Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Just say 'no' to NPR support
Now that Michael Jackson is “not guilty,” broke and thinking of going on tour again, you have to ask yourself the question, “Who really cares?” And, as far as Al Franken running for a Senate seat, you have to ask yourself the question, “Who really cares?”
Plus, there is an email going around asking people to sign a petition so that the government can give money to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System, otherwise known as, respectively, NPR and PBS.
Since NPR was so rude to independent broadcasting by denying us access to their “free” news broadcasts (check our archives for a show we did on the subject of “the empty suits at NPR who claim to be liberal but will not condone independent broadcasting”) and yet have joined the podcast fad quicker than a city rat eats through a parking meter, we suggest you write back to whoever sends you such an email as we have:
Dear NPR supporters,
As a working member of the internet broadcasting world, I could not care less if the government gives NPR a penny. NPR would not, after all, support internet radio by allowing us to use their "free" news reports. Seems that their worries were the kind we expect from commercial broadcasters. They not only denied access, they encouraged me to "rat" on anyone who was using their stream on internet radio. Does the "N" in NPR stand for Nazi?
No signatures, no money and, until they recognize the new medium we work in, no verbal support. I have already editorialized on their corporate-like behavior. I could care less now if they tank. From here on in, let them come to us with an olive branch. We who work for nothing, we who campaign for non-commercial corruption and we who pioneer the new frontier of communications.
Frank Cotolo
Cotolo Chronicles
Plus, there is an email going around asking people to sign a petition so that the government can give money to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System, otherwise known as, respectively, NPR and PBS.
Since NPR was so rude to independent broadcasting by denying us access to their “free” news broadcasts (check our archives for a show we did on the subject of “the empty suits at NPR who claim to be liberal but will not condone independent broadcasting”) and yet have joined the podcast fad quicker than a city rat eats through a parking meter, we suggest you write back to whoever sends you such an email as we have:
Dear NPR supporters,
As a working member of the internet broadcasting world, I could not care less if the government gives NPR a penny. NPR would not, after all, support internet radio by allowing us to use their "free" news reports. Seems that their worries were the kind we expect from commercial broadcasters. They not only denied access, they encouraged me to "rat" on anyone who was using their stream on internet radio. Does the "N" in NPR stand for Nazi?
No signatures, no money and, until they recognize the new medium we work in, no verbal support. I have already editorialized on their corporate-like behavior. I could care less now if they tank. From here on in, let them come to us with an olive branch. We who work for nothing, we who campaign for non-commercial corruption and we who pioneer the new frontier of communications.
Frank Cotolo
Cotolo Chronicles
Comments:
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There was a time when NPR and PBS were necessary. There were a limited number of stations, and only three television networks.
But now that the alternative media is here, that argument doesn't apply any more.
Maybe NPR and PBS will find some real economies in not having to kowtow to Congress and run up the hill and genuflect every time some conservative is offended by something on the public media that they vowed they'd fund but not control.
Maybe sharing news will become a lot more intruiging when they have to depend on listeners and other "alternative" media. That was what they were supposed to be, and the early government money was just supposed to be seed money until they could build a truly listener supported system.
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But now that the alternative media is here, that argument doesn't apply any more.
Maybe NPR and PBS will find some real economies in not having to kowtow to Congress and run up the hill and genuflect every time some conservative is offended by something on the public media that they vowed they'd fund but not control.
Maybe sharing news will become a lot more intruiging when they have to depend on listeners and other "alternative" media. That was what they were supposed to be, and the early government money was just supposed to be seed money until they could build a truly listener supported system.
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