[Kzyxtalk] Local vs syndication

[Diane Paget]

Tim,

Your own numbers tell the story: a weekly drop of 5.5 hours of local 
public affairs programming in the last five years; and I'm willing to 
bet an even greater drop in the last 10, 15 and 20 years.

Might be a good idea to distinguish between "NPR haters" (of which there 
are some) and "local public affairs fans" (of which there are many) -- 
rather than painting both with the same brush.

Local music programming is not being threatened by anyone.

Isn't management being a bit disingenuous when it says that it is so 
hard to find local public affairs programmers. This is a radio station 
-- either the PD or the GM could produce a PSA recruiting people for 
training and/or to submit program proposals and play it at the times of 
day when such people are likely to be listening. Yes, they would then 
have to deal with the drama kings and queens and the nut cases as well 
as people who really could produce good shows. But unfortunately DK&Q 
are part of running a community radio station and maybe people who 
aren't willing to deal with them are not well suited to be community 
radio staff.

Free Speech Radio News did not die from lack of personnel (and did deal 
with its share of DK&Qs) -- it died of funding problems.

Diane



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 <http://oakandthorn.wordpress.com>
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