Nice Above Fold - Page 412

  • Deep cuts at CBC spare shows airing on U.S. public radio

    Canada's public broadcasting network is eliminating 657 jobs after suffering cuts in federal funding and the loss of a broadcast license for National Hockey League games.
  • Kantor joins American Masters; Lacy christens production house

    A new executive producer is joining PBS’s biography series American Masters as the former e.p., show creator Susan Lacy, embarks on a new career as an independent filmmaker.
  • Some see decentralization as salve to Pacifica's fiscal, leadership woes

    As Pacifica Radio marked its 65th anniversary of broadcasting, foundation and station leaders are talking publicly about governance reforms that involve “decentralizing” control of its five stations. Pacifica National Board Chair Margy Wilkinson, who is battling for control of the Foundation with former executive director Summer Reese, discussed the proposal April 9 on KPFK-FM, the Pacifica station in Los Angeles. “There are real governance issues,” Wilkinson said during an appearance on the KPFK show Truthdig. “I think the way the foundation is put together does not make for a very highly functioning organization.” Though she didn’t wade into specifics, Wilkinson called for “some decentralization and some greater autonomy at the local stations.”
  • Tuesday roundup: RadioLoveFest; Public Integrity's Pulitzer; digital education doc series

    Plus: FiveThirtyEight crunches the numbers on Bob Ross, and noncom radio stations are on the rise.
  • Warring Pacifica factions take up court battle as financial woes mount

    The ongoing standoff over Pacifica’s leadership reached the California courts last week, opening what could become a protracted legal battle over the Pacifica Foundation board of directors’ decision to fire executive director Summer Reese. Reese, who has defied the board’s March 14 vote to fire her and taken up residence in Pacifica headquarters in Berkeley, filed a civil lawsuit in Alameda County, seeking a restraining order to reverse the board’s decision. During an April 9 hearing, Superior Court Judge Ioana Petrou denied the request by Reese and her supporters for a temporary restraining order on procedural grounds. Petrou will rule May 6 on Reese’s request for a temporary injunction to stay the board’s decision.
  • Monday roundup: Questions about WGBH income; VPT legal fees

    Plus: A Boston Marathon playlist, a professor accuses PBS of bias and Laura Poitras returns to the U.S.
  • Futures Forum to showcase practices for assessing pubmedia impact

    The Public Media Futures Forum, in collaboration with the Center for Investigative Reporting, will host “Understanding Impact,” a two-day discussion in Washington, D.C., April 17-18.
  • Marketplace Money out, Marketplace Weekend in at APM

    American Public Media is replacing its weekend personal finance show Marketplace Money with Marketplace Weekend, beginning June 28.
  • WFMT hits one-day pledge drive record using only music from one CD

    WFMT-FM in Chicago racked up 700 pledges in a six-hour period relying solely on listeners’ reactions to recorded performances of a Vera Gornostaeva, an 84-year old Russian pianist who spent most of her peak performing years trapped behind the Iron Curtain. WFMT ran a one-day pledge drive April 4 with the goal of collecting 700 pledges. For the drive, the station only played selections from a CD featuring recently remastered archived recordings of Gornostaeva performing compositions by Chopin. Listeners who pledged $40 received a copy of “Chopin Recitals” as a premium gift. WFMT played the CD four times, and pledges continued to pour in despite the repetition, according to Steve Robinson, g.m.
  • Friday roundup: Heartbleed poses danger for newsrooms; PRPD elects new chair

    Plus: KCETLink has some laughs, the CBC cuts more than 600 jobs and WCRB searches for a sonic logo.
  • House passes GOP budget zeroing CPB funding

    The spending plan, the House GOP's blueprint for balancing the federal budget by 2024, now goes to the Democratic-controlled Senate, which is widely expected to defeat it.
  • Thursday roundup: PBS promotes execs; Code Switch crowdsources poetry

    • PBS has promoted two of its programming execs. Michael Kelley, formerly v.p. of strategy and business affairs, ascends to s.v.p., programming and business affairs. In addition, Bill Gardner, formerly director of general audience programming, is now v.p. of programming and development, overseeing science, history, natural history, cultural and current events programming. Both joined PBS in 2012. “Mike’s strong business skills and strategic leadership coupled with Bill’s acute editorial judgment and significant development chops have been instrumental to the success of PBS, our producers and member stations nationwide,” Beth Hoppe, PBS chief programming executive, said in a statement. “These promotions recognize their programming vision and aim to set the team up for continued success.”