Development
Stations look to increase retention as trends for new donors cause concern
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“If new donors continue declining overall, that means retention of those donors is going to be more important than ever.”
Development
Survey illuminates generational differences in values motivating donors
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Members ages 58 and younger want access to more on-demand programming, and they’re willing to pay more for it.
Development
Public TV sustainer growth may be slowing, but still shows progress
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Sustainers “are still the best possible source of membership revenue,” said Michal Heiplik of Contributor Development Partnership.
Development
CUNY students brainstorm ways for public media to build membership
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Rather than starting by looking at pubmedia’s content, the students were told to determine the community’s needs by listening to the audience.
System/Policy
New models for public media membership: Melody Kramer’s Nieman report
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How can we encourage people to become invested in the future of public media, both as listeners and as members?
"The Pub" Podcast
The Pub, Ep. 8: Public media’s true biases; reconsidering the membership model
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On this week’s podcast: Can “membership” in public media mean more than just money for tote bags?
Quick Takes
Monday roundup: PBS, NPR ombuds address Gaza reporting; commercial TV station tries memberships
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• Public media’s coverage of the conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip has some audience members questioning news outlets’ objectivity. Last week, PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler and NPR Ombudsman Edward Schumacher-Matos published a total of three blog posts about coverage of the battle between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas, rounding up complaints from readers with diverging criticisms.
Getler focused on the PBS NewsHour’s coverage of the conflict in his two reports. In the first, he fielded complaints about the show’s selection of guests and its usage of the term “occupied.” The second column concerned Gwen Ifill’s interview with a UNICEF specialist regarding civilian casualties in Gaza, which Getler said prompted more mail than any segment since the conflict started. Schumacher-Matos took a broader view of NPR’s reporting on Gaza within Morning Edition, All Things Considered and newscasts, touching on subjects such as guest selection and the religious affiliations of the network’s on-the-ground reporters.
People
With board support gone, KBOO leader calls it quits
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The Portland community station has new leadership at the top and on its board after a failed bid to revamp workplace practices.
Development
Basic memberships: More trouble than they’re worth?
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Basic memberships offered during pledge drives and in direct-mail appeals are a time-tested enticement for converting pubcasting viewers and listeners into contributors, but station-based development staff are perplexed about how to set the rate for this donation level. Some pubcasters are weighing whether to stop offering basic memberships altogether. A survey conducted this fall by Plymouth, Mass.–based direct-marketing consultant DMW Direct found that most stations charge below $50 for a basic membership, and few have adjusted the rate within the last five years. The basic median rate among the 41 public TV and radio stations that participated in the survey is $40, but 16 stations reported to DMW that they charge less. These rates are far below average gift amounts for public stations.