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Help: Defending Public Radio Programming
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Help: Defending Public Radio Programming |
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Subject: Defending Public Radio Programming From: GUEST Date: 18 Aug 02 - 04:40 AM Is There a Coalition to Foster and Defend Folk Music Programming on Public Radio? When a folk music show is threatened or even removed from a public radio format (in the US) is there a certain strategy for protesting and even fighting such a removal in court? Can you recommend specific attorneys, para-legals or others who champion folk music programming on public radio? |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: Genie Date: 18 Aug 02 - 05:13 AM Guest, do you have a specific show ( or specific shows) in mind? |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: GUEST Date: 18 Aug 02 - 05:30 AM To build a case I need to stay anonymous for now. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: JedMarum Date: 18 Aug 02 - 10:39 AM I don't know about the legal stuff, but I suspect there are pressure points you can develop; what sort of ground swell of support can you create among your listenership? Drown the program director's office with letters from thousands/hundreds of your listeners. Can you develop pressure from contributors? Who are the major business or individual contributors to the station who can go to bat for you? I suspect you'll have your best results by using these means - but there may be a legal angle. Good luck to you. I hate to see folk music disappear from radio. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: Clinton Hammond Date: 18 Aug 02 - 10:51 AM It's sad to say, but if funding ain't there, such shows won't survive... Ya wanna keep it on the radio? Send in yer $$ at pledge time... "Drown the program director's office with letters from thousands/hundreds of your listeners." Does folk radio even have that many listeners? ,-) |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: Rara Avis Date: 18 Aug 02 - 02:31 PM I contacted the station manager of one of my local public radio stations to register my displeasure and to notify him that my membership dollars would be reduced accordingly. Another public radio station, which expanded its folk program, was rewarded with those dollars along with an explanation for the extra cash. Sadly, there seems to be a small number of doners willing to fund folk music programs. Good luck to you. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: katlaughing Date: 18 Aug 02 - 02:42 PM I don't think there would be anything one could do in the legal sense. Media schedule their programming by what they feel is most popular and appropriate for their audience, which is their right. On PBS and NPR, when they do their fundraising they even encourage people to vote for their favourite programs by calling in their pledges during such shows. I quit donating to Wyo. Public Radio when I felt they'd "dumbed down" the playlist and i let the station manager and program director know about it. The money went to Mudcat, instead. If I had contacted sponsors and told them I was not going to patronise them because of their support for WPR, AND had a list of other people to join me, it might have made a little difference, but in WY, I was in the minority opinion, so they probably would have just laughed at me. Think about it: if anyone could take a tv or radio station to court to force them to run certain programs we'd no longer have freedom of the press. kat |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: artbrooks Date: 18 Aug 02 - 02:45 PM Well, I support both of the NPR stations here in Albuquerque with cash, and am listening to a different public radio station on the computer as I type this. BTW, Wisconsin Public Radio's "Simply Folk" is on at 6:00 Mudcat time, followed by "Thistle and Shamrock". I agree that the only practical way to keep a show on that is in danger of the boot is to enlist the support of the PAYING listeners. Find out if the station's subscriber list is publically accessable and do a mailing. Another way, of course, is to find an underwriter who is willing to kick in a pot full of cash specifically to support an individual show. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: Clinton Hammond Date: 18 Aug 02 - 03:23 PM To stop supporting a station after changes is too little too late... It was likely the lack of support in the first place that lead to the changes... |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: johnross Date: 18 Aug 02 - 11:41 PM If the public radio station in question is owned and operated by a state agency, it might create some headaches for the station management if you can complain to your state legislators. Otherwise, the most effective form of protest would be a substantial number of letters -- not e-mails or phone calls, letters -- from listeners who advise the station that they will not contribute because the station has dropped its folk music program. And get the local media involved:is there a writer at the daily or alternative newspaper who is sympathetic and interested in folk music? The point is to hit the station where it will hurt them: bad publicity and potential loss of revenue. Is the program in question locally produced, or is it one of the canned syndicated series that the station gets off the satellite? If it's a local program, you should chase down the former producer and see if there's more to the story than you already know. |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: GUEST Date: 19 Aug 02 - 01:54 AM Contact BSeed in SF - from this forum's background |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: PeteBoom Date: 19 Aug 02 - 11:43 AM Since most "Public Radio" stations purchase their programming and develop their schedule to suit their own needs, the suggestions above about a) donating money at pledge time during the folk program(s) you like and b) making it known that you are supporting the radio station because of the folk music programming are probably your two best bets. If you get hold of a local music org and get THEM involved doing the same thing, you will have as good a chance as any in maintaining, if not increasing, the level of folk music you get. Where I am, I get four public radio stations. Each has a different format and different audiences - all of them get support from me based on what they provide that I am interested in. Good luck - Pete |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 19 Aug 02 - 12:25 PM There are problems connected with the suggestion that one "vote" by donating during the desired show: 1. On my public radio station, the folk-type programs were at night, on the weekend, after an energetic week of pumping for dollars throughout the day. By the time they got to these weekend night programs, they quit pumping, and the telephone staff went home. 2. Because almost everyone listens to various programs through the week, the chances are that one who is going to contribute has done it before the station gets to the folk programs at the end of the week, even if they had still been twisting arms when the program was on. 3. In my particular situation, the station simply dropped "Midnight Special" (with no prior notice that I know of) the week before the pledge drive. As a result, no pledge from me, and I called them and told them so.
Dave Oesterreich
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: Blues=Life Date: 20 Aug 02 - 09:28 AM "...even fighting such a removal in court? Can you recommend specific attorneys, para-legals or others who champion folk music programming on public radio?" "To build a case I need to stay anonymous for now." Two possibilities. a) This guest is of the generation that believes that any slight or minor insult, any action that displeases, anything that's "JUST NOT FAIR!" should be met with court action, lawsuits, assignment of blame, etc. This is sad. b) This guest is a troll. This is sadder. Blues |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: GUEST Date: 20 Aug 02 - 12:04 PM Thanks to all responders even the one who speculated incorrectly about my intentions. Go with the flow, yes, but part of the flow is the possibility that there are other energies to tap: unseen, unknown, hidden and yet mighty. Folk music is a nurturing music and listeners deserve some nurturing. Sure, life goes on no matter what. It's not always wrong to be anonymous. The fly on the wall learns alot even in a Kafka-esque world like ours. Thanks again..... |
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Subject: RE: Help: Defending Public Radio Programming From: katlaughing Date: 20 Aug 02 - 12:37 PM One other thing, which I learned while working for a non-profit arts center: if you do donate, you have the right to write on your check what it is specifically to be used for, i.e. "to be used ONLY to fund broadcast of such-and-such folk program." Unless the law has changed, they cannot use those funds in any other way and should return your check if they cannot use them for what you designated. kat |
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