More On-Air Personnel Changes Forthcoming at WXXI?

[Paul_Warren]

...So EOE is not discrimination at all, it's counter-discrimination to help re-balance the equation. If "discrimination is discrimination" across the board, then by definition every business should have approximately the same percentage of minorities working at it that are present in the local population...because you wouldn't have any discrimination based on race...

I have no idea what's going on in public radio there, but please understand that racial discrimination happens anytime two people are treated differently due to race, in whichever direction it is. Affirmative Action is two wrongs to make a right, in kinda the same sense as a prison sentence.

Imagining that only racial discrimination in the hiring process has caused an imbalance in the racial makeup of an industry is ridiculous, whether it's radio or the NBA. If you want to talk about inequality in educational opportunities, that might be a worthwhile discussion, but even that's more about economics than race.

Ask anyone who's programmed a commercial, adult-formatted station in a medium market the extreme measures needed to find people of color willing to even fill out an application, necessary so the FCC's percentage-based quota evaluations wouldn't wind up taking your license.

Back to the "EOE" thing in the ads that started this, it is neither an admission of preference for female/minority nor evidence of open-mindedness. It's simply CYA for the day you're hauled into court by someone who feels slighted, and you have to prove you were trying. Plenty of ads looking for a midday VT'er or morning sidekick come right out and say, "EOE...but we'd sure like to hear from qualified female applicants."

 

[TheBigA]

Back to the "EOE" thing in the ads that started this, it is neither an admission of preference for female/minority nor evidence of open-mindedness. It's simply CYA for the day you're hauled into court by someone who feels slighted, and you have to prove you were trying.

No. Wrong. It's a federal law. If you have more than 6 employees, you must state this in your job offering, period. Not CYA. And it must be in your public file. This is not the station's rule, this is not a public broadcasting rule, but rather this is the US government rule.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

WXXI's most recent IRS form 990 at guidestar.org -- for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 -- lists contributions from government grants as $3,848,386 out of a total contribution total of $9,729,804.

Bob was talking about the RADIO side, which at most medium and major markets, the federal funding from CPB and other sources is usually a relatively small part of the overall budget. 5 to 10% is common. It's hurt to lose that money, but it probably wouldn't be even close to fatal.

For TV, on the other hand, it varies a lot more. For example, some pubTV stations are under state mandates to provide certain programming and thus receive state funding to do it...and that state funding is drying up mighty fast lately but the mandates are still staying in place. TV is also inherently more expensive to produce than radio so you tend to see more medium (and even some major) market stations where gov't funding makes up a bigger part of the budget. And even then it just varies. There's states where their pubTV stations get zero state funding...there's states where they get a TON of state funding. (shrugs)

To be clear, of course, WXXI operates multiple radio stations AND operates a TV station as well. Internally, AFAIK, each side (radio vs TV) has its own budget...but when you file with the IRS, things get aggregated.

FWIW, I'd be hesitant to read too much into any pubTV's guidestar reports for the years between, oh, let's say 2006 to 2009 (give or take) because a lot of stations were getting significant one-time funding for the DTV migration.

I just love it when pub-radio folks back peddle when it comes to the issue of federal funding. The 990 tax form on the station's website states that WXXI received over three million dollars in federal funding; thats money from taxpayers who don't necessarily desire to contribute to public broadcasting but are forced too. Yet notice how Mr. Geneva Public Radio is using double-speak as a way to justify this federal funding? In other words "we get don't get that much federal dollars, but we do get some federal monies. So which is it? Either you get federal funds or you don't? The 990 tax forms submitted for public consumption clearly states the station does receive taxpayer dollars.

Disagree with me all you like but the truth is that pub-broadcasting stations, like WXXI, are still being fed from the government teat while crying poverty. Meanwhile some station executives are making more money than the Governor of New York State, while going on the airwaves begging for more dollars in order not to take away popular programs.

When does the hypocrisy stop? :

 

[Bob1370]

"When does the hypocrisy stop?"

When the inaccuracy of critics' attacks ends. Fact is, we/re talking about radio here, and that's getting nothing from Uncle Sam. If you see federal money on the statement it's money directed at children's educational programming on TV during the day, which doesn't attract a lot of underwriting and doesn't attract an audience that's able to pledge. Costs money to buy it, and it's easier to use Uncle Sam as a source and pass-through than ask parents who often can't afford the extra donations to get programs for their pre-K and primary grade kids. Hey, your choice...you want to strangle Elmo and shoot Big Bird, you explain it to the kids...and for that matter, explain to them why you'd rather they see adult daytime soaps, Law and Order SVU reruns, or Jerry Springer while they're at home...that'd be an educational experience of a different kind, and hardly one we'd want most of our kids to have.

 

[TheBigA]

thats money from taxpayers who don't necessarily desire to contribute to public broadcasting but are forced too.

That's not the point. Billions of taxpayer dollars go to things they don't want, but are forced to. Did I want a Lawrence Welk Museum? No. But it got federal funding. That's how the government works. THEY decide how your money is spent. Not you. They spend your money in ways that suits their agenda. The government gets certain things in exchange for their federal funding. Things they want and need. When these newbie legislators learn how the game is played, they'll back off. Don't like it? There's room for you next to the unibomber.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Wow. All this because WXXI tried to hire a staffer. Almost makes you think that there are people out there who have their own agendas.

 

[heydaybegone]

I'll have my All Things Considered with large fries, please...

Opportunity presents itself here...Bob1370...surely you jest!!...ergo you have humor!! I recant my earlier post!! ;D

Bygones

I now add to the discussion! I have ALWAYS had an issues with the ways & means of funding Public Broadcasting (no secret here to anyone that pays attention to my posts). BUT..having said that...I can give them their due. Here goes...

The "programs of interest TO ME" are broadcast ONLY during the fundraising sweeps I cannot see programming that is interesting to me during "regular" programming seasons. Youze (WNY Speak) folks reading this know what I mean!! Do they run the Labinski produced oldies reunions anytime OTHER than to raise bucks? (used only as an example) NOPE.

As to the EOE statutes...that's a fact of life none of us have ever been able to touch. Bottom line was "9 out of 10 times" the decision was made before even posting the opening. (disclaimer:there were exceptions)

HDBG

 

[cee]

money from taxpayers who don't necessarily desire to contribute to public broadcasting but are forced too.

I don't desire to contribute my tax dollars to endless wars that put a lot of money into big war profiteering corporation's pockets, but there seems to be little I can do about it.

I think federal funds for children's TV programming is a better use of my tax money.

But we'll all never agree on everything.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Just as a follow-up to my original post.

WXXI had advertised a job opening for an afternoon news anchor on their website and others.
Just as I suspected, and what was later proven by a very reliable source, is that while this position was posted, the job had already been filled by someone from New York City with little to no on-air radio experience. Oh I forgot to mention, this person is a female and didn't have to go through a committee-style interview process like the station made other applicants go through in the past.

Like I said EOE is a wonderful thing; unless of course one is a middle-aged white male.

Speaking of middle-age white males, it might interest you that one of the people who applied for this job had more than 30 years of experience in public radio and was a former employee of the station. However this person's background apparently didn't matter because he was of the wrong gender.

 

[cee]

If it's any consolation, she's probably making crap pay.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

If it's any consolation, she's probably making crap pay.

At least she is getting paid. The more qualified person who applied for the job is not employed and without health insurance.

At this rate WXXI's credibility will erode over time as the older, more experienced, employees leave and these new hires take over.

 

[TheBigA]

I hate to point out the obvious, but even you were young and inexperienced once.

 

[cee]

At least she is getting paid. The more qualified person who applied for the job is not employed and without health insurance.

At this rate WXXI's credibility will erode over time as the older, more experienced, employees leave and these new hires take over.

I'm as critical as the next person on this board regarding the "cheaping down of radio" - but they're no worse than anyone else these days. Everyone hear should be familiar with the old nickname "Cheap Channel."

Since so many radio jobs pay crap, including this news job, the more qualified people are making a big mistake not making plans for a career change. Not a lot of good job opportunities in radio, commercial and non commercial.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

I hate to point out the obvious, but even you were young and inexperienced once.

You are absolutely correct; I was young and inexperienced once. However back then the hiring procedure didn't include a quota system either.

So tell me if you were in a position to hire someone for a job who would you select? A person with experience, but fails to meet EOE, or someone with no experience, but does fall into the EOE guidelines?

Personally I am a firm believer of giving someone a chance at a job. Yet I am totally opposed to hiring someone just because they fit a particular federal requirement when it comes to gender or the pigmentation of their skin.

 

[cee]

Oh I forgot to mention, this person is a female and didn't have to go through a committee-style interview process like the station made other applicants go through in the past.

Like I said EOE is a wonderful thing; unless of course one is a middle-aged white male.

Wait, hold on. You're assuming here that she didn't have to go through the committee interview because she is female. Like the station made other applicants go through in the past. "In the past" indicates not this current position, but previous hires over the years. Maybe this has been waived because they just want to hire someone on the cheap. I don't know. I didn't know they had a committee interview thing.

I don't know what goes on at WXXI, I do know there's probably no need for emphasis on female hiring quotas anymore as most stations want gender diversity. I don't think(or would like to think) most employers(at least around here) have a problem with hiring minorities anymore either, so I would agree that affirmative action should probably be re-addressed.

Yet I am totally opposed to hiring someone just because they fit a particular federal requirement when it comes to gender or the pigmentation of their skin.

WXXI, like all employers, has to obey the laws. Again, perhaps affirmative action should be re-addressed. Perhaps employers should just provide records that they make every effort to solicit applications for females and minorities. BUT there was a time people of color and women couldn't get hired for many jobs. I never thought it was good PR for the government to be mandating hiring quotas, but employer bigotry brought this on.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Maybe she has superior SUV driving skills and a chauffeur's license.

 

[cee]

Maybe she has superior SUV driving skills and a chauffeur's license.

LOL.

 

[Bob1370]

"Maybe she has superior SUV driving skills and a chauffeur's license."

No, our new afternoon anchor has ample broadcast experience, including production and writing experience at CBS News in New York. We got her from the production staff of 48 Hours.

She is, frankly, OVERqualified for the gig. And sounds good on the air too, major market-level air sound. We got lucky.

 

[SirRoxalot]

I meant no disrespect to your new hire, Bob. I'm in Buffalo, and I haven't heard her. The attempt at humor was directed elsewhere.

 

[cee]

Looks like we did a lot of speculation based on assumption. My apologies for assuming this was an entry level hire.