The economic crisis is affecting NPR, naturally, and one of their responses has been to cancel two of their shows, News & Notes included. I believe the story is that the show doesn’t bring in enough money in donations and has low ratings. I would be very interested in seeing the ratings breakdown of all NPR-supported shows to see if N&N is really at the bottom. I mean, it just seems like a kick in the teeth — the only program that focuses on Black issues and now it will be off the air.
It’s especially interesting in light of what I had to say almost a year ago about why I don’t send donation dollars to NPR. News & Notes is great, but I feel like NPR news in general feels really white-washed to me. Others spoke up, saying they feel the same way. And if black people’s impression of NPR mainly comes from the two flagship shows, they won’t necessarily stick around to find out that News & Notes exists. And this doesn’t even mention the lack of coverage and perspectives for other POC.
My only hope right now is that NPR gets smart and brings Farai and the other talented N&N team into the fold for Morning Edition and All Things Considered. I have always wanted a deeper, less white-washed approach for these two shows. If the one show dedicated to the Black community is going away, that means it’s time to shove NPR into the 21st century and get them to cover issues of various POC communities more.
If that’s not going to happen, then I hope that someone decides to back a podcast, or maybe a public radio show on Pacifica. There has to be a life after News & Notes. It’s too good a resource to just let lapse.
Now THAT is a good idea. It might actually be a step forward to bring Black issues into their general purpose news shows rather than keeping them in a corner niche.
Okay, ratings are a legitimate reason for even a public network, maybe especially a public network, to cancel a show. Why spend the public’s money and airspace on shows very few are watching?
But… donations and underwriting? Of course a show aimed at the black community will have fewer of both. Blacks, in general, have significantly less wealth and income than whites and are also significantly less likely to serve on boards of corporations or trusts. They are not in a position to hand out as much of either their own or institutional money as whites. Considering donations and underwriting discriminates against poorer communities. Now, for a private company or MBO such discrimination against the poor is fine. But what is the point of a public charity that only subsidizes those who can afford to pay for themselves?
I used to work in both profit and non-profit radio. There is a connection between NPR canceling a show (or your local affiliate choosing not to air it anymore) and its listeners not supporting the show with their money. If there’s something on the air you like, send the station $20 and a note saying “This is all I can give this year, but I really like Alas, a Radio Show and it’s why I listen to WTEVR. ” They take that into account, believe me. You may be sick of the on-air begging but listener support is the most reliable metric they have of which shows are supported by their audience.