Living Off The Public Troth

[jackandcoke]

It's not just audience perception that is the problem with corporate underwriting. Look at NPR's experience. In the late nineties, NPR became very aggressive about selling underwriting and brought in tens of millions in additional revenue. But rather than treat that revenue as "gravy," they factored those dollars into their operating budget and became dependent on it. Then, when the dot-com bubble burst and corporate support dropped dramatically, the found themselves in a bit of a financial bind. PBS is in similar circumstances. If public broadcasters aren't careful, they can become beholden to corporate interests, much the same as our elected representatives in Washington have become indebted to Corporate America. In the best of all worlds, public broadcasters are truly independent. If the University of Illinois has shown the wisdom to keep corporate influence over their public radio & TV stations at arms length this long (80 years?), they should be applauded. Underwriting may look like easy money, but ultimately there is a price to pay. And the price will always be too high.

 

[fred flintstone]

It's not just audience perception that is the problem with corporate underwriting. Look at NPR's experience. In the late nineties, NPR became very aggressive about selling underwriting and brought in tens of millions in additional revenue. But rather than treat that revenue as "gravy," they factored those dollars into their operating budget and became dependent on it. Then, when the dot-com bubble burst and corporate support dropped dramatically, the found themselves in a bit of a financial bind. PBS is in similar circumstances. If public broadcasters aren't careful, they can become beholden to corporate interests, much the same as our elected representatives in Washington have become indebted to Corporate America. In the best of all worlds, public broadcasters are truly independent. If the University of Illinois has shown the wisdom to keep corporate influence over their public radio & TV stations at arms length this long (80 years?), they should be applauded. Underwriting may look like easy money, but ultimately there is a price to pay. And the price will always be too high.

There is no free lunch.
All money comes with strings attached.
CPB money comes with political strings (and public radio is a constant political football).
Pledge money means putting on shows that make the phone ring. Shows that don't make the phone ring get dropped.
At least corporations are interested in the bottom line more than anything else. If public radio effectively delivers their message, they will keep coming.
There is no such thing as independence in radio (except for some small hobby stations - maybe).

 

[jackandcoke]

The (relative handful of) public stations operated by the mammoth public universities are probably the closest to being truly independent of corporate, membership, and even CPB influence. Within the context of a $3 billion-to-$5 billion annual budget, their broadcasting expenses are not viewed as prohibitive. Indeed, when considered part of a general educational outreach or community service effort, radio-TV-online activities are seen as money well-spent. Not that there isn't always some level of pressure from varying pockets of any university to do things this way or that way, or to do it less expensively. But compared to community licensees or governmental licensees, public broadcasting at Old State is as good as it gets.

 

[fred flintstone]

The (relative handful of) public stations operated by the mammoth public universities are probably the closest to being truly independent of corporate, membership, and even CPB influence. Within the context of a $3 billion-to-$5 billion annual budget, their broadcasting expenses are not viewed as prohibitive. Indeed, when considered part of a general educational outreach or community service effort, radio-TV-online activities are seen as money well-spent. Not that there isn't always some level of pressure from varying pockets of any university to do things this way or that way, or to do it less expensively. But compared to community licensees or governmental licensees, public broadcasting at Old State is as good as it gets.

Many (at least) universities expect their public radio stations to pay their own way - if not show a profit.
And if you don't think Universities are interested in having money come in, remember this is the Big 10 we are talking about.
Yes, the same Big 10 that won't allow a Division I-A football play-off because it would cut into their bowl revenues.
The residence halls are expected to make money.
Even the ice cream store is expected to make money.

 

[Mark_Giardina]

The issue here seems to center not as much on the dedication to public broadcasting as to how much money certain people make. I can tell you from experience that I worked 14 years for a public radio station and that it depended on who you were that determined ones salary.

For example the CEO/President at the station I worked for does make a six-figure salary, along with other perks that includes a new SUV every few years. There are a number of vice presidents and department heads that also pull down big bucks. (Averaging $60,000 a year) You add all that up and you're talking about a payroll just for five people in top management that surpasses over a 1/2 million dollars a year. Now that's serious money.

Before I continue I will say that while I didn't make what I thought I should have (does anyone?) I was paid a living wage. More importantly I loved the job and the people I worked for. Well with the exception of a few people whose names I won't mention on here. ;D

Anyways after reading some of the comments posted on this board, it is obvious that while there are some people who are multi-tasking and making little to show for it, there are others at the opposite end of the spectrum. My reply is, "so what's new about that?"

Tell me you haven't worked either in commercial or public radio where someone is pulling down big bucks and doing very little work while others are busting their humps and being underpaid? It happens everywhere.

I always felt that while it would be nice to make more money, going to a job you love to do, while being able to put food on the table, a roof over your head, and paying your bills, makes up for a lot of the bull one endures.

We can complain about salaries on here until the cows come home but the main point is that nobody is forcing people to stay in radio. I left fulltime three years ago and am making more money now than I ever would have I stayed where I was working. However because I missed the business so much I took a weekend job at another radio station because I enjoy radio so much.

You can't have your cake and eat it too is basically what I am saying. In this day and age when radio jobs are disappearing faster than David Letterman's hairline one should be happy to be gainfully employed. However if a person isn't happy what they are doing, or what they are being paid, then move on. But a word of advise from someone who knows. Once you shut one door, it's tougher than you think to get back in. Believe me I tried.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

The issue here seems to center not as much on the dedication to public broadcasting as to how much money certain people make. I can tell you from experience that I worked 14 years for a public radio station and that it depended on who you were that determined ones salary.

For example the CEO/President at the station I worked for does make a six-figure salary, along with other perks that includes a new SUV every few years. There are a number of vice presidents and department heads that also pull down big bucks. (Averaging $60,000 a year) You add all that up and you're talking about a payroll just for five people in top management that surpasses over a 1/2 million dollars a year. Now that's serious money.

Before I continue I will say that while I didn't make what I thought I should have (does anyone?) I was paid a living wage. More importantly I loved the job and the people I worked for. Well with the exception of a few people whose names I won't mention on here. ;D

Anyways after reading some of the comments posted on this board, it is obvious that while there are some people who are multi-tasking and making little to show for it, there are others at the opposite end of the spectrum. My reply is, "so what's new about that?"

Tell me you haven't worked either in commercial or public radio where someone is pulling down big bucks and doing very little work while others are busting their humps and being underpaid? It happens everywhere.

I always felt that while it would be nice to make more money, going to a job you love to do, while being able to put food on the table, a roof over your head, and paying your bills, makes up for a lot of the bull one endures.

We can complain about salaries on here until the cows come home but the main point is that nobody is forcing people to stay in radio. I left fulltime three years ago and am making more money now than I ever would have I stayed where I was working. However because I missed the business so much I took a weekend job at another radio station because I enjoy radio so much.

You can't have your cake and eat it too is basically what I am saying. In this day and age when radio jobs are disappearing faster than David Letterman's hairline one should be happy to be gainfully employed. However if a person isn't happy what they are doing, or what they are being paid, then move on. But a word of advise from someone who knows. Once you shut one door, it's tougher than you think to get back in. Believe me I tried.

While I agree with your post I must add that it is hypocritical of some public broadcasting operations to go before the public pleading poverty when some of their executives are being paid such high salaries.
I’m sorry but public broadcasting is supposed to be a not-for-profit organization. Please do not insult my intelligence, or the intelligence of others with the statement that, and I quote, “every dollar raised goes back into programming.” That is just an outright lie! Of course some of the money raised has to pay for salaries and expenses, but once again I find it shocking at the salaries some public broadcasting executives make.