New NPR Program Changes

[TheBigA]

There was some speculation about what the new NPR CEO would do once he started work. He hasn't wasted any time.

The most interesting change is a regular daily insert on the Morning Marketplace Report within Morning Edition. In a way, that might be like a 60 Minutes feature within The Today Show. But this is public radio, and they play nice there. NPR will also add more frequent newscasts to ME.

More from Current:

http://www.current.org/2014/06/prop...orning-newscasts-longer-underwriting-credits/

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

My local NPR station has already been doing at the local level what the network now plans to do without it being hybrid operation. I personally find the mix to be an excellent choice. My guess is that many listeners will not welcome the change.

Isn't it interesting. About time we think NPR has become a mature product.... that they have found their place, their niche... they go about re-inventing the wheel yet again... one more time.

Maybe some other segments of the COMMERCIAL broadcasting world should try the pattern... not copy the NPR programming... but copy the "innovation and creativity and flexibility" pattern.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I don't really care for the proposed "Morning Edition" clock at all ... it proposes three 90 sec local newscasts with a fourth at 1'54". Barely enough time to tell a story and give the weather or traffic and a funding credit or two.

But, this clock would probably allow NPR to drop "Morning Edition" from 3 newscasters to 1 since the duration of news windows shrink from 11'14" to 8'40".

The ATC clock seems like a minor change.

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

The added ME newscast inserts remind me of the structure used for the Weekend Edition broadcasts. I always figured those newscasts were added simply because there wasn't enough long form content.

I don't dislike it, but I think it's going to take a good while for listeners to get used to it because of already ingrained expectations.

 

[TheBigA]

But, this clock would probably allow NPR to drop "Morning Edition" from 3 newscasters to 1 since the duration of news windows shrink from 11'14" to 8'40".

I don't think the goal for the change was to cut staff, but rather to provide the top stories more often in an hour, keeping with short attention spans, and shorter commutes.

 

[FredLeonard]

NPR gives up! They've been doing a business news segment all along and very few stations carry it. Almost all pull out to take Marketplace Morning Report. Some even pull out of the arts and culture segment during the other hour to take a second feed of Marketplace Morning Report. NPR just decided to stop throwing money away on the business segment and surrendered to the inevitable.

Most stations will probably stick something local in those middle of the half-hour news segments, as well. Look for pieces on health news, sponsored by some drug company. Or financial news sponsored by some investment or "wealth-management" company. More opportunities for stations to turn public radio into one big infomercial.

This isn't about listeners. This is about the stations, which control NPR.

 

[TheBigA]

This isn't about listeners. This is about the stations, which control NPR.

Which is better: Force feeding stations what NPR wants them to run, or providing the programming the stations want? The lesson is that if you don't give the stations what they want, they'll get it from someone else. Regardless of who controls NPR. Just like the listeners. You can try to force jazz on them at 7 AM. Or give them news. But if you don't give them what they want, they'll find it somewhere else.

But yes, locally funded segments are more useful to the station than a national arts feature.

 

[FredLeonard]

Which is better: Force feeding stations what NPR wants them to run, or providing the programming the stations want? The lesson is that if you don't give the stations what they want, they'll get it from someone else. Regardless of who controls NPR. Just like the listeners. You can try to force jazz on them at 7 AM. Or give them news. But if you don't give them what they want, they'll find it somewhere else.

But yes, locally funded segments are more useful to the station than a national arts feature.

The question you should be asking is why so many stations were opting out of the E1 segment to take Marketplace Morning Report (over NPR's own business news segment)? I'd be curious what you think the answer is to that one.

In answer to your question, stations should not have the option to pop in and out of programs. Call that "force feeding" if you want. I call it protecting the integrity of the program and putting the listener ahead of fund raising (for a change). Greed is even more rampant in so called non-commercial radio, operated by so-called non-profit organizations than in corporate, commercial radio. Plus a nauseating level of hypocrisy.

Without NPR, these so-called "member stations" are nothing - back to "educational radio." Listener loyalty is to NPR, not to the arrogant, local station bureaucrats.

 

[TheBigA]

In answer to your question, stations should not have the option to pop in and out of programs.

Morning Edition was always seen as a modular program that stations could adapt for their own use. It was created that way, and grew out of something called the Modular News Service back in the 70s. So Morning Edition was never a linear program like ATC.

Without NPR, these so-called "member stations" are nothing - back to "educational radio." Listener loyalty is to NPR, not to the arrogant, local station bureaucrats.

I think it's a very symbiotic relationship. Certainly NPR would be nothing without the money they get from the stations. And they'd have no outlet without the stations. Meanwhile, the stations get recognizable, dependable programming, with worldwide resources they can't afford on their own. But clearly, the trend is towards more co-productions with stations, sharing of resources, and less top-down programming.

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

I want to say currently kuhf-houston carries marketplace morning on a staggered basis, one hour it covers up the business block (I think this would be the last hour), the other the arts block.

Marketplace's insert seems much more timely and up to date than NPR's offering. It also comes across, at least to me, as more engaging and informative. I think those are the big reasons the local stations opt for marketplace inserts.

 

[FredLeonard]

I want to say currently kuhf-houston carries marketplace morning on a staggered basis, one hour it covers up the business block (I think this would be the last hour), the other the arts block.

Marketplace's insert seems much more timely and up to date than NPR's offering. It also comes across, at least to me, as more engaging and informative. I think those are the big reasons the local stations opt for marketplace inserts.

To my ear, Marketplace seems intended for investors. NPR business news for consumers.

Modular may sound good in theory. It's one thing for stations to cut out for local content, which was the original intention. It's another for competing program distributors to poach Morning Edition segments. As I understand the new arrangement, stations will get Marketplace in the Morning Edition feed but they will not be able to cut away for segments from any 3rd parties. No Writers Almanac or 99 Invisible or Star Date.

 

[TheBigA]

As I understand the new arrangement, stations will get Marketplace in the Morning Edition feed but they will not be able to cut away for segments from any 3rd parties.

Interesting...did they get it that writing? Because unless they did, these affiliates will do whatever they want.