Current (https://current.org/page/616/)
“I compare what I’m doing here to missionary work in the sense that the idea and knowledge of public radio isn’t well known in Guam,” says News Director Naina Rao.
The Writers Guild of America voted to authorize a strike if the current contract expires Thursday.
The University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents has returned a construction permit for a new Wisconsin Public Radio station in Niagara that would have extended the network’s reach to 39,000 additional people.
Activists on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques have renewed hope for launching a community radio station after getting a fundraising boost from allies in their community and on the U.S. mainland.
Miami’s WLRN confirmed that host and reporter Phil Latzman was dismissed July 16. Latzman hosted a weekly public affairs show on the station, according to his bio. Earlier this month, the station also dismissed news director Dan Grech. The blog Random Pixels first reported the news of Latzman’s dismissal. Latzman has not responded to a request for comment.
The next general manager of Idaho Public Television is Ron Pisaneschi, now its director of content. Pisaneschi takes over Aug. 5 from Peter Morrill, who announced his retirement in March. The State Board of Education announced Pisaneschi’s appointment today. “Idaho PTV is fortunate to have someone with Ron’s passion for public television and expertise in programming and operations ready to step up and lead the organization,” said Don Soltman, board president.
WGBH’s long-running documentary program is partnering with the Public Radio Exchange to develop a free app for iPad users.
Rick Schneider, president of WPBT in Miami, will take over as executive vice president and chief operating officer at WETA in September, the Arlington, Va., station announced today. Schneider will step into the position being vacated by longtime WETA exec Joe Bruns, who announced his retirement in April. WETA President Sharon Rockefeller said in the announcement, “I have worked alongside him in public broadcasting’s national organizations, and I know firsthand that Rick’s strong management experience is matched by his true dedication to public media. He brings with him superb knowledge of the national public broadcasting landscape and the complexities of managing a major-market station, and he shares our profound commitment to public service.”
Schneider will report to Rockefeller. He will supervise all senior managers as well as oversee WETA’s financial and administrative operations, local television and radio operations, fundraising, engineering and technical operations, communications, information technology, educational enterprises, and community and government relations.
A journalist and former employee of a Pacifica station diagnoses the network’s failure to attract listeners in an article in the Leftist Review. The election of President Barack Obama is in part to blame, writes Kellia Ramares-Watson, because it helped to mollify the network’s left-leaning audience. But she attributes much of the problem to programming. Stations, she writes, “need to stop their attempts to represent as many of the disparate groups in their audience as they can cram into 168 hours a week.” New York’s WBAI, she notes, aims to serve many audiences by programming hosts in monthly slots and narrowly targeting ethnic niches. The station faces severe layoffs due to chronic shortages of funds.
Nearly 85 percent of donors using mobile devices would like to be able to contribute more money using apps, according to a new survey of more than 20,000 users by the mGive Foundation, which advocates for mobile giving. Those donors would like to contribute $25 to $50 via text, up slightly (from 82 percent) in 2012. Currently, those donations are limited to $10. Respondents say they like using their mobile device to donate because it’s easy, convenient and gives them control. Also, they want more information from nonprofits via text, the survey found.
Boston’s WBUR joined NPR and other news outlets in advocating for more leniency when it comes to indecency standards, citing its reporting of the Boston Marathon bombing as an example.
American Public Media content is now available on iHeartRadio, Clear Channel’s customizable digital radio service with more than 1,500 live stations playing pop, country, urban and rock music as well as talk programming and college radio. Several APM shows also are running on iHeartRadio Talk, the specialty channel that launched today. In addition to APM’s Marketplace, The Splendid Table and A Prairie Home Companion, iHeartRadioTalk includes programming such as ABC’s Good Morning America, HuffPost Live, Bloomberg News and Motley Fool Money. The beta version of iHeartRadio Talk provides iOS and Android access, with full mobile functionality coming this fall. Also beginning today, iHeartRadio’s live-streaming stations include MPR News; Classical MPR; The Current, which targets younger listeners; Classical South Florida; Wonderground Radio, for kids; Local Current, featuring Minnesota-based music; Radio Heartland, with acoustic, Americana and roots selections; and Classical MPR’s Choral Stream.