sign of the times : local NPR affiliate practically "begging" for donations

[UndertheOcean]

even more guilt inducing than previous pledge drives.

saying that , it is amazing how NPR/PBS transformed pledge drives into an art form. They are surely the masters of that domain

[hlthe2b]

1. Since when are the quarterly pledge drives anything other than

begathons?

[UndertheOcean]

3. The tone sounds more desperate this time around though ,

As a daily NPR listener I could sense the increased desperateness

[yellowwood]

2. So Give Them Some Money

NPR is the best radio news source there is. They deserve our support.

PBS, not so much.

[UndertheOcean]

4. Done , but alas that doesn't stop the guilt trip !

they have to do what they have to do, I understand

[Wickerman]

6. agreed

they are a shadow of their former self, but they are all we got on the radio. They provide some quality programming. "On the Media" often borders on brilliant.

As a decades long listener I think this is where they have come from:
Major govt funding until about the mid 90's.
Slash in funding = increase in fund-raising
Swing to the middle reflects need to bring in more donations
Swing to the middle is often seen as (or may, in some cases well be) swing to the right
The right, as a rule, doesn't donate.
The Left, discouraged or out and out pissed off, doesn't donate in the volume NPR needs
Fundraising increases
Economy is tanking, donations to all not for profits are down
Fundraising becomes more shrill

My solution is to donate and include a notation that I would appreciate them moving back to the middle. The true middle, not the hyperbolic middle of the nut jobs that squeal on the right.

[L0oniX]

7. "they are all we got on the radio" Dude ...Democracy Now.

[Wickerman]

8. Dude

Seriously? Not arguing that the show isn't great but the limited coverage and scant on-air hours pretty much makes it like comparing a twice weekly blog to the the NYT.

Not really worth the comparison.

[L0oniX]

12. Democracy Now ...5 days a week ...3 times a day ...here in Tampabay..

[Wickerman]

13. Again, hardly comparable

Rude Pundit = Yahoo News?

[L0oniX]

14. Better to have a small chunk of gold than to have to dig through the garbage for a dime.

[Wickerman]

15. It doesn't have to be either or

There is plenty of good on NPR. Since I can't get Dem Now on my car radio I am content to try to change the station I know and respect much of by writing in and tagging my donations. If I discarded all things that didn't meet my standards 100% of the time I'd live in cave. Perhaps that would be an improvement. :think:

Bitching and moaning and pithy, meaningless little slogans, I leave that shit to the Tea Party.

[L0oniX]

16. What ever.

[Warpy]

5. If they kick all the conservatives off their board

and go back to the programming we all supported before Stupid got into office, they'll be deluged with donations in gratitude.

As it is, I don't even have them on the clock radio any more. I was rudely awakened one morning in 2005 by one wingnut after another touting Stupid's destroy social security scam, ending up with the oily Ken Mehlman and no opposing voices. I felt like I needed a shower in engine degreaser after that one and promptly switched over to the classical station with its easier to take commercials for brokerages and Porsches.

The problem is that conservatives fucked up NPR like they fuck up everything else and that's one real reason their donations are down. The other is the fucked up economy.

[qb]

9. NPR sold its soul to corporations. They're not getting a dime from me.

Commercial media already has the right & middle covered. NPR is supposed to be the people's radio - an alternative to commercial radio - not some middle-of-the road crap.

[salvorhardin]

10. Just remember that NPR is not your local public radio station

Your local public radio station is distinct from NPR. They buy programming from NPR, but NPR does not set the policy and programming at your local station. That's largely up to the Programming Director and you. In fact, if your local station produces any local content, likely the hosts are all volunteers. It's called public radio for a reason and you can get involved. Just call your local station and ask how.

[qb]

11. All I hear when I turn it on is syndicated blather.

I actually stopped listening a long time ago.

[salvorhardin]

18. Then why not change it?

I think you missed my point. It's public radio. If you don't like the syndicated programming then why not get involved and help to change that?

[EFerrari]

17. NPR fell off my list when they desecrated the memory of Howard Zinn

by asking freakin' David Horowitz to write the obit.

They can f#ck off and die as far as I'm concerned.