Re: Community Radio at the Crossroads

[Aaron Read <aread@speakeasy.net>]

The funddrives are a way of life....it was nice when WBUR could afford to 
do "more news, less fundraising" for a few years there when their 
underwriting was almost half their revenue intake (I hear it peaked at 
almost $10 million, just underwriting).   But a lot of that was dot-com and 
it all went away and is never never coming back again.   Now their 
underwriting is down to paltry levels and despite some record-breaking fund 
drives, they're on the verge of another round of layoffs.

Anyways, the MainePR vs. WERU sounds a lot like WOMR/Provincetown vs. 
WBUR/WUMB on the Cape.   Well, I suppose vs. WCAI/WNAN (WGBH) as 
well.   Somewhat less so.

FWIW - I agree with MainePR's decision to not carry Democracy Now.  While I 
heavily endorsed DN! to get on WZBC and was a major part of the team that 
made it happen, I would never advocate WUMB or WGBH or WBUR carry it.  Why 
should they?  It's a totally different style of journalism (one that's far 
too biased to be considered on the same par as NPR, IMHO) and doesn't fit 
well with a typical NPR News kind of format at all.   I do think it was a 
bit of a shame, though, that unlike WBUR vs. WZBC, there weren't enough 
non-comm stations in Maine that might carry DN! that more coverage of the 
state in general could've been achieved.

- Aaron


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron "Bishop" Read             aread@speakeasy.net
FriedBagels Consulting          AOL-IM: readaaron
http://www.friedbagels.com      Boston, MA


At 01:34 PM 7/5/2003, Rod O'Connor wrote:
>I find WERU 89.9 Blue Hill, and Maine Public Radio two entirely
>different entities.  Maine Pubic Radio is much more broad-based,
>catering to a more affluent, educated audience. It also serves the
>entire state, (Except for Northwestern Maine) whereas WERU serves only a
>relatively small portion of Mid-Coast and DownEast Maine.  WERU is much
>more locally-oriented and produced.  They feature much more in the way
>of local music and features. as well as a wider variety of music. They
>also heavily rely on local people and volunteers, not just on-air; but
>in other station functions. Although I do find myself listening to Maine
>Public Radio much more than WERU, there are some selected programs on
>WERU that one would NEVER find on Maine Public Radio..such as Democracy
>Now! Which created a bit of a flap duirng the height of the Iraq war,
>when Maine Public Radio refused to carry the program, leaving only WERU
>and WMPG in the Portland area to carry it. WERU also features a lot of
>bluegrass, folk and ethnic music. Something Maine Public Radio does not
>particularly highlight, with the exception of such Public Radio staples
>as World Cafe, Thistle and Shamrock, Echoes.
>Also, to their credit, WERU was recently voted one of the best radio
>stations in the country according to a poll in the newest issue of
>Esquire magazine. Something WERU is making every possible effort to
>publicize.
>
>Unfortunately, both WERU and Maine Public Radio have the dreaded
>fund-drives. Three a year for Maine Public Radio, and at least 4 on
>WERU.  A kiss of death to both, unfortunately.
>
>Rod O'Connor
>Southwest Harbor, Maine