AAR is taking donations???? What does this mean?

[benburch]

Hey, folks!

I'm not as connected to what is going on inside of AAR as I once was, so I have to say that this Air America Associates program, with its taking donations, really surprises me!

As you know I take donations for my Liberal Radio effort, http://www.WhiteRoseSociety.org but my whole effort was capitalized on my credit cards and runs on surplus computer equipment. The Donation model seems rational and appropriate given the size of my effort and given that I am very committed to making this media available to everybody; When I am compelled to charge for something, like the Thom Hartmann archives, I make sure that a free version is available.

But Air America was capitalized with millions of dollars, and has dozens of affiliate stations, and sells ads and soon will sell access to archived shows (which likely will mean the end of my archiving of Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes.) Honestly, if I had 1% of their capitalization, I would be able to revolutionize my operations. It seems to me to be far beyond the size where a donation model can possibly have any effect upon it.

My question; Why does it need donations, and why should anybody give them donations?

I'm asking this as a serious question. I mean no disrespect to AAR, and I hope this does not mean that there is anything amiss there, but what are they thinking???

[Lex]

1. see prior discussion here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4842435

[benburch]

4. I am glad I am not the only one who finds this out of place.

But I cannot see why anybody would want to donate to a commercial venture like AAR that had its kind of capitalization.

[DemNoir]

2. This is unprecedented for a large commercial venture

I wish there was some positive way to spin it, I can't see one. It has to be desperation.

This is making them the laughing stock of the media world.

[benburch]

3. People criticize ME for taking donations.

They tell me that if there were any real market for my services I wouldn't need to, and indeed I am trying to make the effort self-supporting in the next year or so. But my god, why does AAR need to do this? This makes no sense whatsoever.

Not only that, but I can see this drying up the pool of money for donations to other liberal media efforts like raw story, truthout, and my own White Rose Society.

[tlsmith1963]

5. Like I Said in Another Thread...

...this is nothing to worry about. AAR isn't asking for donations like PBS. They are actually doing something that is quite common. They are asking people to help advertise AAR to the general public. Lots of media outlets do this, & people are even asked to help promote new TV series & films. So this doesn't mean "doom & gloom".

Tammy

[DemNoir]

6. huh?

They want $50 for 3 bumper stickers!

[Lex]

7. No, they want

$50. Period.

The bumperstickers they throw in for free.

[benburch]

9. Exactly.

You decoded the secret message.

[benburch]

8. Those would cost me...

$8.97 from Cafe Press.

[benburch]

10. I'm keeping my ear to the ground...

and I'll tell you if I hear any news. Not likely though that there will be any unofficial news before there is official news.