Once again it is "Beg-A-Thon" time on our local NPR affiliate. As I listen to this week's fund raising effort I hear continual lip service being paid to how important their listeners are. Of course I cannot hear that without my blood boiling when I recall the contempt and disregard General Manager & CEO Greg Petrowich showed members of the station's listening audience two years ago who protested his unilateral removal of several programs many valued for their non-mainstream perspective on the news.
I recall the summer afternoon when over 100 people turned-out on the University of Alaska campus to protest Petrowich 's autocratic managerial style. I was more than a little impressed that so many members of the community turned out -- for a community the size of Fairbanks, 100 protesters is nothing to sneeze at, that is unless you are Greg Petrowich.
I also recall when over 100 of us joined together during Beg-A-Thon that year and made a conditional pledge of over $40,000 to the station if Petrowich would restore the contested programing. But even then he would not budge.
It was this reticence and contempt, more than the actual cancellation of the news programs in question, that angered me with the decision. This is a pattern that has recurred in community after community across the nation as NPR affiliates have bent under pressure from political conservatives and corporations to limit the American people's access to perspectives on the news that does not kowtow to the corporate media line.
Today I called our local NPR affiliate and told them that as long as Greg Petrowich remanded Manager & CEO of the station I would continue to boycott donating during Beg-A-Thon.
jenn said,
October 18th, 2007 at 06:40 AM
I absolutely agree with the sentiment of this post. However, my feelings are a bit more, well, feely. I’m no longer mad at KUAC or Mr. Petrowich per se. In fact, for the last couple pledge drives, I’ve intended to pledge. I love This American Life after all. The problem is that before KUAC removed very popular shows from the air and acted contemptuously when people objected, I looked forward to pledge drive. I waited for the show I liked best (Counter Spin or This American Life) and I called in my pledge and it was ritualistic and I listened for names I recognized and when I heard them I’d mention it to those people the next time I saw them, and then I’d remind other people who might have forgotten that they needed to pledge too, and when goals were met I was happy and proud, and when they weren’t I was sad. I LOVED KUAC. I know this sounds a bit much, but that’s how it was. …Until Greg took Counter Spin off the air even though it was very popular, contemptuously refused to budge on the issue and even went so far as to stonewall requests for information regarding the decision. During those weeks, Greg showed that he didn’t care one bit about what I felt. Was it because he’d already crunched the numbers and realized my measly dollar a day meant nothing compared to the corporate dollars he’d already started to woo? Who knows, but my feelings are hurt, and I can’t get over it. For the first time ever, I’ve started turning off All Things Considered so as to avoid the endless solicitations. Because pledge drive is a drag and who wants to listen to that stuff?
clark said,
October 23rd, 2007 at 05:47 PM
It’s great what you guys are trying to do there. I’m from Anchorage and we have some pretty good radio choices. KSKA has all the NPR you could ever want, and they also used to run ‘Alternative Radio’ and a couple other worthwhile shows. And there is KNBA, with locally-produced music. And KRUA at UAA. And a lot of Pacifica network shows can be heard on KWMD, originating in Kasilof and rebroadcast in Anchorage. Best of all, for the last three years there has been KUDO, a commercial liberal talk station on the AM dial. They have Air America programs and no less than three local shows weekdays. And ‘Democracy Now’ and ‘LeShow’ among other worthwile political shows. Also, ‘America the Wild’, produced by a guy in Girdwood and also broadcast in Washington and Oregon. With all these choices, I haven’t listened to NPR since about when they canned Bob Edwards. It’s been so co-opted by the Bush administration that it’s now known in some circles as ‘National Republican Radio’. I also listen to a lot of streaming internet audio including Sam Seder, Rachel Maddow, Mike Malloy, Marc Maron and a few others.
Bruce A said,
October 26th, 2007 at 01:49 AM
Clark,
Thanks for mentioning “Le Show.” It has been ages since I have heard that one. I can’t recall where it was that I used to listen to, either Seattle or one of the several places I lived in Oregon. I’ve yet to listen to “Air America.” I wonder if iit’s programing would be “appropiate” to the F.O.R. format given that “Air America” is commercial.
clark said,
October 26th, 2007 at 08:52 PM
it depends on what you’re trying to do, i suppose. the fact is, Air America and others [Nova M radio, some of the shows on Jones Radio] are going further than even Pacifica in exposing other views and perspectives that mainstream media ignores and NPR obfuscates. it’s annoying to listen to the commercials, but an acceptable trade-off to hear the content. there’s nothing like Randi Rhodes or Mike Malloy anywhere in the noncommercial radio realm. one of my favorite Air America programs is ‘Ring of Fire’, hosted by Mike Papatonio and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. it runs on saturdays and sundays and is really a great weekly round-up and guest line-up.
Bonnie-Sue said,
November 1st, 2007 at 08:41 PM
I think Jenn is right when she says we all wanted to pledge support for our favorite shows, and that it’s our obligation to do so. But it’s possible to give to stations that value “community” instead of just giving to the one that happens to be in Fairbanks now. I am in Boulder, Colorado this year, and within one week of being here, KGNU, the Community radio station that once carried Independent Native News had contacted me, and had me and my family on the air to talk about the importance of community radio, of Native news, of Independent programs. They have offered us air time (yes, begged my sixteen year old to be a part of their youth produced radio show) and said the doors are open all day and night for ANYONE In the community who would like to use production rooms or equipment–anytime. Independent Native News was killed by KUAC over a year ago, but here in Colorado people are still calling in to say they appreciated the program, they miss it, and they would like to know how to get similar shows on the air. I didn’t know what to say to such support, considering I couldn’t even convince the station that was producing INN that it was valuable. That’s why it makes sense to keep doing the right things, but not to support the wrong stations with the wrong motives, there are simply other options. Good luck Fairbanks Open Radio, it’s a new day…
jenn said,
November 6th, 2007 at 03:24 AM
Bonnie-Sue, your experiences at KGNU are a real eye opener. It really drives home what we lost….and what we can have again!