Public Broadcasting In Florida Struggling

After all state funding for public broadcasting in Florida was eliminated by Governor Rick Scott , stations are left struggling to make ends meet. Eric Deggans reports in the Tampa Bay Times that stations are looking for funding from usual and unusual sources. One station has done a scrap metal drive. That will be followed by a golf tournament. Others are looking for more underwriting and increasing the length of member drives. Some stations have eliminated services like reading services for the blind. Others are cutting back on local programming.

Florida public broadcasters search for solutions to their funding crisis - Tampa Bay Times

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

The Power Of Song

Interfaith Conversations: The Power Of Song - Courant.com

At a recent PRPD conference there was a lot of discussion about how to bring public radio music programming to life. The fear is that downloading and services like Pandora will make music on Public Radio obsolete. Some of the discussion has been about picking the right music. More of the discussion has been about how to engage the audience. After all, a public radio service depends on listener support to sustain itself. The music service must be engaging enough to motivate listeners to support the programming. That means not only a consistently appealing selection of music, but hosts that can connect the music to the listener.

Susan Campbell's column in the Hartford Courant brought this into focus. In music, there are shared moments that can reach the soul. During the presentation by the Interfaith Amigos, a Rabbi, a Christian Minister and a sheik, they talked about their continuing dialog. They're bringing their message of love for one another that is a big part of the three Abrahamic faiths. Campbell wrote in her column, "And then? Something happened. The audience joined in, and back in the sinners' section where I sat, they even swayed to the music, and that's not just people who were alive when that 1933 song was big. These were kids, too. People looked at one another like they couldn't believe they were sitting in a Hartford church singing an old song, and then? They opened their mouths and belted out the chorus." "Mackenzie and his friends are onto something. You sing together, it's hard to hate."

Public radio programming, when done well, can tap into that sense of community. Well thought out topical connections can put the music into context, and at times reach something in all of us. A musical jukebox like Pandora can't go there. Public radio music programmers, producers and hosts can pick all the right stuff but, by putting the music in the right context we can create moments when the music can mean something more.

KEDM Holding An Emergency Fund Drive

Is KEDM close to falling below minimum standards for CPB funding?  This was in the Monroe, Louisiana News-Star.

KEDM Public Radio has scheduled an emergency three-day fund drive next month to shore up a local funding requirement by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The region's only public radio station, which is housed and supported by the University of Louisiana at Monroe, has set a goal to raise $30,000 or risk having programming restrictions being placed on it. Joel Willer, ULM's director of University Broadcasting, said the station fell short of its fundraising goals during its annual fall and spring fundraising drives.

The emergency fundraiser is June 2-4.

"Basically what CPB is looking at is that they want us to raise 48 cents per potential listener in our service area, which translates to $152,000 a year," Willer said. "We have been really falling short for some time and it's finally catching up to us.

"We need to meet the minimum or start facing restrictions on programming. As it stands, we are about $45,000 short."

The station's funding sources include the university, listener memberships and underwriting from businesses and CPB. However, CPB requires that the station raise 48 cents for each of the estimated 305,105 potential listeners in its coverage area.

"In this case, even if the university was able to write a huge check for the amount, it would not take care of the requirement," Willer said. "The $30,000 will get us a good way to where we need to be."

Willer said the station is working with its Community Advisory Board trying to find local business donors to meet the overall $45,000 funding need. The radio station is sending out additional mailings to its membership and listeners who have never been members in addition to sending out mailings to lapsed members asking them to rejoin.

"It's a matter of getting the message out," Willer said.

Community Advisory Board member Lyle Miller said the radio station's main challenge is to develop new supporters to expand its base. For several years, the station has focused on selling sponsorships, particularly to corporate partners. KEDM's annual budget is around $300,000.

"So many times we lean on our corporate sponsors, but we can't depend on the same core people time and time again," Miller said. "It will certainly be difficult (to raise the needed funding) because this is not the best of times to do that.

"Our supporters and the university have been very magnanimous, but we really need to broaden our base of support. To be successful, we need to show the importance of public broadcasting to the younger generation. Sooner or later, listeners need to come to the table."