Programs/Content

Wide-open market for podcasters: programs that feature, and appeal to, women

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AUSTIN, Texas — When podcasting stars gathered March 11 at the South by Southwest Interactive conference to discuss the challenges facing their medium, the lack of diversity among creative talents in podcasting — especially the dearth of women in hosting roles — was cited among the most perplexing problems.

A Feb. 26 editorial by Third Coast Audio Festival Director Julie Shapiro provided impetus for the discussion among a panel of four podcasters — each with ties to public media in the U.S. and Britain and one of whom was female.  In her commentary published last month by Transom, Shapiro questioned why only 20 of the top 100 iTunes podcasts are hosted by women. “There’s literally no barrier to entry, so I don’t know what that’s about,” said Roman Mars, creator and host of 99% Invisible, a podcast and pubradio series. Public media, which supports many of the most popular podcasts on iTunes, has a strong history of nurturing female talent, he said. He pointed out that the Third Coast Festival’s Award for Best New Artist has gone to a man only once in the past 10 years.

Development

Panel urges IRS to revisit its ‘antiquated’ nonprofit rules

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Delays in conferring 501(c)3 status to startup nonprofit news organizations have stymied development of new models for producing community-based journalism, exacerbating the shortage of locally produced news coverage, according to a report released March 4 by the Nonprofit Working Group of the Council on Foundations. The group was created by the Council on Foundations with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to study the impact of the Internal Revenue Service’s approach to granting nonprofit status to media organizations. The report described the IRS’s methods of granting tax-exempt status as outdated and criticized the agency for hobbling efforts to establish new local newsrooms.

“Our main finding is that the IRS is relying on antiquated rules — rules that were created in the 1960s and 1970s to determine whether groups should be given tax-exempt status,” said Steven Waldman, chair of the Nonprofit Media Working Group. “Not surprisingly, they don’t match modern realities.”

The group recommended several fixes to the IRS, including that it revise its criteria determining nonprofit status to qualify news and journalism as “educational” under tax-exempt rules. It also recommended that the IRS prohibit nonprofit news organizations from sharing ownership with shareholders or investors.

Programs/Content

Smiley plans “Latino Nation” symposium, to “re-examine assumptions”

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Public broadcaster Tavis Smiley is co-sponsoring a daylong symposium for discussion of issues of importance to the Latino community, modeled on his State of the Black Union gatherings. The April 6 event at Chicago State University, “Latino Nation: Beyond the Numbers,” is the first time that “such a diverse and representative group of Latinos discusses its broad agenda on a national stage,” said Antonio Gonzalez, president of the co-sponsoring William C. Velásquez Institute, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Smiley said that the “exponential growth” of the Latino community “demands that we re-examine the assumptions we hold to create new ideas and possibilities for a better, more united tomorrow.”

Agenda topics include health care, climate change, education, jobs and immigration. The participants, still being finalized, feature Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Margaret Moran, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, and actress Eva Longoria. Smiley had sponsored State of the Black Union gatherings nationwide for 10 years, calling them “a pulse check on how African Americans were fairing economically, politically and socially.” He ended the events in 2010, saying that communication and activism on the Internet reduced the need for an annual in-person meeting.

People

APTS recognizes Barbara Mikulksi and Greg Walden, gives innovation and advocacy awards

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The Association of Public Television Stations handed out Champions of Public Broadcasting awards during its Public Media Summit in Washington, D.C., Feb 24–26, recognizing Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) and Oregon Rep. Greg Walden (R). APTS also gave EDGE Awards to Twin Cities Public Television and New Jersey’s NJTV and recognized individuals with Advocacy Awards. Mikulski, who replaced recently deceased Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has been an ardent defender of public broadcasting in the Senate and was a vocal defender of the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program before it was eliminated in 2011. As chair of the House Energy Subcommittee on Communications and the Internet, Walden has helped secure federal aid for public broadcasters to help defer costs related to spectrum legislation. As he accepted his award, he told summit attendees that increased competition from cable and digital channels has made public TV less relevant to television viewers, and he suggested that public broadcasters support cuts to government-entitlement programs in order to salvage their own funding.

Programs/Content

Pubradio backs musical acts at SXSW festival

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Public radio will be well-represented at the musical portion of the annual South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, March 13–16. The NPR Music showcase March 13 will feature the Yeah Yeah Yeahs performing new songs from their forthcoming album Mosquito, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Mexican rockers Café Tacvba and others. Audio of the live set at 8 p.m. Eastern will be offered for station broadcast and distributed online; NPR Music will also offer a live video stream through its website and mobile apps. Café Tacvba will put in double duty and appear in a March 14 showcase arranged by NPR Music’s Alt.Latino channel, along with Molotov, also from Mexico. Rounding out the lineup is Bajofondo, a band led by Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla, who has scored films including Brokeback Mountain and The Motorcycle Diaries.

People

Briscoe no longer at Newark’s WBGO-FM

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Thurston Briscoe is no longer at WBGO-FM in Newark, N.J. His last day was Friday. The news was first reported on the blog of the Public Radio Program Directors Association. Briscoe had served as the station’s program director for 23 years. When asked by Current whether Briscoe left willingly or was dismissed, General Manager Cephas Bowles said only, “Let us say that he is no longer at the station. That’s our position right now.”

Programs/Content

The name needs revamping, but podcasts are here to stay

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If you’re a public radio station without a plan for how to take advantage of the remarkably flexible and creative platform of podcasting — a platform that leverages your existing skills better than anything else in new media — you need to think again.

Programs/Content

PBS pushes message of digital innovation at SXSW

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During a March 10 appearance at the South by Southwest Interactive conference, PBS President Paula Kerger talked the talk of digital innovation, pointing to the network’s recent successes with web-original videos, social media messaging and the unparalleled popularity of online content tied to PBS Kids.

Programs/Content

POV and StoryCorps each receive $1 million from MacArthur Foundation

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American Documentary, home to PBS’s independent film showcase POV, and StoryCorps, the oral history project heard on NPR, are each receiving $1 million from the MacArthur Foundation’s latest round of Awards for Creative and Effective Institutions. The grants, awarded to 13 recipients in five countries, help ensure the long-term sustainability of each organization, according to the foundation. “The award is not only recognition for past leadership and success but also an investment in the future,” the Chicago-based foundation said in the Feb. 28 announcement. “Organizations will use this support to build cash reserves and endowments, develop strategic plans and upgrade technology and physical infrastructure.”

Organizations do not apply for the awards; rather, MacArthur nominates and selects them.

Quick Takes

Iowa PTV Board picks Molly Phillips as new general manager

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The Iowa Public Television Board on March 8 selected Molly Phillips, the station communications director, to become its new general manager, reports the Indianapolis Star. She takes over from Dan Miller, who retired last year after 37 years at IPTV following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. The other finalist, Greg Schnirring, CPB’s vice president for radio, withdrew from consideration last week, the newspaper reported. “His statement to our board president was that after doing a lot of thinking it just wasn’t a fit,” said Jennifer Konfrst, a spokeswoman for IPTV.

Programs/Content

Michele Norris shares details of her Race Card Project at SXSW

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AUSTIN, Texas — Former All Things Considered co-host Michele Norris discussed details of her Race Card Project during a March 9 panel at the South by Southwest Interactive conference. The project, which began during a 2010 book tour promoting her memoir The Grace of Silence, is a conversational tool in which Norris facilitates an ongoing dialogue about race. She distributes physical “race cards” to participants, who are asked to write their thoughts on race in six words or fewer and mail the cards back to Norris (whose parents were both U.S. postal workers). Norris then compiles the responses onto a website. Norris initiated the project as she was traveling the country to promote her book and found herself discussing highly charged moments of her family’s history in front of audiences.

Public Media Policybase

CPB appropriations by year

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This is CPB’s account of its history of annual appropriations since its founding in more than 40 years ago. Figures shown represent millions of dollars (for example, $5.0 = $5 million). More recent figures may be posted by CPB. Fiscal Year
Admin. Request
House Allocation
Senate Allocation
Appropriation

1969
$9.0
(b)
$6.0
$5.0

1970
$15.0
(b)
$15.0
$15.0

1971
$22.0
(b)
$27.0
$23.0

1972
$35.0
$35.0
$35.0
$35.0

1973
$45.0
$45.0
$45.0
$35.0

1974
$45.0
(b)
$55.0
$50.0

1975
$60.0
$60.0
$65.0
$62.0

1976
$70.0
$78.5
$78.5
$78.5

TQ (a)
$17.0
$17.5
$17.5
$17.5

1977
$70.0
$96.7
$103.0
$103.0

1978
$80.0
$107.1
$121.1
$119.2

1979
$90.0
$120.2
$140.0
$120.2

1980
$120.0
$145.0
$172.0
$152.0

1981
$162.0
$162.0
$162.0
$162.0

1982
$172.0
$172.0
$172.0
$172.0

1983
$172.0
$172.0
$172.0
$137.0

1984
$110.0
$110.0
$130.0
$137.5

1985
$85.0
$130.0
$130.0
$150.5

1986
$75.0
$130.0
$130.0
$159.5

1987
$186.0
(b)
$238.0
$200.0

1988
$214.0
(b)
$214.0
$214.0

1989
$214.0
$214.0
$238.0
$228.0

1990
$214.0
$238.0
$248.0
$229.4

1991
$214.0
(b)
$245.0
$245.0

1992
$242.1
$242.1
$260.0
$251.1

1993
$259.6
$259.6
$275.0
$259.6

1994
$260.0
$253.3
$284.0
$275.0

1995
$275.0
$271.6
$310.0
$285.6

1996
$292.6
$292.6
$320.0
$275.0

1997
$292.6
(b)
$330.0
$260.0

1998
$296.4
$240.0
$260.0
$250.0

1999
$275.0
$250.0
$250.0
$250.0

2000
$325.0
$300.0
$300.0
$300.0

2001
$340.0
$340.0
$340.0
$340.0

2002
$350.0
$340.0
$350.0
$350.0

2003
$365.0
$365.0
$365.0
$362.8

2004
(c)
$365.0
$395.0
$377.8

2005
(c)
$380.0
$395.0
$386.8

2006
(c) (d)
$335.0
$400.0
$396.0

2007
(c) (d)
$400.0
$400.0
$400.0

2008
(c) (d)
$400.0
$400.0
$393.0

2009
(c) (d)
none
$400.0
$400.0

2010
(c) (d)
$420.0
$420.0
$420.0

2011
(c)
$430.0
$430.0
$429.1

2012
$440.0
$440.0
$450.0
$444.1

2013
$460.0
$460.0
$460.0
$445.0

2014
$451.0
none
$445.0
$445.0

Notes
(a) Transition Quarter funding, during which federal budget year changed from July to September.

Quick Takes

Brenda Michelle Box Johnson dies; was NPR newscast editor

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NPR Newscast Editor Brenda Michelle Box Johnson died Thursday following a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 58. A statement from NPR said that since her arrival in 2003, Box had “shaped the sound” of NPR newscasts. “Brenda had an exacting eye and a natural, comfortable way in her dealings with reporters and correspondents, distinguishing her as the type of consummate editor that most organizations can only dream of,” said Robert Garcia, NPR newscast executive producer. “Anyone who ever dealt with Brenda knows what a special and unique person she was; equal parts outspoken and hilarious, brilliant and fun and warm and self-deprecating.”

Prior to working at NPR, Johnson was a  a Capitol Hill correspondent for USA Today Broadcasting/Gannett News Service, an anchor for United Press International and the NBC/Mutual Radio networks, and a reporter for West Virginia Public Radio and WTOP in Washington, D.C.

Johnson also was active with the Wilderness Society and the National Wildlife Federation.

People

Phil Estrada Olvera Jr., OPB engineer

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Felipe “Phil” Estrada Olvera Jr., a network center director of engineering at Portland-based Oregon Public Broadcasting, died Jan. 19 of complications from cancer. He celebrated his 55th birthday just six days earlier.

Quick Takes

Salon.com cites Juan Williams’ “plagiarism problem”

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Salon.com is reporting what it calls “a case of apparent plagiarism” by former NPR Correspondent Juan Williams, now a Fox News political analyst. The site said that Williams lifted “sometimes word for word” from a Center for American Progress (CAP) report, without attribution, for a Hill newspaper column that carried his byline last month. Nearly two weeks after publication the column was revised online, Salon said, and citations to the report were added. A Hill editor’s note told readers of the revisions “to include previously-omitted attribution” to CAP. Williams told Salon that a researcher was to blame.

Quick Takes

KPLU-FM host’s sweet idea inspires local Girl Scouts

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Dick Stein, Midday Jazz host on KPLU-FM in Tacoma, Wash., experiences a conundrum every spring over cookies — Girl Scout Cookies, that is. “I always buy a carton the very first day I encounter the kids outside the supermarket,” Stein said in a press release. “Next trip, I might even buy another. But that’s it. I can only buy so many.

Jazz

Pittsburgh Public Media acquires W.Va. FM station for jazz programming

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The FCC has approved the sale of a West Virginia college station to Pittsburgh Public Media, a jazz webcaster run by former employees of the city’s defunct WDUQ-FM. PPM will pay $135,000 for the 1,100-watt WVBC-FM, currently operated by Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va. It plans to switch the station at 88.1 MHz to a jazz format starting in April, says Chuck Leavens, PPM president. The station now airs music and college sports. PPM was established in 2010 in a bid to buy WDUQ, which broadcast both NPR News and jazz to southwestern Pennsylvania.

Quick Takes

NCME report says pubmedia needs better impact measurement

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Public media has no standardized impact measurement practices or frameworks, and having just one approach is not realistic for all outlets, according to a new report provided by the National Center for Media Engagement based on research by San Francisco-based LFA (Learning For Action) Group, which works to increase impact and sustainability in the nonprofit sector. “This report confirms much of the conventional wisdom about the lack of use, or convergence, around a single measurement framework – or for that matter agreement on what constitutes impact,” the report notes. It advises that public media must better define “impact,” face the tensions that exist over public media’s responsibilities, prioritize mission, and collaborate on resources to lower costs. The report and accompanying tools are available on NCME’s website.

Quick Takes

WGBH, Amazon Studios collaborating on kids’ math series pilot

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WGBH in Boston is partnering with Amazon Studios, the content production arm of mega-retailer Amazon.com, on a pilot for an original children’s math series, Sara Solves It, Amazon Studios announced today. Executive producers are Carol Greenwald of Curious George, Arthur and Martha Speaks, and Angela C. Santomero of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why! and Blue’s Clues. The series is one of 12 pilots currently in production by Amazon Studios. Each will be posted on Prime Instant Video and Amazon Instant Video for free viewing.