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’

But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’ 

-Bob Dylan Hard Rain...

We've been here before

Someone told me at the beginning of the pandemic that these are really strange and perilous times. She was right, and it has gotten much worse. We were asked during the election if we were better off in 2024 than we were in 2020. Decidedly, yes!

Getting Even

"Trump has moved aggressively to fulfill his promise of “retribution” in the first 100 days of his second term by taking action against over 100 people and institutions, according to an NPR review. He has used the government to target political opponents, news organizations, law firms, universities and more. Some of the harshest actions he has taken against people he has targeted include ordering multiple Justice Department investigations."
" Trump is also effectively telling investigators what he believes the outcomes of the investigations should be, NPR’s Tom Dreisbach says. The Trump administration uses over 10 agencies in various ways to get payback. Secret Service protection has been pulled for President Biden’s children, media companies that Trump dislikes, including NPR, face FCC investigations, and universities face investigation from the Department of Education unless they agree to sweeping government demands."

We are living in dark times.

Giving up is not an option. Starting by gathering with like minded people is a beginning. The mutual support makes us stronger. Speaking out is important. Taking action, even in small ways is the beginning of a ground swell. 

The attacks on the dignity of individuals, on whole communities, goes beyond the attempts to silence contrary voices, voices that uphold the facts.

You understand what's going on here, right? Blatant racism! A callous disregard for the health and well being of fellow Americans based on their skin color and economic situation. The mere fact I am bringing this up, the fact that the previous administration was willing to step in and alleviate the plight of groups of people is deemed racism. Do you understand how warped their reasoning has become? Are you willing to stand with the facts, to stand in favor of justice, and treating people with dignity? 

Trump shut down environmental clean-up programs

 In Lowndes County, Alabama, funding was granted to end human waste backing into Alabama homes. A situation that went unchecked for years. Lowndes County is majority black. The State of Alabama was unwilling to do anything about the unhealthy situation. The Biden administration stepped in to alleviate situation. It was a $26 million federal program to help residents of Lowndes County, Alabama, who have dealt with inadequate sewage systems for decades.

 "The Biden administration investigated and allocated nearly $26 million to rebuild Lowndes County’s water infrastructure, with the Department of Justice declaring the majority-Black area was suffering from “environmental racism.”   

"But earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to kill the deal, calling it “illegal DEI.”

Five things we can do

The UN suggests five things we can do to stand against injustice and hatred.

1. Show your support for diverse ethnic groups in your community by attending, promoting or helping fund events run by local organizations and houses of worship that bring people together: festivals, film series, guest lectures, language classes and celebrations. Bring your children.

2. If you see something in news reports or on social media that reflects prejudice, write a letter to the editor or leave a comment to let others know that intolerant remarks are unkind and uncalled for.

3. Prejudice and hate are not innate. They are learned behaviors — and they can be unlearned. Children absorb biases from the adults around them, and from the media, books and their peers. So set a good example. The process of countering negatives with positives begins at an early age. Talking about differences does not increase prejudice in children.

4. When the public stands in solidarity with immigrants and marginalized groups, bullies lose their power. If you see someone being harassed or physically attacked, it is important to help if you can do so safely. Make your presence as a witness known. Make eye contact with the person being attacked and ask if they want support. Don't escalate the situation.

5, It's more important than ever that we all remain in solidarity with one another. Human rights are a collective promise made by all countries of the world, including those in distress. Children from all ethnic backgrounds — especially children who have been uprooted by violence, war and poverty — need our support, wherever they are. Every child deserves to be treated with humanity, and to grow up in a safe and healthy environment.

Don't forget to laugh.

It’s just easier to laugh than to cry. If I cry, I’ll cry alone. But if you laugh, we can do it together. I guess no one knows how strong they can be until it’s their turn to deal with tragedy.
- Yusra Mardini,“Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian, My Story of Rescue, Hope and Triumph”

 

Does DEI instill fear? It shouldn't.

 

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Everything that made that giant tree is already contained inside this tiny little seed. All it needs is some time, a little bit of sunshine and rain, and voila!

- Flik, “A Bug’s Life” (1998) 

It is four words strung together that would offer the American dream to millions who have been systemically excluded. DEI is a term used to describe policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals. DEI encompasses people of different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations.

The goal is aspirational. The goal is to value the gifts each of us bring to the whole. It's about the opportunity to succeed.

These goals are woven into the fabric of our country. The Declaration of Independence states three basic ideas: (1) God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; (2) the main business of government is to protect these rights; (3) if a government tries to withhold these rights, the people are free to revolt and to set up a new government. (-Britannica)

Diversity

Diversity is about what makes each of us unique and includes our backgrounds, personality, life experiences and beliefs, all of the things that make us who we are. It is a combination of our differences that shape our view of the world, our perspective and our approach (vic.gov)

Monoculturalism

In the context of cultural diversity, monoculturalism is the opposite of multiculturalism. Rather than the suppression of different ethnic groups within a given society, sometimes monoculturalism manifests as the active preservation of a country's national culture via the exclusion of external influences. A monocultural mindset is the belief that one's own culture is superior to others and that their own experiences are the definition of "normal". People with a monocultural mindset may:

See themselves as superior

Have little or nothing to learn from other cultures

Be arrogant and short-sighted

Believe that their cultural practices are superior to those of minority groups

Judge another culture based on the values and standards of one's own culture
(Online sources including Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology and Tracking Genocide: Persecution of the Karen in Burma". Texas international law journal.)

Equity

The term “equity” refers to fairness and justice and is distinguished from equality: Whereas equality means providing the same to all, equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances.

Inequity

Inequity, unfairness. injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards of those who would keep control over others. (vocabulary.com)

Inclusion

Inclusion is seen as a universal human right. The aim of inclusion is to embrace all people irrespective of race, gender, disability, medical or other need. It is about giving equal access and opportunities and getting rid of discrimination and intolerance (removal of barriers). (inclusion.me.uk)

Exclusion

It's us vs them. All sorts of barriers are erected to keep others out. Often starting with exclusionary language goes way beyond the understanding and application of grammar. It's embedded with deeper meanings, peppered by shared history, values, experiences, class, gender, and much more, overt and covert. The goal of subverting inalienable rights has evolved into something like this. Anybody who opposes the in crowd is guided by demonic forces, and they need to be eliminated in a battle of good versus evil.

From Fast Company - The Four Reasons for DEI Backlash. (Amira Barger)

DEI threatens meritocracy.

Some opponents of DEI initiatives express fears about the possibility of “reverse discrimination.” These critics view society as a zero-sum game.

Political ideology and correctness

Of course, many misconceptions about DEI stem from misinformation. Misinformation and misunderstandings about the goals and methods of DEI often drive opposition to DEI initiatives. These efforts—specifically framing DEI as anti-white—attempt to create a narrative of preferential treatment or enforcement of ideological conformity. It is also common for people to misunderstand or conflate three key elements of DEI: equality, equity, inclusion and systemic change.

A tangential observation

Empathy

At it's worst, driving resistance to DEI is a lack of empathy for fellow human beings. The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.

 Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by self-absorption, grandiosity, exploitation of others and lack of empathy. People with that disorder may switch from an overt form, mainly with grandiosity, to a covert presentation, with fears, hypersensitivity and dependence from others. Empathy represents a key point in detecting people affected by narcissistic personality disorder because, even if it is described as reduced, it plays a fundamental role in exploitation and manipulation. (nih) This lack of empathy was on full display at Madison Square Garden.

“Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.” (Proverbs 14:21)

Delmarva friends radio group submits proposal

Delmarva friends radio group submits proposal

The friends group contends the stations are in the state their in because of mismanagement. The Friends of Delmarva Public Radio, Inc. also say the proposal from  the consultant, Public Radio Capital (PRC), would culturally diminish Delmarva. PRC recommended the stations become mostly automated. WSCL would become a classical service with programming provided by an outside service. WSDL would become a AAA service with programming provided by an outside service. The Friends hope to preserve the current services according to an article in The Cape Gazette.

Two major obstacles stand in the way. They are facilities and funding. DPR's facilities are being demolished to make way for a new library at Salisbury University. The Salisbury University Foundation has made it clear they no longer can afford to fund Delmarva Public Radio's deficit.

If the friend's can get a reprieve and find new facilities, they need to find a way to grow the audience, increase listener support, increase foundation support, and increase corporate support. They'll also need to look for ways to decrease expenses. These things don't happen overnight.

What could be done?

• Seek help with your fundraising and your goals and objectives. The Station Resource Group and The Development Exchange have resources to help stations.
• Be Brilliant on the Basics. Check out the article by Deb Blakeley and Israel Smith.  How far from the basics is the local content?
• Focus - Do a few things well.
• Look for alliances to increase the quality of local content. Start with other public media outlets.
• Could Delmarva Public Radio find ways to work with their competition without being consumed?
• NPR's flagship programs are expensive. Alternate information programming is available through the networks and independent content providers. The Public Radio Exchange is a good place to start.
• The two stations can still have local content under the PRC proposal. There is room for local programming within the two services being proposed.

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

Colleagues Helping Colleagues Fund

This is a repost of a repost. 
I saw this on PRADO today. It originally went out on a DEI email.


Friends, this is for those of you who did not already receive this through the DEI e-mail list.  Many many thanks to PRADO for allowing us to re-post this here!

Dear Public Media Colleagues,

I'm writing today to ask for your help.

In the last several weeks, the Colleagues Helping Colleagues Fund has been able to make a real difference in the lives of public media employees who suffered severe property damage in the wake of Hurricane Irene.  Thanks to the generosity of many past and current donors to the CHC Fund, we were able to act immediately to get funding to those who needed it. 

But now, the Fund's reserves are nearly exhausted.

We hope you will consider making a donation to the Colleagues Helping Colleagues Fund today.  With your help we can continue to provide immediate assistance to public media professionals who are struggling with the gap between insurance coverage and the real costs of rebuilding their homes and lives.  Your donation is 100% tax-deductible, and every penny we receive goes to your colleagues in need.

You can contribute online at http://dei.cloudfour.com/node/3830, or send a check to:

DEI/CHC Fund
401 N. 3rd St.Suite 370
Minneapolis, MN 55401

The most urgent expenses after any natural disaster are temporary housing, insurance premiums, and clean-up costs.  Here are some of the stories we've recently received from your public media colleagues in the last several weeks:
  "[Our insurance claim] included the cost of pumping out the basement, disinfection, renting a fan, repairing the furnace, re-pointing the foundation where it was blown out by the flood water pressure, replacement of the garage door and other items. As you may know, a number of things do not get covered, such as removal of silt outside the home, removal of logs and river debris, and driveway washout. This is in addition to the $1,000 deductible..."

  "I have just had my home flooded (with approx. 9 feet of water due to the recent flooding in the region). I have been busy trying to clean up -- it is amazing how much damage water can do... My first concern is getting the electrical box fixed and a hot water heater and furnace so we can shower and have heat..."

  "When there is flooding, it's hard to imagine how much time, money, physical energy and emotional energy need to rise to the surface to get life back to normal. Thanks to the Colleagues Helping Colleagues Fund, we are so much better situated to move ahead. I am so proud to be a member of the public radio community and so grateful to this fund for helping us out."
Please, if you are able, make a donation today at http://dei.cloudfour.com/node/3830 so that we can help more of your colleagues right now... and so that we have funds on-hand to provide immediate help the next time disaster strikes.  If you'd like more information about the Fund, you can read more here:  http://www.deiworksite.org/colleagues-helping-colleagues. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Doug Eichten
President
DEI

P.S.  Your donation in any amount makes a genuine difference.  Thank you so much for your generous support!

Maine public broadcasting cuts remain likely

Sen. says Maine public broadcasting cuts remain likely | SeacoastOnline.com

The move will eliminate state funding for public broadcasting in Maine. It is easy to say listeners and viewers will need to take up the slack. Some stations are better prepared to take a 20 percent cut than others.

A solid member base of support begins with the programming. Audience 98 outlined this concept with Fundamentals In Brief.

"But the most powerful force affecting giving is not in their control. Programming not only causes audience, it also causes audience support. Fundraising is always about programming. That’s the indisputable fact of 15 years of research, reconfirmed by AUDIENCE 98^®."

• Giving is the product of two programming factors (the value listeners place on the programming and the amount of listening done to it) and one development factor (the efficiency with which fundraising efforts turn this into financial support).
• Effective fundraising activities can raise giving and gift amounts above public service predictions.
• Fundraising practices can lower giving and gift amounts below public service predictions when they attenuate or otherwise interfere with public radio’s service to listeners.

There are many other factors. One is that size matters. The size of the audience and the size of the core audience (P1 listeners) determines the ability of the station to raise enough funds to become self-sustaining. External factors like market size are important too.

For three decades I was involved in public broadcasting through a variety of positions at Public Radio Stations and in Public Media. Much of my experience centered on fundraising and donor relations.  During my tenure as Program Director and Station Manager we built audience and support through programming appealing to core values of the public radio audience. We had about 200,000 listeners with about 85,000 in the core. Through our services we were able to build and sustain relationships resulting in significant support. Basically what we accomplished was the development and creation of content meeting the needs of our clients (listeners). The content fit in with their lifestyle and beliefs. The public radio audience was mainly made up from two VALS types, innovators and Thinkers. We deliberately targeted them. We fashioned messages reminding them of the value of the programming. A guiding principle was community service resulted in community support. 


These two highly educated groups take up the mantle of social responsibility and are motivated to support causes for the greater good. These are individuals who believe in the value of continuing education and believed public radio was fulfilling that need. By focusing our programming and our messaging towards these two groups, we became self-sustaining.

(It should be noted that this is not a model embraced by Public Television.)


There are many more factors that go into good fundraising. The Development Exchange is a great resource. So is the Station Resource Group. But, it all begins with programming.

KEIF-LP fined for underwriting infractions, and antenna and power issues

Radio Business Report/Television Business Report - Voice of the Broadcasting Industry

The article in RBR.com spells out what the FCC found to be violation of the guidelines of allowable underwriting.

Among the issues were the use of rate cards and language in the materials used to promote the spots aired by the station.

The credits aired by KEIF-LP may have been in violation of the guidelines. The ruling seems to reach beyond announcements aired by citing language used off air to promote the advantages of airing credits on KEIF. Is the FCC trying to regulate how public radio's development professionals recruit underwriters?  

WBFO says fundraising campaign was most successful ever : The Buffalo News

WBFO had its best on-air membership ever according to the station and a release in the Buffalo News. This is especially good news for a station that just went through some major programming changes. WBFO now programs news and information.  WBFO raised $230,000 from over 1,500 contributors. That is $30,000 more than the previous high for the station.

It should be noted that WNED-AM also broadcasts news and information to the Western New York/Buffalo area.

WBFO says fundraising campaign was most successful ever : Latest Local News : The Buffalo News

WBUR Auction Goes Green

Newton Solar Company is helping WBUR raise funds by offering two solar units for it's silent auction. The donation seems like a perfect fit for WBUR's. According to the release from The Daily News Tribune the contribution is a  nod to the green-mindedness of WBUR's listeners.It's a good partnership because it will also raise awareness for Newton Solar Company. 

The silent auction will be held Monday, June 7, at the State Room in downtown Boston. Past auctions have included items like lunch with Click and Clack, Trips to Greece and the island of St. Barthelemy, and tickets to the Red Sox with seats in the GM's box. 

Auctions won't replace the on-air drive, but they do promote some high-end giving.

Raising Awareness

In public radio circles we've often discussed raising awareness about what we have to offer. Getting outside the building and actually participating in the community is a great way to increase awareness. Just waiting for the audience to come to us can be painfully slow. The increased connections created by these events not only increases public awareness but can also enhance marketing opportunities.
Where I used to work, Where We Live goes on the road regularly. Bringing A Prairie Home Companion and Wait Wait to Connecticut greatly benefited the station, the programs and the audience.
Now Michael Barone and Pipedreams are doing the same. According to an article in the Miami Herald, "Michael Barone, the host of American Public Media's Pipedreams, is bringing the first ever Pipe Organ Weekend festival to Miami."

WDUQ's Uncertainty May Make Them Stronger

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette has published a thoughtful and hopeful article by Adrian McCoy about the future of WDUQ in Pittsburgh. The strength of WDUQ's community support may make it possible for WDUQ to support itself. The help of Public Radio Capital an organization with previous experience with this type of situation, might make it possible.

The article sites a similar situation on Long Island at WLIU. I think WDUQ is in a much stronger position. The Pittsburgh station already gets 50% of it's funding from members and gets considerable support from corporations. They have robust audience figures. And, they have very little competition for the NPR news they offer (plus program offerings from Public Radio International and American Public Media). WLIU is starting from scratch. Listener Sensitive Income at WLIU was almost non-existent before the sale of the station to Peconic Public Broadcasting, and their fundraising efforts are still short of what they need. WLIU's audience is small. And, there's plenty of competition for the NPR news audience from WSHU and Connecticut Public Radio.

Also important to both stations is their community service. Local programming can create networks of support throughout their communities if done well. I think it was Audience 98 that concluded, "Community service begets community support." The formula worked for us at WNPR.