Wednesday
Dec102008
NPR Cancels Only Black-Issues Program, News & Notes
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 23:13 | baratunde | tagged Afrosphere, Black Bloggers, CNN, DL Hughley, Economic Crisis, NPR, News & Notes, The Media in General
cross-posted to Jack and Jill Politics
This is terrible news, and I'm still trying to figure out what exactly is going on. I first heard from Jasmyne Cannick.
The basics are that NPR is hurting financially (projected $23M budget shortfall this year up from an estimated $2M). This is due to reduced corporate underwriting, reduced contributions from member stations and individuals plus severely depressed investment holdings that drive its endowment. According to its official statements, NPR decided it would do away with two shows, Day to Day and News & Notes because they suffered from poor audience ratings and the weakest underwriting. The shows will run through March 20, 2009
Some more source information is available at:
According to Interim President and CEO Haarsager:
That's all very believable in this market, but of all the shows to cancel...
News & Notes has been an absolutely wonderful, intelligent and fun outlet to listen to and be a part of. I've been on the show over 10 times since the summer of 2007 (and will be on next Wednesday Dec 17th) , and it has certainly contributed to the audience and credibility of Jack & Jill Politics. We're like family. In fact, the weekly Blogger Roundtable was a truly innovative segment on a show that already had some of the best coverage of black issues of any major media outlet. Because of News & Notes, our own blogroll has expanded, and I've had a chance to meet and work with some impressive voices. So many old school media outlets don't get how to work with technology, social media and the youngins, but News & Notes pulled it off effectively without exploiting or compromising these emerging voices.
Obviously the media landscape and indeed any entity dependent on funds is suffering right now and will continue to do so. Newspapers have been hurting for a while. NPR, with its heavy dependency on donations and market-based endowment funds, must be hurting as well.
In case you think News & Notes is the only show getting hit, it is not. The Washington Post reports that this is the first company wide layoff in 25 years:
Yet I can't help but think that now, of all times, is not the time to cut any sort of programing that brings intelligent discourse to black issues. Couldn't they have cut that weird news quiz show, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, instead? I mean, really?
In the grand, new age of Obama, this is happening? This past year, we at Jack and Jill Politics and the broader Afrosphere had to work triple time to try to inject some sanity into the media conversation about race. Suddenly Wolf Blitzer and crew had to say something, anything, about race, and they didn't know where to start because they lacked the lived experience, empathy or education to say anything useful. With Obama headed for the White House, the supply of ignorant racial media discourse will only grow.
We've got four years of people picking on the Obama Girls' Hairstyle or Michelle's Rear End or Is Obama Really The Black President. We've got four years of Is Racism Over or Who's Gonna Be The President For White Folks and other ignorant questions headed our way. We know it's coming. Yet it's at this time that one of our most prized outlets is switched off.
But fear not black people. CNN has hired D.L. Hughley.
Update 1
On of our commenters reminded me that the show Tell Me More, is hosted by Michelle Martin, an African-American. While that's true, her show can't be accurately called a black program. This according to the description of News & Notes alternate host Tony Cox:
Looking for something to do? Jasmyne Cannick has posted the numbers and emails of some key NPR execs as well as a petition.
This is terrible news, and I'm still trying to figure out what exactly is going on. I first heard from Jasmyne Cannick.
The basics are that NPR is hurting financially (projected $23M budget shortfall this year up from an estimated $2M). This is due to reduced corporate underwriting, reduced contributions from member stations and individuals plus severely depressed investment holdings that drive its endowment. According to its official statements, NPR decided it would do away with two shows, Day to Day and News & Notes because they suffered from poor audience ratings and the weakest underwriting. The shows will run through March 20, 2009
Some more source information is available at:
- NPR's own story about the staff layoffs (seven percent) and show cancellations
- Media Bistro story focusing on the loss of high quality book coverage
- The email sent to staff by Interim President and CEO Dennis Haarsager
- A blog post by Farai on the News & Notes site
- A pre-cancellation story at The Maynard Institute explaining the history of the show and NPR's struggles with black programming
According to Interim President and CEO Haarsager:
It is important for you to understand why we chose to cancel News & Notes and Day to Day, and the implications for programming strategy and commitments. Neither program was attracting sufficient levels of audience or national underwriting necessary to sustain continued production under these tough financial circumstances.
That's all very believable in this market, but of all the shows to cancel...
News & Notes has been an absolutely wonderful, intelligent and fun outlet to listen to and be a part of. I've been on the show over 10 times since the summer of 2007 (and will be on next Wednesday Dec 17th) , and it has certainly contributed to the audience and credibility of Jack & Jill Politics. We're like family. In fact, the weekly Blogger Roundtable was a truly innovative segment on a show that already had some of the best coverage of black issues of any major media outlet. Because of News & Notes, our own blogroll has expanded, and I've had a chance to meet and work with some impressive voices. So many old school media outlets don't get how to work with technology, social media and the youngins, but News & Notes pulled it off effectively without exploiting or compromising these emerging voices.
Obviously the media landscape and indeed any entity dependent on funds is suffering right now and will continue to do so. Newspapers have been hurting for a while. NPR, with its heavy dependency on donations and market-based endowment funds, must be hurting as well.
In case you think News & Notes is the only show getting hit, it is not. The Washington Post reports that this is the first company wide layoff in 25 years:
Some of those losing their jobs are veteran NPR voices, such as Ketzel Levine, an NPR reporter since 1977, and Vicky O'Hara, an editor and former diplomatic correspondent with 26 years on the job. Others include "News & Notes" host Farai Chideya, "Day to Day" host Madeleine Brand, Washington reporter Libby Lewis, entertainment-industry correspondent Kim Masters and national reporter John McChesney. About half the 64 people cut are journalists.
Yet I can't help but think that now, of all times, is not the time to cut any sort of programing that brings intelligent discourse to black issues. Couldn't they have cut that weird news quiz show, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, instead? I mean, really?
In the grand, new age of Obama, this is happening? This past year, we at Jack and Jill Politics and the broader Afrosphere had to work triple time to try to inject some sanity into the media conversation about race. Suddenly Wolf Blitzer and crew had to say something, anything, about race, and they didn't know where to start because they lacked the lived experience, empathy or education to say anything useful. With Obama headed for the White House, the supply of ignorant racial media discourse will only grow.
We've got four years of people picking on the Obama Girls' Hairstyle or Michelle's Rear End or Is Obama Really The Black President. We've got four years of Is Racism Over or Who's Gonna Be The President For White Folks and other ignorant questions headed our way. We know it's coming. Yet it's at this time that one of our most prized outlets is switched off.
But fear not black people. CNN has hired D.L. Hughley.
Update 1
On of our commenters reminded me that the show Tell Me More, is hosted by Michelle Martin, an African-American. While that's true, her show can't be accurately called a black program. This according to the description of News & Notes alternate host Tony Cox:
"People are concerned and they're hoping for the best," Cox, who worked with the show in each of its incarnations, told Journal-isms. "If our show goes down, it will be a tragic loss, because we provide a unique voice in the NPR universe, and if we go down, that voice will be lost."
Martin's program, while also featuring an African American host, "is more multicultural," Cox said, "and our show is more Afrocentric and Afro-American-centric. We really focus on the black experience in America and in Africa."
Looking for something to do? Jasmyne Cannick has posted the numbers and emails of some key NPR execs as well as a petition.
Reader Comments (15)
Devils Advocate: Why do we need racially segregated news shows anyway?
Devils Advocate: Why do we need racially segregated news shows anyway?
I think you should listen to a few shows. It was hardly what I'd describe as racially segregated. It provided valuable insight and analysis from an often black perspective however. I think that's useful for reasons I outlined in the post.
I think you should listen to a few shows. It was hardly what I'd describe as racially segregated. It provided valuable insight and analysis from an often black perspective however. I think that's useful for reasons I outlined in the post.
You're assuming that I haven't listened to News and Notes. I've listened to News and Notes and the "Mocha Moms". I found most info to be valuable and some topics that were a bit out there.
I just don't think it should be kept only on the "black show", and you and I know that people turn from News & Notes on the radio dial not because they're racist, they just don't think it pertains to them. ;)
BTW, Latino USA is the same thing, and I share the same last name as the hostess. Bring it all into the mainstream, we need to hear it all.
BTW#2 What do you have against Wait Wait Don't Tell Me?
You're assuming that I haven't listened to News and Notes. I've listened to News and Notes and the "Mocha Moms". I found most info to be valuable and some topics that were a bit out there.
I just don't think it should be kept only on the "black show", and you and I know that people turn from News & Notes on the radio dial not because they're racist, they just don't think it pertains to them. ;)
BTW, Latino USA is the same thing, and I share the same last name as the hostess. Bring it all into the mainstream, we need to hear it all.
BTW#2 What do you have against Wait Wait Don't Tell Me?
I agree that the conversation can always be expanded and should be increasingly in this age. I look forward to it. What I've seen is that many mainstream shows don't have the inclination or preparation to do certain topics justice. This is an age-old question that has no ultimate right answer but rather a balance.
I don't think people who don't listen to N&N are racist. Maybe they just have bad taste :)
As for WWDTM. I have nothing against the show, per se. It's just that it's a silly quiz show and vs the insight from N&N, I'd have rather seen that go if anything had to be cut.
It's a sad time for NPR to have to make this decision.
I agree that the conversation can always be expanded and should be increasingly in this age. I look forward to it. What I've seen is that many mainstream shows don't have the inclination or preparation to do certain topics justice. This is an age-old question that has no ultimate right answer but rather a balance.
I don't think people who don't listen to N&N are racist. Maybe they just have bad taste :)
As for WWDTM. I have nothing against the show, per se. It's just that it's a silly quiz show and vs the insight from N&N, I'd have rather seen that go if anything had to be cut.
It's a sad time for NPR to have to make this decision.
Agreed, although I see some need in fine tuning the shows. They layoffs are horrible.
Agreed, although I see some need in fine tuning the shows. They layoffs are horrible.
Hmm. I don't really know the show (my media geek button was off, I guess). NPR has membership, no? Maybe between now and March there's time to get an intelligent grassroots campaign that tries to work with NPR in scraping a budget together for the show (though prospects seem really dismal). And as to what's more important - N&N vs. WWDTM: I moved to back to Haiti precisely to fight for majority access to things like "entertainment" and "the arts" which are barely even mentioned when discussing the future of this country, let alone prioritized and supported. R&R is a human right, too... ;-)
Hmm. I don't really know the show (my media geek button was off, I guess). NPR has membership, no? Maybe between now and March there's time to get an intelligent grassroots campaign that tries to work with NPR in scraping a budget together for the show (though prospects seem really dismal). And as to what's more important - N&N vs. WWDTM: I moved to back to Haiti precisely to fight for majority access to things like "entertainment" and "the arts" which are barely even mentioned when discussing the future of this country, let alone prioritized and supported. R&R is a human right, too... ;-)
a show hosted by or featuring a black journalist and a show that focuses on the black experience are not necessarily the same thing.
i live in wisconsin, and as far as i know, we don't even get black shows on npr here -- i have to hear about them from people in other places and then try to listen to them on the web. however, i, too, suffer from random shutdown syndrome, via my g4, and so that has been difficult.
regarding npr membership, the regional absence of these shows means that, where i live, people who listen to npr on the radio (as opposed to listening on the web) don't get the opportunity to support those shows specifically during pledge drives unless they do it via internet, which not everyone can do.
happy new year.
by "the black experience" i do not mean to suggest that there is only one black experience....
Thanks for the troll, or are you really that clueless?