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KUOW in Seattle seems to be in trouble too. Their sponsors have been getting increasingly cringeworthy. Just last week I heard a long sponsor message from Chris

KUOW in Seattle seems to be in trouble too. Their sponsors have been getting increasingly cringeworthy. Just last week I heard a long sponsor message from Christian Science. They seem to scraping deeper into the bottom of the barrel and sponsor message seem to be increasing in quantity.

dhosek 2y ago
Are you sure it was from Christian Science and not the Christian Science Monitor which has been a long-time sponsor (and if I recall occasional reporting partner) of NPR.
- anonporridge 2y ago
  It was a pretty explicit message along the lines of "come discover how to connect with God with us".
  - SV_BubbleTime 2y ago
    Not one is actually going to make you do it though. I’m not sure what the complaint is. You’re mad they paid to sponsor an NPR station?
    - anonporridge 2y ago
      Not mad, disappointed. It just seems embarrassing for them that they're struggling so hard to live up to their value of being "listener supported" that they have to accept sponsors like this to survive.
      - SV_BubbleTime 2y ago
        I’m still confused. Are Christians not also listeners? It sounds to me like you are disappointed that the liberal bubble isn’t as thick as it could be. That even accepting supporting money from the bad people is compromising. It seems that you are implying that the sponsors of NPR get a say in their programming and reporting? Seems like that is the thing I would be upset about, not that the “wrong people” are supplying the money.
        Dumblydorr 2y ago
        It’s NPR, and clearly an atheistic listener there. Are you surprised at this complaint? Christianity is largely anti-science and works against many of the purposes NPR espouses like climate, public health, science and tech, major topics all over NPR. It’s not a stretch to accept this complaint as valid to many left wing rationalist NPR listeners.
- wolverine876 2y ago
  The Christian Science Monitor has long had top quality journalism, and sections on religion. What is their relationship with Christian Science (and what is that? is there a unified institution?)?
  - slackfan 2y ago
    There is, main HQ over in Boston. Both orgs were founded by the same people. I believe the Monitor offices are right next to the main Christian Science complex/are in it.
  - lowkey_ 2y ago
    Christian Science Monitor has been my favorite news source for a long time despite not really being religious. It's so objective and fair even on the most contentious of topics, and really tries to understand the human experience. They were founded by the same woman, Mary Baker Eddy, like a century ago, but today they just have one specifically-cited Christian Science article in each print. It seems they may have the same owner still, but seems like they very much have editorial independence, judging by the things I read.
  - ekidd 2y ago
    Christian Science is a church founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. They're most famous for believing in faith healing, which is part of a larger collection of beliefs with a "mind/faith over matter" flavor. They have churches throughout New England. In practice, they tend to be pretty mellow in that old-school "New England religious movement" sort of way. The Christian Science Monitor is a well-respected newspaper associated with the church. The few times I've read a paper copy, there was usually one editorial with a religious theme. Their religion did not otherwise color their reporting. I am not the least bit suprised that the Christian Science church might support NPR. Demographically, Christian Science members probably have very high overlap with NPR listeners. And they are, after all, a church which is best known for being associated with a newspaper. I would not be the least bit surprised if they donate to NPR mostly because they want to support public radio.
colmmacc 2y ago
I was a long time listener and donor to KUOW. My intention was to support local radio, hopefully get some more community pieces, and so on ... and that matched the donation drive pitches. When they decided to use their cash to empire build and buy a Jazz station for $8M, I completely gave up and could no longer even stomach listening. I like Jazz, but it hardly needs the help. It seemed like an utter betrayal.
- boringg 2y ago
  I understand your position. I only want to add that jazz most definitely needs help it is not a financially successful genre for radio. That being said i bet you they bought it on the hopes of getting more revenue and programming and not to save jazz.
UncleOxidant 2y ago
But Seattle (and Boston) are very blue areas, the issues that Berliner is suggesting wouldn't seem to apply to those areas, they would seem more likely to apply to the hinterlands. The Boston situation probably implies that they just need to combine the two stations into one.
- mlinhares 2y ago
  Mostly because the issues he mentions are not related to the actual reason people are dropping, the reason is _there is a lot of competition for everyone's attention_. Last time I turned on the radio i was a teenager, maybe 20 years ago, with the internet and podcasts there's very little reason to tune in, i have car play in the car and both pocketcasts and spotify, why would I ever tune in? I listen to a lot of NPR podcasts and contribute to WHYY monthly but I don't think i ever tuned into WHYY, i don't even know the frequency they use :P Reality is that all media is pretty much toast unless you're some big name like the NYT and this is really sad because i really love the NPR podcasts, but not sure how they can survive long term without the local radios.
  - sanderjd 2y ago
    NPR is (or was) one of those "big names like the NYT".
    - mlinhares 2y ago
      The goal wasn’t really to make a profit so no, definitely not like the NYT. And that might be the demise, had they done something like NPR one much sooner with direct subscriptions it might have been easier to make it work. I hope they survive though, hard to find content with the same quality and consistency elsewhere.
      - sanderjd 2y ago
        I don't think making a profit has to do with being a "big name" though. I agree that I really want NPR to thrive!
tzs 2y ago
I definitely listen to KUOW a lot less than I used to. The main reason is that a few years ago they had a lineup on Saturdays that kept me listening most of the day. It included: • A Prairie Home Companion [1] • The Vinyl Cafe [2] • Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! [3] • Says You! [4] • The Swing Years and Beyond [5] Those I'm sure were on Saturday. I know I'm missing 4 other programs from Saturday. I remember the following programs as being on weekends at the time, but can't remember which were Saturday and which were Sunday. • This American Life [6] • The Moth Radio Hour [7] • Snap Judgement [8] • Radiolab [9] • Freakonomics Radio [10] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Prairie_Home_Companion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Prairie_Home_Companion [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vinyl_Cafe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vinyl_Cafe [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wait_Wait..._Don%27t_Tell_Me https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wait_Wait..._Don%27t_Tell_Me! [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Says_You https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Says_You! [5] https://archive.kuow.org/show/swing-years-and-beyond https://archive.kuow.org/show/swing-years-and-beyond [6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_American_Life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_American_Life [7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moth [8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap_Judgment_(radio_program) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap_Judgment_(radio_program) [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiolab https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiolab [10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics_Radio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics_Radio

dhosek 2y ago

Are you sure it was from Christian Science and not the Christian Science Monitor which has been a long-time sponsor (and if I recall occasional reporting partner) of NPR.

anonporridge 2y ago
It was a pretty explicit message along the lines of "come discover how to connect with God with us".
- SV_BubbleTime 2y ago
  Not one is actually going to make you do it though. I’m not sure what the complaint is. You’re mad they paid to sponsor an NPR station?
  - anonporridge 2y ago
    Not mad, disappointed. It just seems embarrassing for them that they're struggling so hard to live up to their value of being "listener supported" that they have to accept sponsors like this to survive.
    - SV_BubbleTime 2y ago
      I’m still confused. Are Christians not also listeners? It sounds to me like you are disappointed that the liberal bubble isn’t as thick as it could be. That even accepting supporting money from the bad people is compromising. It seems that you are implying that the sponsors of NPR get a say in their programming and reporting? Seems like that is the thing I would be upset about, not that the “wrong people” are supplying the money.
      - Dumblydorr 2y ago
        It’s NPR, and clearly an atheistic listener there. Are you surprised at this complaint? Christianity is largely anti-science and works against many of the purposes NPR espouses like climate, public health, science and tech, major topics all over NPR. It’s not a stretch to accept this complaint as valid to many left wing rationalist NPR listeners.
wolverine876 2y ago
The Christian Science Monitor has long had top quality journalism, and sections on religion. What is their relationship with Christian Science (and what is that? is there a unified institution?)?
- slackfan 2y ago
  There is, main HQ over in Boston. Both orgs were founded by the same people. I believe the Monitor offices are right next to the main Christian Science complex/are in it.
- lowkey_ 2y ago
  Christian Science Monitor has been my favorite news source for a long time despite not really being religious. It's so objective and fair even on the most contentious of topics, and really tries to understand the human experience. They were founded by the same woman, Mary Baker Eddy, like a century ago, but today they just have one specifically-cited Christian Science article in each print. It seems they may have the same owner still, but seems like they very much have editorial independence, judging by the things I read.
- ekidd 2y ago
  Christian Science is a church founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. They're most famous for believing in faith healing, which is part of a larger collection of beliefs with a "mind/faith over matter" flavor. They have churches throughout New England. In practice, they tend to be pretty mellow in that old-school "New England religious movement" sort of way. The Christian Science Monitor is a well-respected newspaper associated with the church. The few times I've read a paper copy, there was usually one editorial with a religious theme. Their religion did not otherwise color their reporting. I am not the least bit suprised that the Christian Science church might support NPR. Demographically, Christian Science members probably have very high overlap with NPR listeners. And they are, after all, a church which is best known for being associated with a newspaper. I would not be the least bit surprised if they donate to NPR mostly because they want to support public radio.

colmmacc 2y ago

I was a long time listener and donor to KUOW. My intention was to support local radio, hopefully get some more community pieces, and so on ... and that matched the donation drive pitches. When they decided to use their cash to empire build and buy a Jazz station for $8M, I completely gave up and could no longer even stomach listening. I like Jazz, but it hardly needs the help. It seemed like an utter betrayal.

boringg 2y ago
I understand your position. I only want to add that jazz most definitely needs help it is not a financially successful genre for radio. That being said i bet you they bought it on the hopes of getting more revenue and programming and not to save jazz.

UncleOxidant 2y ago

But Seattle (and Boston) are very blue areas, the issues that Berliner is suggesting wouldn't seem to apply to those areas, they would seem more likely to apply to the hinterlands. The Boston situation probably implies that they just need to combine the two stations into one.

mlinhares 2y ago
Mostly because the issues he mentions are not related to the actual reason people are dropping, the reason is _there is a lot of competition for everyone's attention_. Last time I turned on the radio i was a teenager, maybe 20 years ago, with the internet and podcasts there's very little reason to tune in, i have car play in the car and both pocketcasts and spotify, why would I ever tune in? I listen to a lot of NPR podcasts and contribute to WHYY monthly but I don't think i ever tuned into WHYY, i don't even know the frequency they use :P Reality is that all media is pretty much toast unless you're some big name like the NYT and this is really sad because i really love the NPR podcasts, but not sure how they can survive long term without the local radios.
- sanderjd 2y ago
  NPR is (or was) one of those "big names like the NYT".
  - mlinhares 2y ago
    The goal wasn’t really to make a profit so no, definitely not like the NYT. And that might be the demise, had they done something like NPR one much sooner with direct subscriptions it might have been easier to make it work. I hope they survive though, hard to find content with the same quality and consistency elsewhere.
    - sanderjd 2y ago
      I don't think making a profit has to do with being a "big name" though. I agree that I really want NPR to thrive!

tzs 2y ago

I definitely listen to KUOW a lot less than I used to. The main reason is that a few years ago they had a lineup on Saturdays that kept me listening most of the day. It included: • A Prairie Home Companion [1] • The Vinyl Cafe [2] • Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! [3] • Says You! [4] • The Swing Years and Beyond [5] Those I'm sure were on Saturday. I know I'm missing 4 other programs from Saturday. I remember the following programs as being on weekends at the time, but can't remember which were Saturday and which were Sunday. • This American Life [6] • The Moth Radio Hour [7] • Snap Judgement [8] • Radiolab [9] • Freakonomics Radio [10] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Prairie_Home_Companion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Prairie_Home_Companion [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vinyl_Cafe https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vinyl_Cafe [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wait_Wait..._Don%27t_Tell_Me https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wait_Wait..._Don%27t_Tell_Me! [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Says_You https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Says_You! [5] https://archive.kuow.org/show/swing-years-and-beyond https://archive.kuow.org/show/swing-years-and-beyond [6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_American_Life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_American_Life [7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moth [8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap_Judgment_(radio_program) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snap_Judgment_(radio_program) [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiolab https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiolab [10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics_Radio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics_Radio