[Kzyxtalk] Local vs syndication

Mon May 19 09:20:18 PDT 2014

Y' know, I think I can settle this for y'all

I hearby relent on All-Joel, All -the-Time

Though, a little more Waldman c'unt hurt,

Y'kno wut i mean?

jc

On May 19, 2014, at 7:49 AM, Tim Bray wrote:

> Seven member committee... decision by consensus... if no consensus,  
> Mary decides.  That pretty much spells out why the previous PAC  
> incarnation did not work.
>
> I could get behind a proposal for a three-person PAC, whose       
> reviews and recommendations would be public, if we can figure out a  
> good process for selecting them and setting criteria for their  
> work.  (From watching the previous committee, I would have to say  
> this is much harder than it seems.)  Then the Program Director could  
> still have authority to make the decisions, and the whole process  
> would be more open than at present.   Such a PAC would operate  
> largely independently from staff and require as little staff time as  
> possible.
>
> Basically what I am hearing is that a number of people simply don't  
> trust the current Program Director to make these decisions.  I'm not  
> sure that's fair, but having an independent PAC to introduce some  
> public input might be a way to alleviate that concern.
>
> Do you have an alternative to "NPR-haters?"  NPR-dislikers just  
> doesn't sound good to me.  :)  As for preferring different news  
> sources, KZYX runs at least four:  DN, Hartmann, PRI, and NPR, plus  
> a little bit of local news (and I know the management is really  
> hoping to expand that).   If you are not in favor of eliminating  
> NPR, then what do you propose?  Basically we get Morning Edition,  
> All Things Considered, and Fresh Air, plus a few shorter weekend  
> shows (Wait Wait, LRC, On the Media).  If you want to eliminate one  
> or more of those, let us know which.  If not, then why are we  
> discussing it?  Did I misunderstand, and it is some other syndicated  
> programming to which you and others object?
>
> Now, as to the mix of public affairs vs. music programming:  I will  
> provide those numbers, but first, I have to admit to some  
> sensitivity about this.  I think music programming is important and  
> makes valuable contributions to our community, and KZYX has some  
> standout music programmers whose contributions are sometimes ignored  
> when the focus is on public-affairs programming.  I am doing both,  
> having taken on a monthly production of Ecology Hour,      and  
> understand the two types of programs require different kinds of  
> effort, skills, and commitment.
>
> Note:  This is pasted from an Excel spreadsheet table.  Depending on  
> your e-mail reader, and the Listserv settings, the formatting might  
> not work.
> hrs/wk	2009	2014
> NPR	28	32.5
> Other Synd PA	42.5	43.5
> Synd Music	3	7
> Local PA	17.5	12
> Local Music	77	73
> Total	168	168
> As to the demographics, I don't think it can be disputed that they  
> are changing, though maybe it can be overstated.  In any case, I  
> don't think it is realistic to expect that KZYX programming would  
> not change as well.
>
> Tim
>
>
> On 5/18/2014 6:45 PM, doug mckenty wrote:
>> Ok,
>>
>> A lot to get around to.
>>
>> The construction of the PAC was interesting. One member elected by  
>> the board, one by the programmers and one by the community advisory  
>> board.  These people were to get together with the program director  
>> and choose three more according to a matrix of needs.  The seven  
>> member committee makes programming decisions by consensus, though  
>> if consensus is not found the pd gets the last word.  Any conflict  
>> should be reviewed by the grievance process.  I thought it was a  
>> good start.  My sense of the story is that it started off pretty  
>> strong but the air went out of the tires when word came down after  
>> John C. became general manager and the decision was made that the  
>> consensus of the group was not binding, and the group was only  
>> advisory in nature.  That interpretation of the documentation won  
>> the day and, neutered of any real power, the PAC because redundant  
>> because there was already a CAB.  That is the story as I have  
>> interpreted it from speaking with people who were involved.
>>
>> About the NPR question.  Tim, will you please stop referring         
>> to people who prefer news sources different from NPR as "NPR  
>> haters."  As one of them, this attitude feels caustic and I am  
>> afraid will only work to continue to alienate the large percentage  
>> of Mendocino county residents who feel as I do.  Also, I want to  
>> know why many at the station feel that someone is trying to  
>> eliminate NPR.  Where is this coming from?  Paul Lambert accused me  
>> of the same thing, trying to eliminate NPR.  Where did he hear it?   
>> The only time I ever heard anyone speak publicly about eliminating  
>> NPR was Annie Esposito at a board meeting where she advocated  
>> eliminating NPR and keeping the news department.  She pointed to  
>> KMUD as a successful example.  Please let me know who these people  
>> are who have advocated for this other than Annie, so I can let them  
>> know I think it would be a terrible idea.
>>
>> Also, though I appreciate your research, could I ask you to take it  
>> one step further and remove the programs that are musical in  
>> nature.  Will you compare the daily dose of locally        produced  
>> public affairs programs vs. the dose of NPR or other "canned" news  
>> sources.  I don't think the music programming is a much of an issue  
>> here as this communities ability to hear locally produced programs  
>> about national and international issues that give us an alternative  
>> perspective from NPR.
>>
>> One more thing about the demographics issue.  I swear I have heard  
>> this notion that our radio station can't be "hippie"        because  
>> too many "yuppies" have moved in, about ten times in the last two  
>> weeks.  In most instances there was the hint of sadness at the  
>> passing of an age.  I am forty one years old and my wife and I and  
>> all my friends who did not grow up here moved here because we  
>> wanted to get back to the land and we wanted to raise our children  
>> in one of the most progressive communities in our country.  I have  
>> not seen indications of yuppie invasion in my community nor any  
>> indication that more canned material or NPR has led to many large  
>> donations from these people.  Conversely, I do think a show about  
>> marajuanna might improve our ability to find such donors.  I for  
>> one hope that the old hippies will not give up...
>>
>> Wait, there is more.  The PAC is not designed to satisfy everyone,  
>> it is designed in part to create a public forum where critical  
>> individuals can go to complain.  This not only takes the onus off  
>> staff, which would alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress, but  
>> provides a venue where the complaint can be listened to in a  
>> transparent way.  I think having the program application review  
>> process become transparent would eliminate a lot of the issues that  
>> come up.  And giving those critical of current policy the  
>> opportunity to apply for the committee if they are passionate also  
>> gives them the hope that if others agree, real change is possible.   
>> The function of the PAC is to neutralize the negative energy of the  
>> complainer, not an effort to please everyone.  That is impossible.   
>> Though most Public radio stations have no such committee and allow  
>> the program director control, many Community radio stations, of  
>> which KZYX is one, do employ such a committee as they find it helps  
>> reduce conflict.
>>
>>
>> Doug
>>
>>
>
> -- 
> Oak & Thorn
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