[Kzyxtalk] Local vs syndication

Mon May 19 17:31:16 PDT 2014

I second what Diane said.

Also, I will look this up but I heard FSRN is back up as of last month.  I
prefer it to Democracy Now myself and hope it can rally.

Doug

On Monday, May 19, 2014, Diane Paget <dpaget at mcn.org> wrote:

> 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.
> >> Oak & Thorn <http://oakandthorn.wordpress.com>
> > Facebook: Oak and Thorn
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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