Is your public radio station in "begging mode?"

[bif]

Our is near the end of a week long fundraiser. Drives me nuts that I only get bits and pieces of the news right now. It's pretty much my only news source. How often does your public station beg for money? Just curious.

[CO Liberal]

1. Only a Few Times a Year

But there's a public TV station in Denver (KBDI) that has a fundraiser almost every weekend.

[northzax]

2. Have you donated?

I've been hearing this a lot lately, and mostly from people who have not supported PBS financially. Frankly, the place is getting hosed, and more and more local stations in smaller markets are being swallowed by the big five, in programming if nothing else. Donations to PBS, especially from corporations, are in decline, some of the most popular shows have lost their title sponsors in the past year, and this trickles down to the radio as well.

If you have supported them, thank you. If not, stop complaining and do something about it. That goes for all of you. Independant, non-commercial radio and television are crucial to democracy, we all have to do our part.

[bif]

4. We give to public radio and tv every year.

They're among the various charities and non-profits we donate to. But lately, I've been less inclined to give to public tv.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Wow...you are the FIRST public radio donor I have ever heard complain

about their fundraising week. In mississippi, it only happens twice a year. Is that too much to tolerate for great shows like All Things Considered, What Do You Know, Click and Clack, etc???

I donate EVERY YEAR and I don't mind at all listening to their fundraisers and especially enjoy hearing the names of my friends across the state who have also donated announced on the air.

I couldn't live without public radio and public tv. They are the only objective (pretty much, anyway) formats left.

[FunBobbyMucha]

3. Bif, what a good question, however...

...before I answer it, I've got to take a few minutes to remind you that funbobbymucha is brought to you at NO charge by donations from posters just like you. That's right, without the help of chat-hungry folks like you, Bif, funbobby antics like calling local right-wing talk shows and sing-songing "Rushy is a Junky, his fat back has a monkey...Hypocracy on loan from God!" and sticking "big car=small weiner" stickers all over double-parked Hummers would not be possible. Now, let's take a look at this new funbobby totebag...

[newyawker99]

9. Hi FunBobbyMucha!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[commander bunnypants]

6. Donate each year

could live without my NPR.

DDQM

[CBHagman]

7. Ours ran one for what seemed like weeks.

They only just finished up yesterday, and it was indeed strange to tune in and hear no groveling, cajoling, and kvetching.

I do support public broadcasting with donations, but this particular station has gone out of its way to alienate long-time supporters. Even though I'd begun my financial support of the station on moving to this area years ago, I dropped it when it made a series of moves (such as cutting much of its classical music programming in favor of things like GAME SHOWS!!!!!) over the protests of long-time listeners. I swithced my support to another station.

[thom1102]

8. I am lucky enough to live in an area with

4 different public stations (we have our local (WNPR), and three adjacent (WNYC(am), WFCR, and Northeast Public Radio), and this usually works out great, because usually, their begging periods are staggered, but this fall, they were all on the same week! Everywhere I turned my dial "Please give now..." and "If you call in the next half hour..." and "Get this neat ball of lint picked from Carl Kassels belly button for you donation of $125..." It really is frustrating when you are trying to get some real news and info.

[BiggJawn]

14. for $250, Cokie Roberts will give you a DNA sample from Karl Rove...

...that she saved from her last "private briefing" with the great man...

They need to headline how New Zealand is lifting the moritorium on GMO's. That should be good for a coupla hundred grand in underwriting from ADM and Monsanto...

[Ernesto]

10. It ain't BEGGING

By the way, I don't see no stinking star by your name, free-loader.

[ronnykmarshall]

11. KPFK is

and I'm was proud to donate!

[Blue-Jay]

12. I suppose I could use another WYSO coffee mug.

They're not in fundraising mode right now, but they will be very soon. I'm still a little pissed off that they canceled a few of their regular, local shows in favor of the syndicated programs.

[Philostopher]

13. I quit donating to 'YSO

When they got rid of those shows, frankly. But, then, I also quit listening -- I work in a place now where the station won't come in, and I don't listen in the car because I'm not in it long enough. But hubby still donates, because he's in the car longer and actually listens to the programming.

When I order things online, I do use their link, though -- there's a point-based online shopper program on their website that includes a few vendors I'd use anyway. I figure if I'm going to buy online, and they're affiliated, they might as well get the 'bang' as anybody.

Since I don't listen, I don't consider myself a freeloader -- I did when I was able to.