The Truth, please?

Look at what I found on a page that was complaining about how bad pledge programming is on WABE.

From an anonymous WABE insider:

After Morning Edition goes off the air and we start broadcasting classical music, our listenership numbers go into the toilet. But, ironically, it is these loyal few listeners who support the station. And in a BIG way. Unfortunately, until people start being more vocal with their demand for more news/current affairs programming, and making sure the management realizes the money attached, things will not change. Not supporting the station is the wrong thing to do. When pledge comes up, call in and donate–but donate a SMALL amount, even if just a few dollars. Be sure to say that if your voice was heard, and there was more news (local and NPR), you would gladly give more. Believe me, if even just a handful of people do this, the highers-up will take note.

First of all, this insider is simply wrong. Radio listening habits across all formats experience a dip after 9am (which is the end of drive time) because the primary use of radio is in the car during morning and afternoon commutes. Of course this means that listening picks back up once people are commuting home in the afternoons. What I know from many years of looking at our radio ratings is that listening to classical music on WABE is on the rise. I have, in the last three plus years as host of Afternoon Classics, nearly doubled audience share from Noon-3pm, and the increase in arts coverage, thanks to my interviewing and editing skills, has been tremendous. I really hate to pat my own back, but I've simply had it with misinformation.

This is a curious quote, since our GM quoted this nearly verbatim once while talking to my boss, LR, saying that "listening goes in the toilet" at 9am. In addition, it is disheartening to know that there is someone inside this place that is spreading untruth as gospel and advocating for listeners to petition for a format change. We've been there, done that. Studies made by experts in the business concluded years ago that WABE was a healthy station, and changing the format to all news and talk could jeopardize our status. Also, the gains we have steadily made over the last few years in audience size has been due to increased listening in all hours from 5am-7pm, not due to the news programs alone.

Idiocy and betrayal make me so mad!

What my workplace could've done?

In commercial media outlets throughout the nation, they are firing highly paid anchors to save money. I make $36K a year, which in no way qualifies me for the highly paid category. So, why was I fired? It certainly is not for the quality of my work on the air or off the air. It seems that non-commercial radio is following suit, except, they are eliminating the four highest paid managers (probably because on-air talent is so rarely highly paid in public radio). Read here.

It seems to me that listeners develop relationships with the voices they hear on the air, and not the behind the scenes folks. Yet, the behind the scenes folks hold themselves often in a higher place than the on-air "talent." Actually, I've always resented being called "talent" beginning with my acting days. It makes me feel as if I've been given this "talent," and not that I am good because I've worked hard to make it look and sound easy. As a singer I strive to make what I do seem easy, and that only began to sound so after years of mindful study. What my workplace could have done is to preserve and nurture the listener-host relationship, first, rather than to disrupt it. An easy way to do so would not even have involved anyone getting fired. How about a pay cut for the four highest paid people? You can decide who they are by going here, where all non-profits post their tax returns.