Agreed Surfdude. I worked NPR on a much smaller market level. However, I appreciate the overall quality of the programming. It would be good if Raleigh had a true community station (similar to WMNF 88.5 in Tampa). WKNC, WSHA, and WNCU are somewhat close, but those three have what I would call 'base formats' (college/progressive rock, jazz, and jazz; respectively). When I think of WMNF and other 'community stations', which tend to act as alternatives to the alternatives (in other words, alternatives to NPR stations) still use block formats that can run the gamut from classical to all Grateful Dead for an hour (there really is a public radio show called, "The Grateful Dead Hour".). I realize that goes against the norm for modern day public radio. However, these stations have proven successful in the right markets and run news programming, which is even more to the so-called 'left' than NPR, such as "Democracy Now!" and "Free Speech News". I think RDU is certainly large enough. It just amazes me to see NPR doing so much better than the run of the mill talk stations.
With all of that said, I hope and wish to see WPTF re-emerge. I know they no longer have the heavy hitters, but they have such a stronger commitment to a traditional service to the community. Example, I was on I95 on the day a Roanoke Rapids police officer was shot during a traffic stop. It made state news. However, I was passing moments after it happened. The opposite lane of I95 was closed and backed up for miles. I was wondering what was going on. Of course, the First Media stations in Roanoke Rapids had no idea anything was going on. Really thinking the info hadn't made it to the RDU stations, I just started scanning. 106.1 was still into Rush. I hit WPTF, and lo and behold, they were on it! I was able to know what was happening 90 miles away before I got home thanks to good old WPTF!
