Own A Slice Of Air

As most of my friends know, I work in radio. Not just any radio station, but an NPR-affiliated Public Radio station. "Public" meaning that we get much of our operating funds from our listening audience directly, in lieu of selling ads like commercial stations. Being dependent on public support means that twice a year we have to go on-air and ask for contributions... the dreaded semi-annual Fund Drive. You've seen these on public TV for years... they break out the live concert specials and all that to encourage folks to donate. Ours is a little different, in that we don't change our whole program schedule. It's still an extremely stressful time for everybody in the station as our daily routines get thoroughly hashed for a week and a half, shifts get longer, and of course there's the pressure of reaching the money goal.

Some people wonder why we do it. I know why I do it, and why I think my colleagues do it too. We do it because we believe that Public Radio offers the listener something that no other radio out let does. Whether it's news without the hype and hoopla, an old-fashioned on-stage live radio show (we air two such shows), or music you don't hear on pay-for-play, narrow-casted commercial radio (jazz, blues, classical). I (we) believe that it's important to have a place to find these things. If you've ever said "Hey, check out what I heard on NPR..." or if you've ever had one of those famous "driveway moments" when you just had to sit in the car til the end of the story... Pony up a buck or two to your local Public Radio station. Or heck, do me a fave and pony u a buck to mine. :) 800-654-4262 or www.apr.org

Now, I think I'm gonna find a couch to nap on...


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LOL long and prosper,
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