The "striping" schedule approved by the board of directors on 8/31 was announced 9/9 via Constant Contact email list.
View the new schedule at http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs084/1102296510119/img/92.jpg
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From the WCUW Board President...
I am both pleased and excited to inform you that after many years and months of effort with contributions from our DJs, our members, our community and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, a new programming strategy was proposed by the Programming Committee under the leadership of Larry Haley and Troy Tyree and endorsed by the WCUW Board of Directors on August 31, 2011.
This new programming strategy, built on a "striping and blocking" concept, will allow WCUW to organize its schedule and programs to better attract our target audiences and with time, grow our listenership and support. It is designed to provide an increased level of consistency and predictability and encourage our listeners to tune in everyday during their usual listening times and hear programs related to what was on at that time the previous day.
Change can be difficult to accept and even more difficult to implement. But without this much needed improvement to our schedule, WCUW 91.3 FM will continue to face declining listenership and support and ultimately not be able to continue as the organization you've come to know and love.
It has been a long and challenging road to arrive at this new programming strategy, but the WCUW Board believes it is the right thing to do and the right time to do it. It comes after several years of renewing our infrastructure and facility to provide the foundation for growth and the increased visibility WCUW deserves. Now we need to focus on the most important aspect of radio - our product - our programs and schedule. It is the last major area that needed to be "modernized" to reflect the "new and progressive 'CUW".
"Thinking that you can't change is wrong. Thinking that there is no need to change is tragic" - unknown
With this new programming strategy will come positive change. It will create new opportunities, new programs and music. It will recognize and protect our traditions and uniqueness. It will organize and consolidate programs in to stripes and blocks to better reach our audience. Some programs have been moved, rescheduled, cut-back or even discontinued. But it is being done for the betterment of station and the long term benefit of us all.
Implementation of this new program strategy and grid will begin Monday September 19th. It may encounter some bumps and require your understanding, flexibility, and cooperation. But we will emerge with an exciting new line-up that is sure to generate attention and draw more listeners. As the expression goes - "A rising tide floats all boats" meaning we all benefit from its success as it will allow us to do more as a thriving station within our community and become a much vibrant entity.
As President of WCUW's Board of Directors and a fellow programmer, I am excited and optimistic about WCUW's future and what this new programming grid will do for us. It was the result of a long collaborative effort with contributions by many people, hours of conversations and meetings, much market and competitive research, advice from Community Radio "experts" and more. The key point is that the strategy has come from you - the heart blood of the station.
It is for that reason I am confident that each of us as individuals will embrace this new programming grid and help make it a great success - the starting point for the new WCUW. With time I hope we'll look back and say to ourselves "What took us so long - why didn't we do that sooner".
And finally, I thank Larry Haley, who was elected to this Programming Committee at the last Annual Members Meeting by the membership for leading this difficult project and consolidating the numerous and diverse views into this comprehensive strategy. I thank Troy Tyree for his contributions, support and hard work alongside Larry. I thank our listeners and members for sending us their feedback and comments online at our website and Facebook page.
And finally, I thank each of you, our DJs, who have attended the open meetings and contributed to the process putting station ahead of self in these scheduling discussions and decisions.
And most importantly I thank any program or DJ that may be affected by programming changes for their past contributions to WCUW and their selflessness in accepting and supporting this new strategy. We hope to find a place for all to continue to contribute to WCUW's future.
We have all worked hard to make WCUW the unique station it is comprised of 80+ programs delivered by 100+ volunteers. I believe our diversity makes us unique and strong and should always be valued and protected. The new programming strategy does just that while allowing us to change and grow and evolve in a positive way that will position us for a better future. And that's a good thing.
Please join me in welcoming our future and this exciting new program schedule and all the opportunities and possibilities it brings. These are exciting times for WCUW. I hope you will continue to contribute to it.
Sincerely,
Barry Sullivan
President, WCUW Inc.
[email protected]
=====================
From the WCUW Executive Director...
As Barry mentions in the note next door, change can be difficult to accept, and even more difficult to implement.
I truly appreciate the patience that the majority of programmers are affording myself and Larry Haley as we make individual contact with you to share where you fit into the new program schedule. We are hoping for full implementation by September 19th.
Needless to say, this is a complex process that involves 80 shows and 100 plus volunteers, and is taking a bit of time to ensure all are contacted, and assured, that even if displaced, each and every volunteer can still have a role in "your" community radio station.
That stated, I fully understand the public angst that has been shared via Facebook and private emails from those programmers who are still unsure of their role. Please know I or Larry will be in touch with each and every programmer ASAP to answer the questions you have.
Again, thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
Troy Tyree
Executive Director
WCUW 91.3 FM
[email protected]
Quick Links
The New WCUW Program Schedule - http://www.wcuw.org/images/Pro.Sched.Fall.2011.jpg
WCUW 91.3 FM
910 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610
www.wcuw.org
[email protected]
View the new schedule at http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs084/1102296510119/img/92.jpg
==========
From the WCUW Board President...
I am both pleased and excited to inform you that after many years and months of effort with contributions from our DJs, our members, our community and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, a new programming strategy was proposed by the Programming Committee under the leadership of Larry Haley and Troy Tyree and endorsed by the WCUW Board of Directors on August 31, 2011.
This new programming strategy, built on a "striping and blocking" concept, will allow WCUW to organize its schedule and programs to better attract our target audiences and with time, grow our listenership and support. It is designed to provide an increased level of consistency and predictability and encourage our listeners to tune in everyday during their usual listening times and hear programs related to what was on at that time the previous day.
Change can be difficult to accept and even more difficult to implement. But without this much needed improvement to our schedule, WCUW 91.3 FM will continue to face declining listenership and support and ultimately not be able to continue as the organization you've come to know and love.
It has been a long and challenging road to arrive at this new programming strategy, but the WCUW Board believes it is the right thing to do and the right time to do it. It comes after several years of renewing our infrastructure and facility to provide the foundation for growth and the increased visibility WCUW deserves. Now we need to focus on the most important aspect of radio - our product - our programs and schedule. It is the last major area that needed to be "modernized" to reflect the "new and progressive 'CUW".
"Thinking that you can't change is wrong. Thinking that there is no need to change is tragic" - unknown
With this new programming strategy will come positive change. It will create new opportunities, new programs and music. It will recognize and protect our traditions and uniqueness. It will organize and consolidate programs in to stripes and blocks to better reach our audience. Some programs have been moved, rescheduled, cut-back or even discontinued. But it is being done for the betterment of station and the long term benefit of us all.
Implementation of this new program strategy and grid will begin Monday September 19th. It may encounter some bumps and require your understanding, flexibility, and cooperation. But we will emerge with an exciting new line-up that is sure to generate attention and draw more listeners. As the expression goes - "A rising tide floats all boats" meaning we all benefit from its success as it will allow us to do more as a thriving station within our community and become a much vibrant entity.
As President of WCUW's Board of Directors and a fellow programmer, I am excited and optimistic about WCUW's future and what this new programming grid will do for us. It was the result of a long collaborative effort with contributions by many people, hours of conversations and meetings, much market and competitive research, advice from Community Radio "experts" and more. The key point is that the strategy has come from you - the heart blood of the station.
It is for that reason I am confident that each of us as individuals will embrace this new programming grid and help make it a great success - the starting point for the new WCUW. With time I hope we'll look back and say to ourselves "What took us so long - why didn't we do that sooner".
And finally, I thank Larry Haley, who was elected to this Programming Committee at the last Annual Members Meeting by the membership for leading this difficult project and consolidating the numerous and diverse views into this comprehensive strategy. I thank Troy Tyree for his contributions, support and hard work alongside Larry. I thank our listeners and members for sending us their feedback and comments online at our website and Facebook page.
And finally, I thank each of you, our DJs, who have attended the open meetings and contributed to the process putting station ahead of self in these scheduling discussions and decisions.
And most importantly I thank any program or DJ that may be affected by programming changes for their past contributions to WCUW and their selflessness in accepting and supporting this new strategy. We hope to find a place for all to continue to contribute to WCUW's future.
We have all worked hard to make WCUW the unique station it is comprised of 80+ programs delivered by 100+ volunteers. I believe our diversity makes us unique and strong and should always be valued and protected. The new programming strategy does just that while allowing us to change and grow and evolve in a positive way that will position us for a better future. And that's a good thing.
Please join me in welcoming our future and this exciting new program schedule and all the opportunities and possibilities it brings. These are exciting times for WCUW. I hope you will continue to contribute to it.
Sincerely,
Barry Sullivan
President, WCUW Inc.
[email protected]
=====================
From the WCUW Executive Director...
As Barry mentions in the note next door, change can be difficult to accept, and even more difficult to implement.
I truly appreciate the patience that the majority of programmers are affording myself and Larry Haley as we make individual contact with you to share where you fit into the new program schedule. We are hoping for full implementation by September 19th.
Needless to say, this is a complex process that involves 80 shows and 100 plus volunteers, and is taking a bit of time to ensure all are contacted, and assured, that even if displaced, each and every volunteer can still have a role in "your" community radio station.
That stated, I fully understand the public angst that has been shared via Facebook and private emails from those programmers who are still unsure of their role. Please know I or Larry will be in touch with each and every programmer ASAP to answer the questions you have.
Again, thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
Troy Tyree
Executive Director
WCUW 91.3 FM
[email protected]
Quick Links
The New WCUW Program Schedule - http://www.wcuw.org/images/Pro.Sched.Fall.2011.jpg
WCUW 91.3 FM
910 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610
www.wcuw.org
[email protected]
) And any station that's owned/affiliated with an educational institution has that institution to both A: fall back on in times of crisis, usually, and B: answer to in terms of its political mission (and thus can cost-justify itself based on metrics beyond dollars and cents). Not having either of those advantages is a serious handicap, but WICN makes it work anyways! Kudos to them!