Covering Issues and Ideas

Transcending Geography

This article is not about local vs national coverage. It is about getting the most out of what stations can offer locally. Thinking about coverage from the perspective of the listener will help guide the focus of your content. It is an argument I made for years in music programming. It is an argument that often fell on deaf ears. That is, until we found ourselves creating barriers between our programming and the audience we were hoping to serve. Change came about slowly, but I like to think at WNPR we learned our lesson. It bears repeating.

Users of public media transcend local. Research I was a part of at Connecticut Public Broadcasting demonstrated clearly the world perspective public radio listeners have. This worldly view is not just a phenomenon in Connecticut. Broader research conducted for the public radio system through The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), The Public Radio Program Directors Association (PRPD) and others demonstrated the preference of public media users to look at issues from a broader perspective. The Sense of Place Study clearly pointed out that local coverage for the sake of being local was not an effective use of the media's resources.

Covering Issues

At WNPR we decided in 2006 when looking at format change to look at the issues and ideas that defined where we live rather than geography. Part of reason was pragmatic. Connecticut is governed by over 160 town governments. The attitude in Connecticut is that the issues in Hamden have no relationship to the issues in Waterbury. Or, that's in Hartford...not here. The thinking in the system at the time was to center coverage on a region like Chicago, New York or the Twin Cities. Connecticut did not have a regional center. Focusing on one area would make WNPR local and irrelevant to much of the state.. We decided to look at issues and ideas from a much broader perspective.

Others are taking this approach. WAMU recently announced they would realign their news coverage to key issues rather than geography. The key areas of their coverage will be Transportation and Development, Education and Inequality, Race and Ethnicity, Power and Influence, and Arts and Culture.

WUWM in Milwaukee is also covering news from an issues perspective. The news drop down  menu on  their website reveals coverage in the Environment, Economy & Business, Politics & Government, Education, Health & Science, World, Arts & Culture, and Project Milwaukee. Station Manager Dave Edwards mentioned that this approach is working out well for his station.

A Lucrative Decision

The decision at WNPR to focus on issues and ideas proved beneficial to the audience and the station. Increases in audience and loyalty followed. The launch of Where We Live by a very talented staff highlighted and enhanced coverage engaging the stations audience, Opportunities to develop partnerships in the community followed and so do did funding opportunities.

A Collaborative Effort

CPB announced in February a collaboration they are funding for regional coverage among several stations in New England. The geographic coverage will focus on issues and ideas. According to a release from Vermont Public Radio, "The New England News Collaborative (NENC) will produce multimedia coverage focusing on the region's energy usage, climate, transportation infrastructure, and its people and immigration issues. This robust partnership will produce dynamic reporting projects for on-air broadcast, digital and web presentations, and a series of public Town Hall-style meetings centered on issues facing New England and its residents."

WNPR will run the collaboration which will depend on the talents of reporters and producers across the New England states. The stations involved in the project are Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, WBUR,Maine Public Broadcasting Network, New Hampshire Public Radio, Vermont Public Radio, New England Public Radio, Rhode Island Public Radio, and WSHU Public Radio.

Beyond Seed Money

The ability of the stations to keep the project going after the grant runs its course will depend on how willing they are to play nicely with each other. Certainly, the coverage will present opportunities for growth on all platforms. It will be up to the station to use the content to leverage partnerships and funding opportunities and put that revenue back into the partnership. It can work. 

Vetting and Why I Listen to Public Radio

A Matter of Core Values

So often I offer critiques of public radio. That's because I worked in public radio for over three decades. How about some long overdue praise? The other day I was listening to a short report about vetting immigrants and it became clear why I listen.

Some background

I started listening in 1978. I was looking for something different...something with depth...something stimulating. I was driving through Michigan on my way home from visiting a friend. I was scanning the radio dial when I happened on NPR's All Things Considered which was being broadcast by the station in Ann Arbor (Now Michigan Radio). The reports were like nothing else I had heard on the radio. The depth and variety of viewpoints engaged me. That half-hour flew by. So did the next the next 20 minutes until I drove out of range. The station was airing a documentary about the Pullman workers in the Jim Crow era. I wanted more.

I sought out public radio. What I found was a mix of content. Some of it great...some of it not so great. The moments of greatness far outweighed the disappointments. The in-depth news and music programming were a perfect match for lifestyle and values.What really struck me was the emphasis on civil discourse and fairness.

Later that year I started volunteering at WUWM and a few months later started working as their music director.

Many Years Later

Despite the fact that I no longer work full time in public radio...it is still a trusted source for news and information. It's the place I go to when I want to know more about complex issues. I use other sources. I check on-line news aggregators. I read newspapers in print and on-line. I stay away from cable news.

After the terrorist attacks in Paris, and after the reaction of the Governors and Republican presidential candidates to essentially shut down our borders to Syrian refugees, I wanted to find out more about the vetting process. The Republicans and some Democrats wanted to make sure our government was fully vetting refugees before admitting them to the United States. The implication was the process was loose. The scenario of thousands of radicals streaming across our southern border was being shouted by politicians and pundits on cable news. There seemed to be nothing civil or fair about their coverage.

I've gotten to the point I can't stay with cable news very long. I'm not the only one who noticed the shrill nature of coverage on the cable networks with all sorts of fear mongering and punditry posing as news coverage.

Trust

I went to a sources I've found I can reliably trust to give me the full story in fair manner. I went to NPR, Public Radio and the BBC. Here's an example...

4 Things To Know About The Vetting Process For Syrian Refugees

I found that the refugees were already being vetted. The process for admission for a refugee can take two years. The refugees aren't just being dropped off in communities. There are nine groups helping with resettlement. According to the NPR report, "Six of them are faith-based. They help refugees find homes, furniture, school supplies and jobs." Finally, some officials worry there may be gaps in the system.

That's a far cry from this...

Islamophobic Media Coverage Is Out Of Control

I come to public radio because I want to be informed. I want information that can help me connect the dots. I want coverage that I can trust. 

Working Christmas

Christmas With Jim Glynn

Back in the day...I used to work on all the holidays. It was a part my job as Music Director for WUWM. I was responsible for scheduling music programming including on-air staff. Most of the music shifts were filled by volunteers and students. Full-time staff would fill-in as needed and, around the holidays we were needed. We did the work but, all of us would rather have been with our families.

The most memorable came around Christmas. To be sure, I didn't want to be there. But, something changed for me when filling in as board operator for Jim Glynn. Jim was a musician and one of our jazz announcers. His shift was on Friday nights. The music reflected his tastes and Jim as an individual. His music was mellow as was his conversation. I enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere he created. Jim preferred to be in the control room with the operator for better interaction so, the conversation between stopsets flowed freely and the topics were broad and always interesting.   

Christmas fell on the Friday and Saturday in successive years. Both years I brought refreshments; oranges, chocolate and tea. The music, conversation and treats were shared freely. I truly enjoyed the interaction with Jim. It was a great combination. Good Music - Good Food - Good Conversation. The flavors, music and the conversation made for memorable evenings. It's a Christmas experience I will always remember. Thanks, Jim and Merry Christmas!

WUWM Moves Again

The place where I started as a volunteer for Public Radio is moving again. I volunteered at WUWM in 1979 when they were on the campus of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. I began there as the producer for Folk Festival USA. The NPR had a two hour slot, but the length of the show would vary. So, I would produce the fill to air at the end of the local broadcast. It was the first show on the air Sunday Morning. Because the board-op was usually late, the fill portion of the show hardly ever made it on the air. Two of the people I worked with are still there. Station Manager Dave Edwards was their News Director back then. Program Director Bruce Winter was the Operations Director.

This appeared in the Journal Sentinel...WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee Public Radio has moved to the 7th floor of the Chase Tower, 111 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 700, Milwaukee.