NPR currently tapdancing like crazy

[crispini]

due to some unspecified problem with their pre-recorded audio content. Anyone else listening? I have to admit, I'm finding it humorous.

[tinanator]

1. I wouldnt listen to Radio Enron if you paid me

At least they dont charge for the mindfuck.

[hlthe2b]

2. Yeah.... they are really dependent on those systems!

Sort of like being in line at the grocery check out when the power goes out. It's a rare individual who can come up with any kind of manyal solution and given the dependence on bar code scanning, I guess it is nearly impossible now!

[Sporadicus]

3. NPR Can Tapdance for Their Supper

I urge everyone to write NPR and PBS, giving all the reasons why they need not expect any donations in the forseeable future due to neocon apologist and corporate leanings. Also, call local affiliates (both TV and radio) during pledge-drive time (usually four times per year). Maybe the locals will pass along the complaints - complete with assurances that no donations are forthcoming - to NPR and PBS directly.

[AP]

6. Beg your locas to reduce nationally-produced programming, increase locally

produced programming.

Tell them you want three hours of state and local news rather than three hours of ME and ATC.

[Strelnikov_]

11. Locally Produced Programs Are A Dead End In Most Areas

Here in central Iowa, the 2 hrs. of locally produced shows, and the local news segments inserted in ME/ATC, are even more GOP/Corporatist slanted than the national shows. I am afraid that the locally produced shows will be even more subject to local GOP Gauliters or, at best, simply try reflect the perceived politics of the region.

Of course, the above does not apply universally. In predominately left leaning areas I have found the locally produced shows to be somewhat less repugnant. For example, the 1 hr. show daily from the Iowa City affliate (UI) definately has a more center/left flavor. But again, this affiliate is located in the most 'liberal' part of the state.

The best answer is to not donate if you have any doubts and put your money into supporting Air America, Pacific, Democracy Now, etc.

[Sporadicus]

13. I Live in Kentucky

and huntin'n'fishin' shows constitute the bulk of locally-produced programming - along with Kentucky and Hoosier business-oriented shows :puke:

[lostnfound]

4. I am so grateful for Pacifica here in Houston.

KPFT News was just voted the best local radio news in Houston.
FreeSpeech radio News often gives interesting glimpses into other countries as well as human rights and civil rights issues.
DemocracyNow. Flashpoints. And so much more.
And a lot of call-in shows which are mixed in quality but at least they are real people, people who read and are informed for the most part, talking mostly about things that matter.

I turn to NPR during the rare times when KPFT has something I'm not interested in (particularly on the weekends) but too often it's pushing the neoliberal government line and a lot of happy myths, that I eventually get disgusted and turn it off.

Freedom from corporate or government influence separates Pacifica from all other.

[greekspeak]

5. Stopped listening to NPR a few weeks back after 7 yrs as a loyal listener

After Juan Williams handed Shrub the election by cherry picking poll data. I feel stupid for not divorcing myself from the NPR teet sooner. I should have listened to my fellow DUers on this one instead of trying to convince myself that their rightward tilt was a figment of DU's collective imagination.

I wrote them an e-mail explaining my outrage. My fellow DUers were right all along about what a bunch of wingnuts NPR has become: they didn't even take the time to send me a sentance long response, other than their auto-response, which tells you they get a lot of E-Mail and cannot answer every one. My translation: "screw you, listener". Even CBS had time to respond to me.

I am apologizing here to my fellow DUers: I am sorry that I did not beleive you all that NPR news is FAUX wannabe hack job.

[AP]

7. I used to get so much shit for criticizing NPR. Now, I don't see anyone...

...defending them here at DU.

It's been a dramatic shift, but NPR has been way to obvious with their politics.

[Triana]

9. I won't defend them...

...and I won't send them any $. I've written them 2 letters telling them why and sent e-mails too. I don't pay Faux News or Rush Limbaugh - why would I give $ to NPR? They suck right-wingnut monkey asses in Hell.

[gbwarming]

18. I like NPR and PBS, but not as much as you hate them

Warts and all I find NPR and PBS worth supporting. It's not the only news source I go to, and I know to expect when Cokie comes on. It is in my opinion the best US broadcast news source widely available.

The fact that not many challenge your NPR criticism might just mean that everyone but you is tired of arguing about it.

[AP]

21. Oh, it's all I listen to, practically. But that doesn't mean I turn a blnd

eye to their OBVIOUS bullshit.

And I do hate that they bullshit as much as they do.

And I don't think people are tired, because more and more people are now bringing this up. It used to be just me. But I think people now understand a little better what they're doing and they write about it when they hear it.

[AngryAmish]

8. Will somebody please shoot the car guys?

That show is so phony. Some people actually beleive the calls are real and not rehearsed. God is that annoying.

[McKay]

10. Seriously?

You mean they don't come up with all those hilarious puns off the cuff? My world is shattered.

[AP]

14. The calls are real. I had a friend who interned for them in college.

Her job was to read through the letters and pick the ones she thought would be good callers.

She was proud that every letter she picked ended up on the show.

[AngryAmish]

15. The calls are real.

However, they act like someone just called them up at that moment and they give brilliant advice off the cuff. Instead, they have weeks (and a staff) to come up with all that stuff.


Finally, let us be clear. I do not like them. That is good enough for the rest of you to never listen to them again and to demand that they are taken off the radio. Are we clear?

[AP]

16. Uh, no they don't. They never give a phone number, so they're clearly not

calling cold.

And they are the rare NPR show I DO like because they help people spend less, not more.

[McKay]

17. Just because they give out a phone number

repeatedly (888 227 8255) doesn't mean the calls are unscripted. They could still prescreen callers and make sure they stay on point (by editing out unexpected and undesirable comments, for example). They do try to make it seem as though the calls are cold, though, which seems kind of deceptive if they're not.

[AP]

20. Deceptive? Sounds like PROFESSIONALISM to me. If Bush ran the show, maybe

they'd be less prepared and waste people's time.

[Crunchy Frog]

12. I'm so glad that we've gotten AAR here.

I've switched my car radio from NPR to AAR and I'm much happier now.

[RichardRay]

19. In defense of NPR

Come live in Wyoming and see what your options are. Live with no TV and see what your best bet is in broadcast radio. Sure, I have to sift the wheat from the chaff, but I do that with anything I see or hear.

The attitude here on DU is to damn any media source that broadcasts anything not in complete alignment with posters' politics. Note the number of old posts calling Dan Rather all kinds of names and then the high praise he received as soon as he did a story that aligned with the line here on DU. Same thing for half a dozen other media figures for whom we have a variety of 'cute' names.

I do not believe the media a doing a good job of covering the news. Neither do I believe that the rabid 'media whores' meme is accurate, either. As usual, the truth falls somewhere in the zone of middle dimension. Probably closer to the bad job end then the good job end, but not nearly so cut and dried as some folks here try to make it.

Richard Ray - Jackson Hole, WY

[AP]

22. Just because it's all you have doesn't mean you can't be honest with your-

self when they're bullshitting.

I think a lot of people over-identify with NPR. They think that it's part of their personality to like NPR.

Those people need to spend more time thinking about what it is that NPR is actually doing.

I'm not embarrassed to say that I listen to them alot. But I would be embarrassed if I said that I thought it was part of my personality and if I became personally offended by good, honest criticism of their reporting.

[Jackpine Radical]

23. Yeah. I heard that.

Actually, we Cheeseheads are pretty lucky & our talk show hosts get some pretty remarkable guests: RFK Jr, Richard Clarke, anybody with a new LW book, etc. I've been thinking that we're going to have to pressure them to maybe drop Some Things Considered in favor of Pacifica programming, like maybe Amy Goodman.

IMHO Terry Gross is still doing good work at NPR.

[Logansquare]

24. I refuse to listen to Morning Edition any longer

All Things Considered seems a little fairer and "smarter" than ME.

[autorank]

25. Boycott NPR...no money, now or ever. Off the public dole. n/t