You Know, "A Show about Talking"

Colorado Public Radio does content! Or, at least it will do content. Several months from now, KCFR News will start a call-in, talk show with a host and producer to be named later. Radio producers, board operators, and telephone call screeners had better start polishing up their resumes if they'd like a shot at any new openings at KCFR-FM, because CPR management already has the talent picked, despite their nearly complete lack of it. Care to guess who the new public radio talk-jock might be? Just so you know, it isn't Mike Rosen or Peter Boyles. Stay tuned!

HD Radio: Chickens and Eggs

Here is an article from The Washington Post about HD Radio. The HD radio boosters at iBiquity keep saying the same thing--it's the auto dealers and satellite radio (XM and Sirius) services fault. Sure it is.

There are really only a few parts to this issue: technology, programming, portability and on-demand content. HD Radio is getting aced out on all of these by competing products and services--no matter how much branding, marketing and advertising stations do. And generally, public radio stations are not inclined to do excessive self promotion. Colorado Public Radio seems to be the exception in Colorado.

Radio stations--commercial and non-commercial--that offer truly alternative programming may succeed in winning over listeners who care less about portability or on-demand content--that is, if they own HD radios for both their car and their home (portable HD radios are not common). But producing compelling programming requires creativity--and cash. Most public radio stations are not flush with either. Even fewer are flush with both. And what does iBiquity recommend? More HD radio promotion by stations? How innovative!

Community Public Radio: KBUT-FM.

Did you ever wanted to take a tour of your public radio station? Have you ever wanted to meet the people you hear on the air? Have you ever been offered the opportunity to speak on the air? At KBUT-FM in Crested Butte, Colorado community radio means community participation--not simply community donations.

These are just some of the differences between big-time, professional public radio stations and small-town, community ones. Why don't you call your local, public radio station and ask for a tour, ask to meet the staff, and ask for your time to speak on the air. What will they say? I dunno, ask them!

Coordinated Fundraising: Public Radio and TV.

Last month, KGNU radio and KBDI television coordinated their fundraising with Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now and author of STATIC: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People Who Fight Back. Does your public radio or television station promote AND support personalities when they come to town. If not, why not? Do you suppose it helps your public radio station stays in touch with organizations from which they receive programming? Denver Westword promoted Goodman's visit here.

"Mamma Kat" of KUVO-FM.

Recently Mamma Kat of KUVO-FM was mentioned by 9News in Denver, Colorado. You gotta love the diversity of this station. For Blues, R&B and Jazz, Mamma Kat is voice of many hip generations.

Mugged in Malibu.

Do you have one too many--or ten too many--lame, public radio mugs taking up space in your kitchen? Have you ever thought about giving them away? Well, you can't take a huge tax break by donating you coffee cups to the cause, but the city of Malibu, California has arranged a novel way to recycle your cheap, ceramic mugs with the help of southern California public radio stations. Read about it here.

Denver Westword on Mario Valdes.

Michael Roberts of Denver Westword reports the passing of longtime KRCC-FM General Manager, Mario Valdes. Read Roberts' article and some reader comments here.

Memorial Service for Mario Valdes of KRCC.

A memorial service for former KRCC Station Manager, Mario Valdes, will take place this Friday, Sept., 21 at 1:00 p.m. at The Shove Chapel at Colorado College, 1010 North Nevada in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Mario was the heart and soul of public radio for Southeastern Colorado, providing inspiration to all of us who knew him and had the privilege of working with him. His knowledge of music, the arts, and pollitics (both inside and outside of public radio) were golden. He set up shop in a very interesting radio market for public radio and made it into something quite unique and essential. His achievements live on.

-Pete Simon

Thank You Readers!

Colorado Public Radio Blog would like thank all its readers for viewing the site, adding comments, and giving us leads about Colorado public radio news, programming, jobs, and other happenings. During the past month, the blog has had over 1000 total visits from more than 600 unique visitors. Again, thanks.

Colorado Public Radio in Denver Westword.

Frances Koncilja, of Colorado Public Radio Blog, attempts--yet again--to put the public back into Colorado Public Radio. Read some of her latest comments about CPR's problems in Denver Westword News, by Michael Roberts. If you have any questions for Frances, you can email her at Colorado Public Radio Blog.

The link to the Denver Westword article is down, but here is the text, relevant to Koncilja's comments about Colorado Public Radio.

CPR for CPR: When last we heard from attorney Frances Koncilja ("Going Public," June 14), she had resigned from her position on the Colorado Public Radio board to protest what she saw as an attempt by CPR chieftain Max Wycisk and chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher to change organizational by-laws in order to ramrod through a host of dubious proposals. Since then, she's created a Colorado Public Radio Blog, which has quickly developed into the go-to site for news about the state's public radio stations, including CPR. Among other things, she's posted documents that shed more light on her concerns.

The next big day in Koncilja's battle to save CPR from itself is September 19, when the board is expected to meet for the first time since putting many of the plans she criticized on hold. Via e-mail, she writes that her preparations for the session will include contacting local officials who appear on the network to "ask them to inquire of management why there is no diversity on the board and on air." She's also requesting input from "previous board members" plus "current sponsors and underwriters." She adds, "Even though I was not asked to submit anything" for the meeting, "I have."

As she understands, silence isn't always golden.

-Michael Roberts

I Feel Good!

Who's the hardest working "reporter" at Colorado Public Radio? It used to be Kirk Siegler of Aspen Public Radio; that is, until he moved to Denver to take a job with KUNC-FM.

Now the hardest working guy at CPR is . . . Eric Whitney of KRCC-FM in Colorado Springs! I can't wait for the the new Health Reporter to start at Colorado Public Radio in FY2009. Then they will have 1 whole reporter on staff.

In the meantime, you can catch Eric Whitney during Morning Edition on 1340-AM in Denver, and on 90.1 FM HD2 if you have an HD radio in your car, in hour pickup, in your house, in your boat, on your motorcycle, on your snowmobile, on your lawn mower, on your scooter, in your tractor--that is, if you haven't already donated all of your vehicles to "support the programming" at Colorado Public Radio.

Did I forget to mention that you can hear CPR are on the web at cpr.org, kcfr.org, kvod.org and podcasting all 30 minutes of Colorado Matters on the NPR website? It's called CPR Everywhere! They're HUGE! Colorado Matters is biggest 30 minutes of news in Colorado. Just ask them!

Here is a link to Eric Whitney's most recent feature on Colorado Public Radio. It is entitled, New Program for Wounded Soliders.

KAFM Gains CPB Qualification.

Guest Commentary, by Pete Simon

KAFM Gains CPB Qualification

For some of you reading this it may not sound like a big deal, until you delve into the history of grass roots, non-commercial radio in Grand Junction. The story of KAFM is one of battles lost and won through heightened expectations, lean times, perseverance, and amazing technical prowess.

KAFM, 88.1 FM, all 16 watts of it (the 88.1 signal blankets the Grand Valley), has just reached another milestone. It becomes the 16th (lucky number) non-commercial radio station in Colorado to gain certification from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). This enables the station to receive annual grant monies from CPB for Programming and Operations.

For nearly a decade, community volunteers worked to make KAFM a reality. It rose from the ashes of an orchestrated take over (and the firing of several dozen volunteers) of KPRN by the management of KCFR, Denver when it took over KPRN in 1991 to mark the beginnings of the KCFR/Colorado Public Radio empire.

Left in the dust were people who listened and participated in KPRN--a station started in the mid 1980s--which they assumed was a solid community asset. The original KPRN blended local voices, news, and events with NPR news and musical variety not available anywhere else on the Grand Junction radio dial. KPRN connected people down the street with those around the world; and in an instant it was gone, replaced by nothing but classical music and NPR news shows without the localism. The only news material to emerge from the new KPRN was produced for a so called state-wide audience; local flavor and soul was gutted. Fortunately, the community volunteer spirit at the old KPRN was able to rekindle at KAFM, and its founders deserve some kind of award.

Since KAFM signed on several years ago, someone was kind (and dedicated) enough to locate and provide an entire house for the people-powered station (that's how much the people in town love their local access radio). The ground floor of the building includes a 75-seat performance theatre, enabling KAFM to broadcast live music.

The CPB certification brings expanding possibilities for an entire community once given up for the whims of larger market radio expectations, often convoluted research, and extreme insensitivity.

It's time to celebrate.

Visit the KAFM radio website by clicking here.

KAJX-FM hires PR Pro as News Director.

According to The Aspen Times, KAJX-FM hired Mitzi Rapkin. Rapkin most recently served as the Director of Community Relations for Aspen, Colorado. The Aspen Daily News reports that Rapkin formerly worked as a reporter at Aspen Public Radio, for National Geographic, and in Washington DC. She is filling the News Director position vacated by Kirk Siegler, who moved to KUNC-FM.

So for those news people who fear losing journalistic credibility after working in as advocates or activists in public relations and corporate communications, I guess there really is a second life--in public radio news and in radio station management.

KUNC-FM and The Colorado Statesman.

Jody Hope Strogoff, Editor & Publisher of The Colorado Statesman, is a regular political contributor to KUNC-FM, which can be heard throughout north central and northeast Colorado, including the Denver metropolitan area.

Listen here to her most recent conversation with KUNC's Jim Beers regarding the announced resignation of US Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, an endorsement by US Senator Ken Salazar, and a political position held by Republican US Senate Candidate Bob Schaffer.

Community Service Grant Congratulations!

KAFM-FM, Grand Junction, Colorado.

Licensee: Grand Valley Public Radio Company, Inc.

KAFM-FM went on the air in 1999 to serve the residents of the Grand Valley in Western Colorado. The station broadcasts a variety of locally-produced music and public affairs programming. The station also houses a 75-seat auditorium where it offers live performances from local and national artists.

The station becomes the 16th radio grantee to receive CPB funding in Colorado. Read about KAFM and all the other grantees here, from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The CPB made the announcement on August 23, 2007.

Endowments and Public Broadcasting.

KCME-FM in Manitou Springs has an endowment fund which "serves as both a savings account and an income stream" for "unexpected expenses and contingencies." You can contribute to it by following this link.

Does your public radio station have an endowment fund? If not, why not? And if so, do you know how, when, and why money is spent from the fund? Call or email them to find out.

Colorado Public Radio Funding from the CPB.

Here is a list of grant funding to Colorado public radio stations by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting during 2005. How did your public radio station fare? Did they spend taxpayer funds wisely? Why don't you ring them up or drop them a line to ask? After all, these are public airwaves.

Selected Jobs in Colorado Public Radio.

In honor of Labor Day, here is a list of some current openings at Colorado public radio stations. As you can see, not of these positions is with public radio "management." So remember, if you interview for any of these positions, make sure you laborers find out about the managers for whom you will be working. Also, many public radio stations also offer unpaid, volunteer opportunities; some corporatized public radio stations; however, do not.

1. Corporate Support Associate at KUNC-FM in Greeley, Colorado. Job posting on the KUNC-FM site and job posting on the CPB website.
2. Disc Jockey at KLNX-LP in Minturn, Colorado. DJ Application on the Radio Free Minturn website.
3. Classical Music Host and Interns in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Music Host and Intern postings on the KCME-FM website.
   
4. Web Developer/Programmer in Denver, Colorado. Job posting on the Colorado Public Radio website.
   

"Bob Edwards Weekend," on KUNC and KRCC.

For those public radio listeners who miss having Bob Edwards on National Public Radio, his XM Satellite radio show (distributed by Public Radio International) can be heard in Greeley, Fort Collins, Boulder, and Denver on KUNC-FM and in Steamboat Springs on KRNC-FM from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoons, and on KRCC-FM on both Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

*Thanks to a CPRB reader for the correction.

Cokie Roberts Coming to Colorado.

Cokie Roberts, of National Public Radio, will be in Denver, Colorado as the keynote speaker for The Women's Foundation of Colorado on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at the Colorado Convention Center

Maybe one of the Denver public radio stations: KUNC-FM, KGNU-AM, KUVO-FM, or KCFR-AM can arrange to get this speaking engagement on the air, or get her into a studio to speak about The Democratic National Convention, the 2008 campaigns, working at NPR--you know, politics?