my letter to public radio RE: cancelling The Connection

[nashville_brook]

I am worried, as I think many people are, that by the next fundraising campaign, there won't be much left to support on public radio.

I learned today that Dick Gordon's The Connection, was summarily cancelled. I learned this by tuning in, and finding another show, On Point, had taken it's slot. After some research I found out that Mr. Gordon was as surprised as I was at the death of his program. As of this writing, no solid reason has been offered for the show's cancellation. With ratings up 22 percent, WBUR kills it's award-winning flagship program? There's only one way this "programming change" makes sense, and that's as a casualty of the culture war.

It is common knowledge that public broadcasting is under attack. This atmosphere makes it easy to imagine the cancellation of The Connection was a victory celebrated by Ken Thomlinson and critters of his stripe. We also know that Michael Feldman is being pressured to move toward a pre-recorded format. That sounds like another attack and it makes me wonder what unreasonable demands are being made of Terry Gross. Or Ira Glass. How is All Things Considered faring in this atmosphere? Is this the last season of Studio 360, too?

I have been a public radio supporter since college. You can tell Thomlinson that your members will not retreat. As you are being attacked from within, we will not withdraw our support.

Sincerely,
Brook XXXXXXX
Nashville, Tennessee (WPLN AM-FM)

[Dhalgren]

1. I don't see how this can work.

"As you are being attacked from within, we will not withdraw our support." If we continue to support Public Radio, even with the drastic, right-wing, draconian programming changes, where is the incentive for anyone to put a stop to the rightward shift? If Public Radio is turned into PNAC Radio and we continue to support it, how is that a good thing?

[nashville_brook]

2. they don't need to be attacked on two fronts -- that's what the RW wants

the incentive for fighting the administration on this is already there in the form of the attack.

are you withdrawing your support?

[Dhalgren]

3. The last time I "target" donated. And gave money for specific

programs, but a friend of mine who used to work for our local station said the money was not "targeted" once in the coffers, but just spent generally. So I don't know. If Public Radio continues to morph into PNAC Radio I don't see myself giving money to it...

[nashville_brook]

4. your friend was correct. you might get the Car Talk t-shirt, the money

all goes to operations, subscriptions, etc.