The Public Radio World is Flat

Thomas Friedman, The New York Times’ resident imbecile (sorry, Pulitzer Price Award Winning imbecile) wrote an idiotic tome some years back entitled The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, which (to my dismay) met with critical acclaim. As he made the rounds on all the popular public broadcasting outlets, I listened in horror as this charlatan spoke about fuzzy concepts he called "flatiners." Matt Tiabbi, of Rolling Stone Magazine (among others), and author of Spanking the Donkey: Dispatches from the Dumb Season, soundly panned Friedman's book in this review at New York Press, and vindicated my point of view that TF (aka THAT Fu*ker) has fallen as far over the edge as the cover of his collection of recent, worldly musings would suggest.

In today's online version of Current, the public broadcasting trade magazine, Dana Davis Rehm, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships for National Public Radio gives her pep talk about how NPR and Member Stations will stem the tide of its own media and membership flattening (a Friedman-esque mixed metaphor). Audience numbers have leveled -- have been flattening for some time. Subscriber contributions are down -- have been leveling for some time. Read her prescriptions, and decide for yourself what you think about her solutions and your own local public radio stations. Can you guess what will happen next?

The fact is that NPR and many public radio stations have been privy to this information -- declining audience -- for some time. They saw the trends more than 5 years ago, but most member stations did very little about it -- except buy and observe the data. But, short of another major nation-wide or world-wide disaster, NPR's audience will continue to shrink, as it (quite literally) dies off. Recent cuts and draw-downs at large, financially sound public radio stations and networks are real. Minnesota Public Radio predicts staff cuts, and WBEZ in Chicago recently dropped 2 local shows it produces. And yesterday, NPR announced that it was dropping the Bryant Park Project, a $2-million show (experiment) aimed specifically at a younger audience demographic.

And what is the strategic plan for NPR and its member stations? Rely upon you -- the subscriber. Once again, NPR and Member Stations will continue to balance the books on the backs of individuals, at a time when individuals have fewer dollars to spend. They know that you will feel guilty enough to do the right thing. So, just do it!

Simultaneously, strong member stations and networks will start to "partner" with weaker ones. That means Member Station consolidation; mergers and acquisitions. Non-profit language is so chicken shit. This isn't a "partnership." It is survival of the fittest. The "more public radio is better for everyone" maxim was as horse shit when I first heard it years ago as it is today. More is always better for everyone, so long as the pie is getting bigger. The pie is shrinking. The world is flat. Oh yeah, and guys like Tom Friedman are freakin' geniuses!

Here's a thought, why doesn't someone go on just one public broadcasting outlet -- radio, television, NPR, member station -- I don't care, and tell people, EXPERTS like Tom Friedman, Mara Liasson, Juan Williams, and Cokie Roberts, that they are completely full of shit? Sorry, full of talking points? Full of conventional wisdom? That would be some interesting public radio CONTENT! I bet that would get some listener-subscribers ringing the pledge lines!

Thank YOU!

Thank you to all the Colorado Public Radio Blog readers this past month. Since June 15, 2008, we have had nearly 1000 visits and and more than 2000 page views! Thanks especially to all of the Colorado Public Radio staff members who view the blog site from the CPR headquarters in Centennial, Colorado. Just so you know, CPRB gets between 6-12 visitors from this location alone -- everyday! All you CPR minions? Don't let management catch you reading these critiques, however. For if you do, your loyalties may be called into question.

Gratuitous Blog Promo (aka Bromo): If CPR Staff Members would like to subscribe to Colorado Public Radio Blog to support the site, please check with your human resources department to see if your company participates in work-place giving, or just drop me line, Jimmy James Jr. at GMail dot Com, and THANKS!

My, My Sirota!

Many of you who know anything about politics know who David Sirota is. If not, here is a link to his website/blog. What some of you may not know, is that after living and working in Washington DC for some time, he (and his family) eventually moved to Montana and then to Colorado. He has lived in Denver since mid 2007. Sirota was a regular on Air America Radio's Al Franken Show for some time too; doing a regular bit called My, My Sirota.

Anyway, I was listening to Sirota talk about his new book The Uprising on WAMU's The Diane Rehm Show last week, and wondered two things? First, why has David Sirota NEVER been on Colorado Public Radio. Second, why doesn't Colorado Public Radio carry The Diane Rehm Show? I mean, what is HD Radio for if you cannot broadcast more shows using the increased bandwidth?

I get the feeling -- from listening to KCFR (AM or FM) do political reporting -- that they are AFRAID to do politics. I mean, how many stories have any of you heard that actually have to do with a political race -- an actual contest, political strategy or political analysis? I am not talking about inane horse race chat, mind you. But really! Colorado Public Radio doesn't actually suck the life out of real politics -- like most main stream media source do -- it just plain SUCKS at covering ACTUAL politics!

My guess is that CPR is just scared shitless of covering something that (someone who) is considered to be controversial. I mean, Sirota is a well-known (whisper when you say it: liberal, progressive) politico. But, Colorado Public Radio can't risk tarnishing its corporate sensibilities, especially during tough economic times, by speaking with someone of his ilk. So, stay away from CPR stinky, liberal hippies! They'll stick with Colorado's mainstream, quote whores, like Katy Atkinson (4 appearances on Colorado Matters) and Eric Sonderman (3 appearances on Colorado Matters). Insiders like them are much safer, especially as they parrot exactly what everyone expects -- talking points for whatever issue or from whomever's campaign that is paying their salary. Katy wanna cracker?

Job Opening at KUNC-FM

KUNC-FM 91.5 in Greeley, CO has an opening for a Reporter/Producer here. The position is also listed on the Current website here.

NPR Board of Directors Meeting

The NPR Board of Directors met in both open and closed sessions on July 10th and 11th, according to the NPR website. Find a link to their agenda here. As you know from earlier posts on Colorado Public Radio Blog and Denver Westword, Max Wycisk of Colorado Public Radio, threw in his hat into the race. No word, as yet, if he made it to the show. My guess is that he made it, since he spent much of last year working on CPR's Board of Directors and Governance process, and that is probably just what NPR is looking for in a corporate tool. If so, he will be part of a group presiding over an important evolution in public radio. However, my prediction is that his inclusion will result in two major developments: the devolution (power shift) and de-evolution (degeneration) of public radio.

Of course, anyone who leads public radio member stations during this time -- National Public Radio member stations, that is -- will blame any of their problems on media fragmentation, the economy -- BOTH. So, talking the lead at this time is really not a bad gig. If the new NPR Board succeeds (whatever that means), they'll credit their skills. If they fail, they will blame the media market, economic landscape, et al. Very nice. It's good to be The King! or Bureaucrat, if you prefer.

This just in . . .

According to the New York Times, the NPR Board dumped the Bryant Park Project. The Gray Lady, nicely hangs this one around recently-departed NPR executives Jay Kernis and Ken Stern:

In addition to the on-air changes, two top NPR executives who helped develop the program have left the organization. Jay Kernis, the senior vice president of programming, went to CNN, and Ken Stern, NPR’s chief executive, departed in March after the board decided not to renew his contract."

Aspen Ideas Festival for 2008

The Aspen Ideas Festival for 2008 ended last week. Among the guests this year were Former President Bill Clinton, PBS television Host Charlie Rose, Harvard Professor of Political Science and Philosophy, Michael Sandel, and dozens of other well-know thinkers and personalities.

Listen to Colorado Public Radio Host Dan Drayer's 5-minute news feature from June 30th, the first day of the event, or go to Minnesota Public Radio to hear some extended audio pieces, like this one from President Clinton.

Too bad Colorado public radio stations cannot seem to cover this event a bit more broadly and deeply, or at the very least, try to coordinate interviews with some of the guests while they are here in the state. Minnesota Public Radio seems to have resources enough to cover this festival. Hear MPR's many other AIF broadcasts here. So, why not Colorado Public Radio? Are they busy covering a sweet corn festival in Brainard, Minnesota? You betcha!

KGNU Opening - Denver Fundraising Coordinator

KGNU, FM in Boulder and AM in Denver, is seeking an experienced Fundrasing Coordinator for Denver. Just so you know, KGNU is primarily run by volunteers and takes it lead from the Pacifica and community radio end of the public radio spectrum. In short, NOT National Public Radio. My guess is that interested parties who don't know the difference need not apply.

What is an AM Station Worth These Days?

Westword's Michael Roberts wonders what do to with the pre-sets on his radio tuner here? What I am wondering is what the hell is 1340-AM, former home to KCFR, worth to a buyer -- especially with the US economy in the crapper? I am guessing that the price will be cheap -- but not free. By the way, -CFR in KCFR used to stand for Colorado Free Radio, and it's free to you, unless you subscribe.

Rather than worry about what to do with my presets, I am thinking about how cool it would be to have internet radio in my car. Can you imagine listening to thousands of stations from all over the world -- unlimited by terrestrial AM or FM? Besides, AM news radio was so much more interesting when it was on TV. In case you forgot how much fun AM radio could be, you can watch NewsRadio episodes on Hulu.Com. My guess is that Colorado Public Radio isn't nearly as lost as the NewsRadio crowd, but certainly not as fun either.

KUNC's Grand Project

Sky-Hi Daily News reports on KUNC's antenna project in Grand County, CO. KUNC hopes to get some listeners back, after KUNC moved its front range antenna farther south and west to bring 91.5-FM into the Denver metro area.

Westword Weighs in with the Latest 'Word

Michael Roberts of Denver Westword gives us the latest about the Colorado Public Radio frequency changes (and, he give Colorado Public Radio Blog a plug in the process -- THANKS!). So, how come it feels like I have heard this one before -- the death of KVOD? Oh wait, I CAN'T actually hear this one, because 1200 watts of isn't powerful enough to reach my home? Well, never mind.

By the way, you can tune in to KUNC at 91.5-FM and listen online at KUNC.org for some classical music in Northern Colorado, or tune in to or KUSC-FM in Los Angeles, online at KUSC.org, if state or region is unimportant to your classical music listening. After all, so long as you are online, why should I be limited to just KVOD on 88.1-FM RADIO, right? Use the internets, like CPR says.

By the way, -VOD stands for Voice of Denver. So, too bad much of Denver cannot actually hear KVOD on 88.1-FM. Nice job, McWycisk! Gene Amole would be proud. Hey Wycisk, we have heard that you had only met Gene ONCE in your 35 years in public radio -- with much of that time spent broadcasting classical music. Is that true? If so, how is it that you and CPR are the heir to his legacy? Just because you own the call letters? C'mon Max, tell us a story! Isn't that what your classical music hosts on KVOD do? Tell stories? So, enlighten us -- please!