WFPL-FM launches environmental reporting collaboration

Public radio partnerships like the one announced by WFPL in Louisville help stations build on their strengths.
According to an article in Business First, WFPL is teaming with 18 public radio stations in five states to report on environmental issues in the Ohio River Valley. To create the initiative, WFPL also built relationships with three foundations and Hanover College.

The experience we had with other stations and foundations at WNPR to create these kinds of partnerships helped the station enhance it's content around the environment, health issues and, reporting and on politics in Connecticut's capitol region. The collaborations drew the public radio stations in our region closer together, even those with which we shared listeners. It also brought several foundations a platform for their community service issues. The network of community service oriented non-profits was enhanced by these alliances.

I must note there was clear firewall between the funders and the news content. Through regular communications with the funders, WNPR was able to satisfy the foundations' needs. High quality reporting was making the public aware of the issues near and dear to the station's funding partners. We also found that these collaborations raised the bar for regional reporting among all of the stations involved in the initiative.

There's more about how public media can become involved in community service alliances at the National Center for Media Engagement.

Haitian Radio Station Exemplifies Community Service

An FM radio station in Haiti was an informational lifeline for the people of Haiti in the hours and days after the quake there. NPR's John Burnett filed this story for All Things Considered about Signal FM 90.5.

KCSM TV Closer to Being Sold

It's looking more likely that the public television station in San Mateo will be sold by the Community College there. Recent cuts and fundraisers will not be able to offset the station's deficit according to an article posted by MercuryNews.com and originally published in the San Mateo County Times by Neil Gonzales. Among the cuts was the station's membership with PBS which meant it could no longer air staples like NOVA, Frontline and Masterpiece Theater/Mystery. KCSM was hoping to raise $1 million in donations, but have only raised $30,000 so far. They were also hoping to raise funds by leasing digital spectrum and airtime. That plan has also fallen short.

The San Mateo County Community College District board gave Marilyn Lawrence until February 24th to come up with a plan to eliminate a $1million, deficit.

You can read more at MercuryNews.com.

http://www.mercurynews.com/tv/ci_14289619?nclick_check=1

Another Station Changes Format

WETS-FM is changing formats to news and information. The reasons given by Station Manager Wayne Winkler include:

• Fulfill the mission of the university and of WETS-FM
• The best interest of the station, its listeners, and its financial future
• Fewer people are tuning to radio for music
• Offering the community a dependable news source

More information about the change is included in an article published today by TriCities.com

You can read the article here.


There are two big reasons. They are improved community service and financial stability.
And...This does present the opportunity for somebody else to adopt the Classical and Americana formats.

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.

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. 

Calls for Changes At the BBC

Public Television in the United States isn't the only television broadcast entity worried about its aging audience. There are similar concerns at the BBC. "The centre-right Policy Exchange said the BBC should cut the amount it spends on sports rights, popular entertainment and shows for 16 to 35-year-olds." Read more at the BBC.