Smooth Launch for 89.9 KXIR

After more than a half-dozen years of research, applications, hard work and fund-raising the KSER Foundation launched its second radio station Tuesday evening, November 12, 2013.

KSER is now being simulcast on KXIR at 89.9 FM. The station is licensed to Freeland and the newly-constructed tower is located in Greenbank on Whidbey Island.

The addition of this second frequency allows the non-profit KSER Foundation to increase its reach and do more focused community service broadcasting. We had a standing-room-only crowd in the KSER Community Room Tuesday evening for the KXIR launch celebration

Celebrating the Launch of KXIR 89.9 FM

Former KSER Board President Karen Crowley led a packed room of listeners, volunteers and staff in a KSER on-air countdown to launch of KXIR.  At 6:45 p.m. the first KXIR Station Identification was delivered by founding KSER Board President John Thielke. And longtime KSER News & Public Affairs Director Ed Bremer conducted the very first KXIR on-air interview with current KSER Foundation Board President Brenda Mann Harrison.

At 7 p.m. we were honored to have the first official joint KSER & KXIR Station Identification delivered by Mel Sheldon, Chair of the Tulalip Tribes.

For several months we will continue to simulcast KSER & KXIR while we conduct more community forums and surveys to obtain community feedback on how to best serve the community with two independent public radio stations. We'd welcome your feedback.

Many communities throughout the country don't have even one truly independent community owned radio station. The North Puget Sound now has two.

You can learn more about KXIR, including how to offer your financial support for independent public radio, on our website at KXIR.org.

Listening to History; and Making History

We're having a party! And here's your invitation:

Please join us this evening at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 to celebrate the first broadcast of 89.9 KXIR-FM, which will expand the reach of commercial-free, community-focused radio to an additional 700,000 residents in the North Puget Sound.

If you can't make it in person, we hope you'll listen on 90.7 FM KSER as we relive history and make some history at the same time.

KSER News & Public Affairs Director Ed Bremer will host a special launch program on KSER starting at 6:30 p.m. This program will include audio excerpts of the very first KSER program from more than 20 years ago and audio from the very first broadcast from when KSER moved to it's current location in Everett.

Then at 6:45 p.m. everyone at the station will take part in a countdown to the very first broadcast on KXIR. We will flip the switch and begin our simulcast, which means you will be able to hear Democracy Now, The Takeaway, all the great music programs and all of our news and public affairs programs on two frequencies: 90.7 & 89.9. Depending on where you live, work or drive, you'll have the option of picking which signal you receive best. The new 1,000 watt signal will reach most of Snohomish County, all of Island County and portions of King County.

KXIR Broadcast Tower on Whidbey Island

You may know that KSER, and now, KXIR are community owned radio stations. Much of what you hear on the air is produced by volunteers. Our community elected Board of Directors are all volunteers.

In this age of growing corporate media consolidation, it's remarkable, and important, that community supporters can compete and keep a locally owned station on the air. It's even more impressive that those same people were able to work hard for a number of years to be able to add a second station.

KXIR wouldn't be happening and KSER wouldn't be here if it wasn't for hard volunteer work, dedication and financial support of people like you.

So, thanks! And if you'd like to learn more about the KSER Foundation and our new station, check out KSER.org.

Doubling Down on Community Service

The non-profit KSER Foundation is about to be the steward of a second non-commercial independent public radio station. Sometime in the next few weeks we will expand our footprint in the North Puget Sound by launching the region's newest FM radio station: KXIR at 89.9.

This new station is a project that actually began years ago with planning and filings with the Federal Communications Commission. Several other organizations were eager to claim this last available full-power frequency in our region.  But almost three years ago the F.C.C. awarded the new frequency to the KSER Foundation.

Our initial focus was to find an existing tower that would meet the F.C.C. requirements for the broadcast signal. After all, who wants to build a new broadcast tower? Unfortunately, there were no towers already available that could accommodate our needs and the F.C.C. specifications. Eventually we were able to lease a small plot of heavily wooded land in the middle of Whidbey Island to construct a new tower.

We held a public hearing at Greenbank Farms which was attended by several of the neighbors who live in the sparsely populated area near the tower site. After the hearing we filed a land-use permit with Island County proposing the clearing of a relatively small area that would be surrounded by tall trees on all sides.  The average tree height in the area is nearly 140' and our tower would be 180' - meaning that from many vantage points you would barely be able to see the tower above the tree line. Our proposal also spelled out that the tower would remain in it's natural galvanized steel state - no bright orange or red colors. And because of the limited height, no strobe lights, beacons or lights of any kind will be placed on the tower.  We also included a commitment to plant additional trees around the tower site once it was complete.

The Island County Planning Department approved our application and allowed a window for public comment or appeals. There were none. We were given the green light to begin the project.

That began a four-month flurry of land-clearing; surveying; measuring; concrete-pouring; parts-ordering; parts-deliveries; (oops, defective parts - more ordering); trench-digging; conduit-installation; (oops, conduit in wrong place - more digging) electrical wiring; other utilities installations; on-the-ground tower parts assembly; antenna assembly; and more.

That was all followed by delivery of a large crane; (oops, discovery that the crane wasn't large enough!); delivery of a larger crane; stacking of a 180' tower; tower climbing; antenna installation; budget calculations and recalculations.

If you'd like to see a big chunk of all that work edited down to three minutes, watch this time-lapse video:

We're still not finished. We need to do some testing and proofs and file that information with the F.C.C. before we begin serving the community with KXIR.  But, hopefully, that won't take more than another few weeks and you'll be able to listen to our music, news and public affairs programming on both 90.7 FM and 89.9 FM.

For at least the first six months, we will simulcast KSER's programming on the new station 24 hours a day. But, we've already held six public forums seeking your input on how we can best serve our communities with two independent public radio stations.  We are planning more outreach and research to determine the best way to create two separate and distinct stations to serve our diverse area. But you can be sure that however the stations' programming is developed it will be done to match the KSER Foundation Mission Statement: To advance the common good in our community
through Public Radio and other services dedicated to arts, ideas and civic engagement.


You can find out more about our new station here. If you have ideas, suggestions or questions about the new station we'd love to hear from you.

Many towns and cities in the U.S. are not served by a community owned, fully independent public radio station. Some are fortunate enough to have one. In the North Puget Sound - thanks to the hard work, vision and dedication of many people and thanks to community support - we're about to have TWO!

KSER Voice of the Community Awards

A packed house was on hand at Everett Community College Saturday evening for the annual KSER Voice of the Community Award Celebration.

(l-r) Kristin Ebeling; Ryan Crowther; Bruce Russell; Arnie Hammerman; Shannon Affholter; Sandra VanderVen

The award recipients:

Community Impact by an Individual
Kristin Ebeling, director, skate park and youth programs for Mukilteo YMCA
Sandra VanderVen, senior organizer, Fuse

Community Impact by an Organization
Japanese Gulch Group
Japanese Gulch Group Board President Arnie Hammerman accepted the award.

Community Impact by a Business
Economic Alliance Snohomish County
Shannon Affholter, Vice President of Economic and Community Development accepted the award.

Cultural Impact by an Organization
Everett Music Initiative
Everett Music Initiative founder Ryan Crowther accepted the award.

Cultural Impact by a Business
Whidbey Telecom
Whidbey Telecom Chief Operating Officer Bruce Russell accepted the award.

This was the sixth annual KSER Voice of the Community Awards Celebration. If you've attended you know it's a great way to pay recognition to individuals, organizations and businesses that speak up to raise awareness about community or cultural concerns with positive results.

If you've never attended, you should start making plans now for next fall and the 2014 KSER Voice of the Community Award Celebration.

KSER's Voice of the Community Celebration

It's here!  The sixth annual KSER Voice of the Community Award Celebration takes place this Saturday evening. You can still buy tickets at the door for the event which takes place at the Jackson Conference Center on the Everett Community College campus.

The KSER Voice of the Community Award recognizes local individuals, organizations and businesses that speak up to raise awareness about community or cultural concerns with positive results. During the past several months, we received nominations for this years awards, and here's the list of recipients who will be honored this weekend:

Community Impact by an Individual
Kristin Ebeling, director, skate park and youth programs for Mukilteo YMCA
Sandra VanderVen, senior organizer, Fuse

Community Impact by an Organization
Japanese Gulch Group

Community Impact by a Business
Economic Alliance Snohomish County

Cultural Impact by an Organization
Everett Music Initiative

Cultural Impact by a Business
Whidbey Telecom

2012 Voice of the Community Recipients Roger Pawley, Jan Vance & Lillian Ortiz-Self

 Online ticket sales have ended. But you can still buy tickets at the door, Saturday evening at the Jackson Center on the campus of Everett Community College.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Pledge Drives (but were afraid to ask).

People are always asking us questions about pledge drives.

Do you have to do them? Are they really necessary? Do people even listen? Wouldn't it be better for the station if you didn't do them? Do people really call and pledge money?

Yes. Yes. Yes. No. Yes.

We do have to do them because more than 50% of the money we receive to operate KSER comes from listeners. And much of that money comes in during our pledge drives. So yes, they are necessary and we know people listen because, thankfully, they call and pledge money. So if we didn't do pledge drives, KSER just wouldn't be able to operate.

But, like everything else, you have to put things in perspective.

We do three pledge drives a year - Spring, Summer, Fall. Each pledge drive is just nine days long. That means every year we're doing pledge drives for 27 days. 338 days out of the year there are no pledge drives on KSER. (339 in leap year!)

Compare that to a commercial station and the ads they run. Commercial stations play commercials 365 days a year. Zero days commercial free, compared to our 338 pledge-free days.

We do occasionally receive the 'please stop talking and get back to the music' phone call. But put that in perspective, too. We do 4 or 5 three-minute 'pledge breaks' each hour. Compare that to commercial stations which frequently run a commercial break that is 7 or 8 minutes long several times an hour. Some stations run more than 18 minutes of commercials every hour, every day, all year long.

The other sometimes not-so-obvious issue with all those commercials is the 'clout' the advertisers may have. Even PBS may have succumbed to corporate pressure.

The truly good thing about pledge drives for radio stations like KSER is the fact that it is YOUR opportunity to support an independent community voice. KSER is your station. We don't have a corporate owner or out-of-town consultants. Everyone involved with the station - board members, volunteers, staff - are all doing this to serve the community. To provide an independent voice that is not tied to corporate interests or control. And we can only do that if the community continues to provide support.

And pledge drives can even be fun. This Saturday, October 5th from noon to 3 p.m. we're once again having a free cookout in the KSER parking lot at 2623 Wetmore Ave in Everett. In the summer we served hot dogs, this time it's brats as a nod to October. You  could make your important donation in person and meet your favorite KSER Saturday DJ's!

Of course if you can't make it to the station you can call anytime during the pledge drive, or, just go to KSER.org and make a pledge online.  If everyone who regularly listens to KSER would go online once a year and make a $35 pledge, we'd never have to do pledge drives.

Fact: most people listen and never donate. But that's okay. That's why we count on special people like you who are willing to support independent public radio. Thanks!

 

Government Shut-Down; Radio and the FCC

Of all the agencies and offices impacted by the US government shutdown, here's one that you probably haven't even thought about: The Federal Communications Commission.

Despite the FCC shutdown, the people on the air at KSER still aren't going to use any of George Carlin's 'Seven Dirty Words', even though some of us might have a few choice words for congress

The Federal Communications Commission has reportedly told 98% of it's staff to stay home and most of the tools and resources on the FCC website have been deactivated. For most Americans, the FCC shutdown is not exactly a big deal..or of any concern at all. But for those of us in the radio business, it's a concern.

For example, every radio station in the state of Washington is in the process of FCC license renewal. You may have heard the announcements on KSER and other stations. Current licenses don't expire until February of 2014 and the government shutdown, hopefully, will be long over by then. But even if the shutdown should drag on for months, radio stations will continue to operate.

And, fortunately, the KSER Foundation already has an FCC Construction Permit for another station - a brand new station in the north Puget Sound. In fact, it may be the very last full-power FM signal that will be available in this part of the country for a long time. For the past couple of months we've been hard at work on this project that will allow us to provide more community service, culture, music, entertainment and news and information to even more people in the region.  The new station, KXIR-FM will broadcast at 89.9 from a tower we're building in Greenbank on Whidbey Island.

Crew Preparing Tower Pad

Our project team has cleared a very small section of land for a 180' tower that will be barely visible in the area - It's only about 30 feet above most of the surrounding trees and will not have any beacon lights - but it will enable us to reach more people in the North Puget Sound. In fact, the KXIR signal, combined with our existing KSER signal at 90.7 FM, will reach more than 1.3 million residents in the North Puget Sound. You can learn more about our new station at KXIR.org where you can also learn how to contribute to our three-year campaign to raise funds to build and operate the station.

The FCC might not be working during the government shutdown, but, thanks to your financial support, we're moving forward with this important project and will be on the air and broadcasting sometime in November.  It will be one more rare independent voice owned by the community, not by an out-of-town corporation.

The Only Constant: Change

If you missed Ed Bremer's Sound Living this past Friday afternoon (August 30, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.) you missed a great hour about the future of the media and newspapers in particular.

Ed's guest for the full hour was new Everett Herald Publisher Josh O'Connor.  Josh took the reigns as Herald publisher after his company, Sound Publishing, recently purchased the Herald from the Washington Post Company - just a few months before the Washington Post itself was purchased by Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

You can still hear the full interview with O'Connor on our website, KSER.org, by clicking on the Radio Replayer button and going to Friday at 4 p.m.

Among the topics covered: there are apparently no plans to cut daily publication of the Herald, but there may be future plans for a 'paywall' - meaning at some point in the future you won't be able to access all the news on the Herald website unless you pay.

That seems to be the clear trend in the newspaper business. Some are cutting out some days of publication or charging to view stories on their websites...or both.

One of the topics Ed Bremer asked Josh O'Connor about is the concern over fewer companies controlling more media outlets.

The radio business, as you probably know, has also been dealing with the dramatic shifts in the media business landscape - at a time when the economy in general has been struggling.  Just Friday one of Seattle's long-time heritage music radio stations pulled the plug on what used to be a very successful format.  The Mountain, owned by Entercom of Philadelphia, is no longer The Mountain.  But instead has switched to a "Hot Adult Contemporary" format.  The company says The Mountain will still exist as a web stream and as a secondary 'HD' channel.  But most people don't have HD radios, and more people still listen to radio versus streaming audio. But the trends keep changing.

Web streaming, smart phones, tablets, YouTube, Pandora, I-Pods. They've all garnered more of everyone's time and eaten into the amount of time most people spend with traditional media: TV, Radio, Newspapers.  And newspapers have struggled even more with the loss of classified advertising to websites like Craigslist.

But it all still comes down to content. And for many of us the most important thing is having independent voices and independent news coverage that's not controlled by an owner three time zones away who is concerned only about corporate profit or, in some cases, about pushing a political agenda. 

It's a reason many of us are rooting for the continued survival of an important local news asset like the Herald. It's a reason many of you continue to support independent media outlets like KSER. Even with the disappearance of The Mountain on the FM dial, you can still hear local artists you won't hear anywhere else on KSER.

And more commercial radio is being gobbled up by a handful of corporate owners. Read here about commercial radio operator Cumulus buying up news and sports content distributor Dial-Global for $260-million. But there are still independent outlets like KSER where you'll hear hour-long interviews focused on the rapidly shifting media landscape, and you'll still hear in-depth news coverage from Amy Goodman that you won't hear in the mainstream media.

It's also why the KSER Foundation has started construction on a second FM station to expand our coverage in the North Puget Sound and to allow us to do more to serve our communities. You can learn more about our new station, 89.9 KXIR here.

KSER and, soon KXIR, exist because over the years thousands of people have made financial commitments to ensure an important local asset in our community. It's easy to learn about contributing online.  And with more media outlets shifting or vanishing or coming under corporate control, we're more thankful than ever that there are special people who keep these independent voices alive. Thanks!

Kaddywompas Weekend in Snohomish

You have another chance to enjoy a brand new Tim Noah Kaddywompas Radio Show this weekend in Snohomish!

Tim and his Thumbnail Theater crew are producing a new show and will perform it twice this weekend - Saturday night August 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday August 25 at 2 p.m. - before a live Thumbnail audience. You can be in the audience, be part of the fun, and be part of the making of a radio show.  Reserve your tickets here.

This weekend's edition of Kaddywompas is "The River is Risin', which you will be able to hear on KSER (90.7 FM and online at KSER.org) on Sunday, September 8 at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Enjoy the Everett Art Walk AND Support KSER

Thanks to Cafe Zippy, you can enjoy the monthly Everett Art Walk this weekend and support KSER at the same time!

The Everett Art Walk occurs the third Saturday of each month and Cafe Zippy at 2811 Wetmore Avenue in downtown Everett is one of the participating venues. This Saturday Cafe Zippy is going to feature the artwork of award-winning local artist Jules Anslow. Jules is the creator of the iconic artwork on the side of the KSER studios.

Jules Anslow Artwork on the KSER Studios

A portion of all the Jules Anslow art sales at Cafe Zippy will help support KSER, your local independent public radio station. The Everett Art Walk hours on Saturday are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It's your chance to support local business and local artists. And an opportunity to hang out at Cafe Zippy, meet Jules Anslow and support KSER!

"Zippy" from Cafe Zippy barking for support during a recent KSER Pledge Drive

The New KSER Board of Directors

The KSER Foundation Annual Meeting was held Tuesday evening (August 13) and ballots were counted for the KSER Board of Director's election.

Public Ballot Counting at the KSER Annual Meeting

There are two new members of the KSER Board of Directors.  KSER on-air host Ed Gasparini is a newly elected board member, filling one of two board seats designated for regular on-air KSER volunteers.  Ed is the host of the Academy of Comedy, which is heard every Saturday morning at 7 a.m. on KSER.

Ed Gasparini

Also elected to the Board is Sandy Thompson. Sandy is a former KSER board member who is returning to the board after a one-year absence.

Sandy Thompson

Three other current board members were re-elected: Kari King; Heather Bennett and Board President Brenda Mann Harrison.

Kari King; Brenda Mann Harrison; Heather Bennett

 And two dedicated, long-time KSER Board Members saw their terms expire at this election. Former Board President Candace McKenna is taking a break from her hard working board commitment. But even after more than a dozen years of KSER Board work Candace will remain involved with the KSER Foundation as a member of the newly formed KSER Endowment Committee.

KSER Treasurer John Thielke is also ending his board duties. John has been an important part of the KSER Foundation since shortly after it was formed to take over KSER from the Jack Straw Foundation.  John also will remain involved with the foundation, as a member of the project team for KXIR, the new FM station being built in Island County. John has been involved with KSER for more than 16 years.

John Thielke; Candace McKenna

Other KSER Board Members whose terms are continuing and were not up for re-election are Hayden Bixby; Brad Goergen; Marla Hamilton Lucas; Pam Somers and Cheryl Telford.

Just like most of the on-air hosts at KSER, our board members are all hard working volunteers.  They are elected by KSER members to direct the strategic vision and financial well-being of the KSER Foundation on behalf of the community. They devote hundreds of hours a year to board meetings; committee meetings and board-related assignments.

Thanks to those of you who returned your ballot and voted in this year's KSER election.

And if you're not a member of KSER, you can become one for a one-time donation of $35 or more. Then, next summer you'll get to vote and help set the direction for Snohomish County's only independent public radio station.

People Who Are Good at Reading Out Loud

In the mail today, there was a very generous donation check for KSER from a listener named Dennis in Sedro Woolley.

In the "For" line at the bottom of the check most people usually write "donation" or "KSER Pledge" or something similar. But Dennis wrote "World Class Journalism."

Whether Dennis was referring to the unbiased local coverage every morning and afternoon from Sondra Santos and Ed Bremer or some of the incredible national and world coverage KSER provides from Amy Goodman or John Hockenberry, we'll accept the compliment.

I used to work in commercial radio with someone who always called our news anchors "people who are good at reading out loud." I was reminded of that 'reading out loud' description by the San Francisco TV blunder in the aftermath of the tragic July 6 crash-landing of an Asiana Arline Boeing 777 jet at SFO.

You've probably seen the YouTube clip of the KTVU TV news anchor 'reading out loud' the fake names of the four pilots of the plane.The clearly fake and insensitive names were also shown on the screen while the anchor was reading. She managed to slowly and carefully pronounce all four phony names.

I've worked in newsrooms - radio and television -  and I know how hectic things can be during a major breaking news story. And I know it's pretty easy to make mistakes, especially in TV news when you have multiple people feeding breaking developments to anchors, often talking into their earpiece while the anchor is on the air.  But this incident didn't happen in the uncertain hours after the crash or even the same day. It was much later, after the station had already run quite a heavy schedule of promos touting their coverage of the crash.

I've been trying to imagine a similar scenario wherein Democracy Now's Amy Goodman would read all the way through those obviously fake names without realizing it was a hoax.  And, while I'm sure Amy makes mistakes from time to time, I just can't imagine her doing something similar. Nor could I imagine the flub being made by John Hockenberry or Ed Bremer or Sondra Santos.

That's not to suggest they're perfect. Or mistake-free. Or better.  Or they have more listeners or viewers.  But the difference is they are talking to newsmakers and asking questions and probing issues. They're either talking about what they know about or asking questions of others who do know. What they're not doing is 'reading out loud.' 

So, Dennis of Sedro Woolley, we'll take the 'world class journalism' compliment - even if sometimes the competition sets a pretty low bar.  
 
And any donation to KSER is always appreciated. As an independent, non-profit community voice, we couldn't do it without you and your support.

KSER Current Events Quiz - Are You Smarter than a DJ?

Due to overwhelming popular demand, here's another KSER current events quiz. (Well, one person asked for it...and that was a little overwhelming.)

Check your level of current events savvy.  Just 10 questions. Answer all 10 correctly and win the right to brag to your friends and family!  Answers at the bottom.

1. ABC's "The View" just hired a replacement for Elizabeth Hassebeck, after she left to join "Fox & Friends."  Who is the new co-host on "The View"?

a.  Democracy Now host Amy Goodman
b.  Someone with a decade of newspaper experience
c.  Someone who posed naked for Playboy
d.  George Zimmerman

2. One of the hosts of KSER's Saturday lineup recently did his very last KSER show.  Who is the 'former' KSER DJ?

a. Van Jones, host of Green Collar Radio
b. Van Ramsey, host of Pull the String
c.  Van Cliburn, host of Pull the Piano
d.  Van Morrison, host of Into the Mystic

3. More and more media outlets which have been offering their content online for free, are now starting to charge for their content. The industry term is "Paywall."  Which of these organizations is still providing their online content for free 24 hours a day?

a.  The Seattle Times
b.  The New York Times
c.  KSER.org
d.  Sirius/XM Radio

4.  All of the KSER DJ's have one thing in common.  What is it?

a. They're all members of AFTRA and make minimum scale of $42,500 per year
b. They've all spent time working as circus performers
c.  They're all volunteers, providing content for KSER for love not money
d.  They all have medical marijuana prescriptions

5.  KSER depends on financial support from our listeners. How can you donate to KSER?

a.  Donate online at the 'Donate Now' button in the top, left corner of KSER.org
b.  Send a check: 2623 Wetmore Ave; Everett, WA; 98201
c.  Call us 425-303-9070
d.  All of the above

6.  The Everett Herald reported this week that an area business has once again been the subject of complaints about an 'odor' problem from nearby residents. What's the business?

a.  The Everett Herald
b.  The Anchor Pub
c.  The KSER Broadcast Studio
d.  Cedar Grove Composting

7.  Several times a year, KSER conducts a Basic Broadcast Class. To qualify for this class you have to meet which requirement?

a.  Be fluent in English and Spanish
b.  Pass a drug test
c.  Fail a drug test
d.  None of the above

8.  A member of a famous family has moved to Wyoming and has announced a run for congress as a Republican. Who?

a.  Former VP Dick Cheney's daughter, Liz Cheney
b.  Former KSER Pull the String host Van Ramsey
c.  Former Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon
d.  Former first-daughter Chelsea Clinton

9.  Watch for traffic jams Friday night near Safeco Field because of an expected full house for a concert. Who's performing?

a.  Who
b.  Guess Who
c.  70-year-old guy from England
d.  Sir Mix-A-Lot

10.  Which dog won the KSER Dog Days of Summer Dog Picture contest?

a.  Ozzie the dog
b.  Snoop Dogg
c.  Dog the Bounty Hunter
d.  Harry the Husky


ANSWERS:

1.  (c)  New host on the View is October '93 Playmate of the Month Jenny McCarthy.
2.  (b) Van Ramsey has pulled the plug on Pull the String. What's he thinkin'?
3.  (c)  KSER.org is always free, not to mention 90.7. Never a paywall.
4.  (c)  All KSER DJ's are volunteers. Not sure about the weed thing.
5.  (d)  You can donate to KSER all those ways and more. Check online.
6.  (d)  The odor issue involves Cedar Grove. Although KSER does have a certain essence.
7.  (d)  No tests or requirements to take the KSER Basic Broadcast Class.
8.  (a)  Liz Cheney, longtime Virginia resident, has moved to Wyoming to run for congress.
9.  (c)  Friday at Safeco: Paul McCartney. He's 70!!
10.(d) Ozzie is the KSER Dog of the Summer!

Amy vs. Jenny vs. Elizabeth

Sometimes you appreciate Amy Goodman even more when you see or hear what's on the other stations and channels.

If you missed the news last week, Elizabeth Hasselbeck is leaving ABC's The View to be a co-host on Fox & Friends, the morning show on the Fox TV network.  In addition to being married to an NFL quarterback (Matt Hasselbeck's brother Tim), Elizabeth cut her TV journalism teeth by being a judge for Miss Teen USA and being cast in "Survivor: The Australian Outback" in 2001.

The View already has Hasselbeck's replacement lined up - they've hired seasoned broadcast veteran Jenny McCarthy.  McCarthy was propelled to media fame with a 1993 $20,000 gig as Playboy's Ocotber Playmate of the Month.  She gained more experience by hosting the MTV dating show "Singled Out" and then appeared in a number of motion pictures, including BASEketball and Dirty Love.

McCarthy has also made a name for herself by claiming that some vaccines can lead to autism.  A number of scientists, physicians and experts, have debunked her claims. Salon.com called her a crackpot and said her continued crusade "does not make her a mother warrior, it makes her a menace."

Then, there's Amy Goodman. Amy graduated from Radcliffe College in 1984 with a degree in anthropology and spent a year studying at the College of the Atlantic in Maine.  She had been news director for Pacifica's WBAI in New York City for more than a decade when she co-founded her current nationally syndicated program "Democracy Now!"

Amy has won dozens of awards, including the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and the George Polk Award.

Bill Clinton angrily called her "hostile and combative" after he called WBAI on election day in 2000 for what he planned to be a quick 'get-out-the-vote' message.  Goodman peppered him with questions about NAFTA, racial profiling, and Iraq sanctions.  She challenged him for a solid 28 minutes before he could extricate himself from the call.

Far be it from me to question the broadcast journalism chops of Jenny McCarthy or Elizabeth Hasselbeck. They're both highly compensated and have survived in a challenging, cut-throat business...so they must appeal to millions of people.

But here's a challenge: spend a few mornings watching Elizabeth Hasselbeck on Fox & Friends; then catch Jenny McCarthy on The View; then listen to a few hours of Amy Goodman on KSER. Then you make the call. You decide which makes you feel a little more informed and understanding about the issues facing us today.

Of course, some of the issues facing us can be daunting and depressing. Maybe that's why so many people would prefer graduates of Survivor and Playboy.

Van Ramsey - Pulls the Plug

Van Ramsey has decided to pull the curtain on "Pull the String."

Van has hosted the popular Saturday afternoon show on KSER for a decade and has decided he needs a break. Like all the KSER DJ's, Van is a station volunteer - and like many of our volunteers he also happens to have a full-time job when he's not busy getting his show ready and doing Pull the String.

In addition, Van happens to be the keyboard guy and a vocalist in the popular local band the Wild Snohomians. So between the real job and all those late night weekend band performances, Van has decided to take a break.  (We're not upset or anything...he has every right to pull the heart out of the KSER Saturday lineup.)

Van Ramsey at KSER doing his show in 3-D.

You'll probably still hear Van from time to time doing some fill-in work on KSER, but, sadly, this Saturday, July 13, 2013 will be the very last regularly-scheduled Pull the String.  And while you will no longer be able to hear Pull the String on the radio, you'll still be able to catch the Wild Snohomians at local clubs (and on YouTube).

We're hopeful that Van will come to his senses in the future and return to his sweet radio gig, but in the meantime make sure you catch the final Pull the String this Saturday starting at 3 p.m. on 90.7 FM or online at KSER.org - it's sure to be epic!

Independence

Downtown Everett Decked Out for Independence

Some days it seems like almost everyone is co-opting the flag or bragging about patriotism in order to further their own interests.

What politician would be caught without his flag lapel-pin?  How many companies are putting a "Made in USA" label on their product - or in some cases "Designed in USA", but then a tiny "Assembled in China" footnote.

Of course the 4th of July is when we celebrate our independence (while also having a deserved day off and a barbecue). But for some of us, there's a great concern about just how much of our independence is slipping away.

NSA is monitoring almost everyone's cell-phone usage and internet activity. We take off our shoes and get our bodies scanned, and sometimes groped, at the airport. Some jurisdictions are trying to make it harder for citizens to vote, not easier. Giant corporations make billions in profits and pay little or nothing in taxes. People in Skagit County learned firsthand that our bridges and infrastructure are decaying, while the military gets a budget increase that even some of the top brass at the Pentagon didn't want.

Not long ago, many Americans could go to college for free. Now a college education is unaffordable for many, and many more are racking up huge student loan debts.  And while hundreds of thousands of Americans have asked for a solution to the college debt problem, Congress this week went on vacation and allowed student loan interest rates to double. I guess that's good news if you're running a bank.

Meanwhile, fewer and fewer companies have more and more control over the media and the message.

Maybe George Orwell had everything correct about 1984...except the date.

So I'll co-opt the word 'independence' on this 4th of July week and apply it to KSER.  Because, while cities all over the USA are cluttered with corporate owned, similar sounding radio stations and media outlets, KSER remains a rare voice of independence.

When Amy Goodman visited Everett Community College last Fall she told a standing-room-only crowd how fortunate we are in Snohomish County to have a station like KSER. She correctly pointed out that many towns and cities have no such independent voice.

Sure, you'll find radio stations with slicker 'production values' (as the professional broadcasters say) and 'tighter playlists' (the industry term for highly-researched and focus-grouped music) and more 'voice tracking' (that's where the several-states-or-time-zones-away DJ has pre-recorded the show you're listening to).

But what you won't find at KSER are news and public affairs hosts and producers concerned about toeing the corporate line. We are truly independent. No corporate owner. No federal grants. No strings. And that's thanks to you.
 

We're fortunate to have thousands of listeners who are willing to support the station financially and dozens of volunteers who are willing to devote hundreds of hours of their time year after year to keep KSER as an independent voice for the people.

So thanks.  And happy Independence day!

When Things Go Wrong At Community Radio

If you're a supporter of independent community radio, this is a story you never want to see:

That's the lead to a story in the trade publication RadioInsight. You can read the full story here. WBAI is one of the stations owned by Pacifica, a network of five independently operated, non-commercial, listener supported radio stations. The network was launched with a single station in Berkeley, California in 1949.  But now, their station in the nation's largest radio market, New York City, is having major financial problems.

The trouble escalated this week when the Corporation for Public Broadcasting held up promised federal funding because of what it called Pacifica accounting problems. And without those federal dollars, WBAI has reportedly begun issuing notices to it's entire staff and management that they will be out of work as of July 15, 2013.  WBAI has also reportedly been unable to issue recent paychecks to employees.  What WBAI puts on the air after it's staff is gone is anybody's guess.  

For years, the show considered the flagship of the Pacifica Network was Democracy Now! with host Amy Goodman.  But in 2002 Democracy Now was spun off from Pacifica and became it's own production company.  As you probably know, Democracy Now is one of the important programs on KSER.  

Thanks in large part to smart financial stewardship by our community-elected KSER Board of Directors, KSER is not in the perilous financial position of WBAI.  But we couldn't be in great shape without you and your support.

That's why this week KSER is conducting one of only three pledge drive campaigns we do each year.  We don't play commercials. We don't get money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  We continue to operate because of support from our listeners.  

It's easy to contribute during our pledge drive.  You can call 425-303-9070.  You can donate online at the KSER website.  

 Since it's our "Dog Days of Summer" fundraising campaign, you can also visit the station with your pet and get his/her photo taken and posted on our website!  

Zippy, the proprietor of Cafe Zippy, has already stopped by, gotten his photo taken behind the microphone and made a donation!  If Zippy can do it...so can you!  

Help keep KSER out of the headlines!

 

 

Ten Easy Ways You Can Support KSER

Is there anything more annoying that Top 10 Lists?  Wait...before you answer that, here are 10 ways you can help support independent public radio, KSER.

10. Tell all your friends and neighbors and convince them to start listening. Okay, maybe you don't like talking to your neighbors, so post something on Facebook or Twitter about your favorite KSER show.

9. Become a pledge-drive volunteer. We're doing our Summer KSER Pledge drive starting June 21 and we need volunteers to answer phones. If you'd like to sign up to help out for a 2-hour shift just call us at 425-303-9070.

8.  Plaster one of those cool KSER static-cling stickers on your car window or office or home window. We'll be happy to send you one!

7. Wear cool KSER shirts and hats available at the KSER online store. They don't cost much, but you'll be the life of the party and the most popular person at work.

6. Consider donating your old car, truck, RV or boat to KSER. Running or not, we'll pick it up and handle all the paperwork.You'll be supporting KSER and may be eligible for a tax deduction. You can find all the info here.

5. If you own or work for a business, organization or non-profit that could use some marketing help, consider underwriting on KSER. It's dramatically less expensive than traditional advertising, your message won't be lost in the clutter of a 10-minute commercial break...and most importantly, our loyal listeners will know that your organization is a supporter of KSER. Just call 425-303-9070 and ask to speak to Katie or Marc.

4. Make sure you support the businesses and organizations that support KSER.  

3. If you're one of the many great KSER listeners who regularly makes financial contributions to the station, or if you're thinking about making a donation, please know that many employers will match your contribution to KSER - so you're doubling the impact of your donation. Microsoft; Boeing; Safeco; Pemco; PSE and more will match donations. Check with your HR department. 

2. Consider making a recurring donation that fits your budget; then every month you will automatically support KSER. It's easy to do online.

1. Listen AND donate AND tell your friends to listen and donate! (Don't forget, we're going to make it easy for your friends, we're starting our KSER Dog Days of Summer Fundraising Campaign on Friday, June 21!)

BONUS. Way #11 to Support KSER:  Let fellow motorists hear KSER. Roll down your car windows and crank up the KSER music really loud. You know, crank it up to 11...

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Hey kids, Father's Day is right around the corner (Sunday, June 16), and you wouldn't want to get the ol' man another boring tie or, almost worse, just send him another lame talking cat e-card.

There's still time to plan ahead and order a cool collectors item from the KSER Store! It's fast and easy, safe and secure, there's a 30-day money back guarantee AND you'll be supporting KSER.

 What Dad in his right mind wouldn't be proud to sport the stylish KSER barebecue grilling apron (pictured above)?  It's one-size-fits-all-beer-bellies and is machine washable. So spilled barbecue sauce and drooled Scuttlebutt IPA comes out easily. And you know Dad wouldn't want to stain his cool new retro-looking KSER Ringer-T!

The KSER Ringer-T is not only great for relaxing in the backyard while listening to Passport or Poptopia Parkway, but the 'ringer' bands help showcase Pop's 'Guns' and bulging neck muscles.

And with the Mariner's battling it out for the cellar, this stackable set of four party mugs is the perfect way to make Mom believe that  Dad and his three weirdo friends are drinking coffee, not booze, while watching the M's on TV.  (Not recommended for throwing at the flat-screen.)

Finding yourself embarrassed by Dad's combover? How about the ultimate hipster cover-up: the KSER khaki cap!

There's plenty more cool stuff - easy to order online - at the KSER Store. Just click here. And remember, you'll be making Dad feel special and you'll support KSER. Of course, there's always that talking cat E-Card!

You Deserve the Truth - KSER Quiz Edition

There's a radio station that's always saying "You Deserve the Truth";  but then they broadcast Rush Limbaugh!?  In honor of that broadcasting sleight of hand, here is a KSER quiz to see how easily you can separate the truth from the bovine excrement.

Each question is followed by three answers. But only one is....THE TRUTH!!!

The collapse of the I-5 bridge over the Skagit River Thursday night has officials scrambling to come up with creative solutions.  What unusual options are they considering?

A. A nearby boatyard is going to put in several floating piers connected as a water-level floating bridge over the Skagit.

B. A temporary jump-ramp over the river for risk-taking, thrill-seeking impatient drivers. US DOT will sell TV rights which will pay for a new bridge.

C. We're screwed for months. Best you can do is check online for detour options.

Hint: Truth

This time of year at KSER we start kicking around the acronym VOCA. It's all you hear at the office. VOCA this; VOCA that. What does VOCA stand for?

A. Victory Over Creeping Authoritarianism.

B.  Voted Obama but Concerned About (fill in the blank).

C.  Voice of the Community Award.

Hint: Truth

You've heard KSER promos for something called Kaddywompas.  What in the aach-eee-double-hockey-sticks is Kaddywompas?

A. Coupe deVille that needs a front end alignment.

B. Tim Noah radio show performed in Snohomish that you can still listen to online.

C.  Well defined gluteus maximus.

Hint: Truth

The KSER Saturday morning Big Bandstand show is hosted by Steve Ward. Steve's father was also famous. Who was he?

A. Montgomery Ward; titan of retail.

B.  Burt Ward; Played Robin on TV's Batman.

C.  Bill Ward; California radio legend.

Hint: Truth

A listener called wanting directions for a place he heard promoted on KSER called Clancy's Bar & Grill. What is Clancy's Bar & Grill?

A.  It's what celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay renamed Everett's former Prohibition Grill.

B.  Pipe-packin' Thursday night Blues show on KSER.

C.  Gentleman's club on Lake City Way.

Hint: Truth

KSER frequently has in-studio performances with different musical artists.  Is there a way to ever SEE those?

A.  You can peer through the windows of our studio on downtown Everett's Wetmore Avenue.

B.  You can always watch online on KSER's YouTube channel.

C.  If Mariners keep losing; they will be played on Safeco JumboTron during games.

Hint: Truth

 

Public Broadcasting's Scary Self-Censorship

I gotta make my last stand,
This time I can’t be bought,
Then again on the other hand,
How much have you got?
                   -  Todd Snider; "I Can't Complain."

How much media influence could you buy with $23,000,000?

ITVS - Independent Television Service - is a small arm of public television that funds and distributes independent films. It was founded twenty years ago with a mandate to "take creative risks, advance issues and represent points of view" not usually featured by commercial broadcasters.

But ITVS has apparently been too 'risky' for PBS. Last Fall they produced a documentary called "Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream." It focused on one high-end apartment building in New York City that is home to some of the wealthiest people in the world. Among them, David Koch, who, with his brother Charles, owns Koch Industries.

You may have seen the occasional PBS program and noticed the announcement about 'funding' coming from the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation.  According to The New Yorker, David Koch has contributed at least $23-million to public broadcasting. Not only has he contributed millions, but he has served as a trustee of Boston's biggest public broadcaster, WGBH. And in 2006 he joined the board of New York's WNET.

So when the PBS show "Park Avenue" was about to be broadcast, and the people at WNET realized it was very critical of David Koch, they informed him in advance. Then they dumped the original introduction to the program and replaced it with an announcement labeling the film "controversial" and "provocative."  And, they gave David Koch an opportunity to be part of a roundtable discussion to be broadcast immediately following the show.

Not long after that incident, two other documentary filmmakers had what they thought was a deal with ITVS to produce a film called "Citizen Koch."  In fact, the film competed for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. But recently, ITVS informed the producers that they would not move forward with the deal. You won't see it on PBS. You can read all the disconcerting details of Jane Mayer's reporting in The New Yorker here.

Sure, there's freedom of the press. And, yes, you've probably heard more than one talk-show host talk about how he or she has 'never' been censored or even 'toned down' by their corporate owners. And, even if the commercial radio and TV stations might be slanted or biased, many of us have always believed public broadcasting was there to balance things out.

But now some of us may have to question how some public broadcasters can balance out anything if they're so financially dependent on a few wealthy individuals. And I can tell you, from first hand experience, that corporate media bosses can and do influence programming. I was on the receiving end of orders from a CEO to fire a highly-rated talk host who was "too liberal." I could also tell you about the conference call involving network talk show hosts and radio program directors who listened to a CEO give "suggestions" on how shows should be slanted prior to a presidential election.

Media consolidation has led to fewer owners controlling more venues. You may have seen reports Koch Industries may buy the Tribune Newspapers -  The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, The Orlando Sentinel and The Hartford Courant.

Regardless of your political views, it's troubling to know that there are fewer and fewer independent, and local, media voices. It's why many of us are dedicated to public stations like KSER that feature voices like Amy Goodman and local coverage from people like Ed Bremer and Sondra Santos. And volunteer contributors like Jim Smith who produces Labor Radio Journal; Kinuko Noborikawa who produces Color Commentary; Mark Hale's "Sand in the Gears"; and commentary from Jim Hightower.

But for every station like KSER, that's supported mostly by listener contributions, there are dozens of bigger stations with stronger signals and more corporate support and resources.  That's why we're always thankful when more and more individual listeners are willing to pledge financial support for truly independent voices.

Conversely, as one of the producers of "Citizen Koch" puts it: "It's the very thing our film is about - public servants bowing to pressures, direct or indirect, from high-dollar donors."  Or, listen to one ITVS executive, sounding like a Homer Simpson d'oh moment, "We live in a world where we have to be aware that people with power have power."

NBA; Bus Service & the IRS.

If you want to highlight contradictions in priorities just follow the money.

If you're a sports fan, you know the NBA nixed the Sacramento Kings moving to Seattle to replace the long-departed Sonics.The NBA owners voted against the move even though Chris Hansen offered more than $406-million for a 65 per cent portion of the Kings. In other words, the Kings would have been worth $625-million - the most ever bid for any NBA team.

Getting nearly non-stop coverage on many radio and TV stations, that NBA story tended to overwhelm another story in the region: 400 people turning out in King County for a public hearing on Metro transit service funding. King County Metro, like transit services in other parts of the state, is faced with declining revenues. So they're considering a 17% cut in service, eliminating 65 routes and reducing dozens of others.You can get full details here. Because of a $60-million shortfall, thousands of people who count on transit service may see the total disappearance of the bus they take to work, or school, or the doctor's office.

Sure, it's apples and oranges.Transit is a public service provided by public dollars.The NBA is a private business funded by private dollars. Private, that is, until you start to think about public funding for a stadium or an arena and all the public services required for such a facility - security, traffic, roads, infrastructure - all supported by tax dollars. Remember when voters said 'no' twice to a new Seattle baseball stadium?

And while it may be an unfair comparison, you could look at these two stories and come to the conclusion that a single investor can come up with more than $400-million for a basketball team, but, as a society, we can't come up with $60-million to avoid dumping 65 important bus routes.

If - or when - Seattle eventually gets an NBA team, any bets on bus service to the new arena being cut?

And speaking of money and tax dollars, who isn't concerned about the IRS apparently targeting certain political groups?  After all, it's all over the cable news. A guest on Fox News even compared the IRS 'scandal' to Nazi Germany.  But what isn't getting nearly as much coverage is why some of those groups were being targeted. They were set up as non-profits, so they pay little or no taxes. But in reality they are spending, in some cases, millions of dollars to support political candidates or political initiatives.

If you pay attention to mainstream news coverage, this week you heard a lot about Seattle not getting an NBA team. You didn't hear nearly so much about thousands of people possibly losing their bus service. If you watch the cable news channels, you hear a lot about the IRS 'scandal.'  But you don't hear much about why those groups and organizations are allowed to function as non-profits.

Fortunately, there are ways for a determined news consumer to get the real story, not just the glitz and scandal coverage that's available so many places..."All Jody Arias, All the Time!" But with declining newspaper staffs and commercial broadcast consolidation, finding alternative voices and important issues can be tougher than landing a new NBA team.  

Memories of KRAB

KSER-FM has been on the air serving the North Puget Sound as an independent public radio station since 1991. But before KSER, there was KRAB.

KRAB was a ground-breaking, eclectic community-owned radio station that was on the air in Seattle at 107.7 FM from 1962 to 1984.  For many, KRAB was practically a life-altering experience. If you were one of them, now you can relive some of the sights and sounds of KRAB-FM.

Local resident, and longtime KRAB volunteer and employee, Chuck Reinsch has developed a great KRAB-FM website, which includes photos of the KRAB years - including pictures from the very last KRAB broadcast - and archived audio from many of the KRAB shows.

You can visit the website here.

There are great photos, like the ones you see here, many provided by former KRAB volunteers Paul Dorpat and Dave Rowland. The man many credit as the father of KRAB, Lorenzo Milam, is seen in the picture below on the last KRAB broadcast, April 15, 1984.

Bob West; Phil Bannon; Lorenzo Milam

KRAB was operated by the Jack Straw Foundation which ran into financial challenges and ended up selling the frequency to a commercial broadcaster. It's now owned by Entercom of Pennsylvania and is branded as "The End". That name must seem ironic to many of the KRAB faithful.

One of the cool things about KRAB was it's truly free-form format. The hosts, mostly volunteers, played the music they wanted to play and talked about the things they wanted to talk about. One of the not-so-cool things about that format was that it failed financially.

Seattle Times; April 17, 1984

 
After several years of trying to regain a broadcast facility in the Pacific Northwest, the same group was able to secure the rights to another broadcast signal, 90.7 FM  And today 90.7 is operated by the KSER Foundation.

If you loved KRAB, or you just want some insight on the birth of community radio in the Pacific Northwest, you should spend some time at Chuck Reinsch's KRAB website. KRAB's 'last night' even has it's own page.

And Chuck is hoping there are more people who might have photos, clippings or audio from the glory days of KRAB. Chuck has an email link on the website.

Happy KRABBING!

Right-Wing Talk Radio: R.I.P.???

Is right-wing talk radio on it's death bed?  Is El Rushbo on life support?

Jerry Del Colliano thinks so. And he may be the most connected radio insider. Colliano started the trade publication Inside Radio. He hasn't owned it for years, but at one time it was considered the Bible of the radio business.

In an article in The Daily Beast, Del Colliano is quoted as saying, “We’re watching the end of right-wing conservative talk radio. The genre is dying among ratings and dying among advertisers ... Rush is at the end of his career. His constituency is all wearing Depends."

Not so fast. To paraphrase Mark Twain, the reports of right-wing radio's death are greatly exaggerated.

Sure, there are cracks in the veneer. Just this week several of the big broadcast corporations that syndicate the top conservative talk-shows reported declining revenues. For example, Salem Communications saw a 1.6% 1st quarter revenue decline. Cumulus, which syndicates Rush Limbaugh, saw it's 1st quarter revenue drop 1.3%. This, at a time when the economy is supposed to be improving!


And now there's new grumbling between Cumulus and their 'star' syndicated talk-host. You may recall that last year Rush Limbaugh, who has been married four times, repeatedly called Sandra Fluke - on-air - a 'slut' and a 'prostitute.' His tirade was met with an advertiser boycott, which at the time Rush tried to downplay.

But now Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey apparently feels otherwise. He said that some of the Cumulus losses are because of "the issues that happened a year ago", a clear reference to the Rush/Fluke controversy. And now Limbaugh is firing back, letting it be known that he may leave the company when his contract expires at the end of the year.

And if that wasn't enough of a challenge for the big talk company, they may now be losing the man some believe was being groomed to replace Limbaugh: Mike Huckabee. The former Arkansas governor was signed with much fanfare less than a year ago and heavily promoted by Cumulus. But, now Huckabee says he might not stick with Cumulus or even with radio.

But before you start feeling sorry, please realize that even with the the grumbling and the revenue declines the big radio syndication companies are still bringing in major money. Salem's first quarter revenue was more than $43-million; and the Cumulus first quarter revenue was almost $233-million. Rush Limbaugh, personally, makes more money in a year than most independent public radio stations generate in a decade.

When you scan your radio dial, especially the AM dial, you'll find no shortage of  syndicated conservative talk shows.  Rush. Glenn Beck. Sean Hannity. Mark Levin. Mike Huckabee. Michael Savage. Michael Medved. Laura Ingraham. John Gibson.Who am I leaving out?

And where's the balance? On the other end of the AM radio spectrum there were progressive talkers.  But in Seattle and Portland the solo stations carrying those shows switched to sports-talk this year.

Radio industry insider Jerry Del Colliano makes another interesting shifting-demographic point in that Daily Beast article:  “Look at the millennial generation. There’s 80 million of them coming of age. They don’t see color. They don’t see gender. And they’re civic minded: they don’t like bloviating. They don’t like yelling and screaming. So you tell me: how’s right-wing talk radio working for them?


If you're counting on a giant shift in the broadcast landscape in the near future, however, don't hold your breath.  Shows like Democracy Now, or reasonable discussions of the news like you'll hear on The Takeaway or KSER's Sound Living, are rare and relatively hard to find. Many cities and towns don't have their own independent radio station.  And it's hard to envision any of the corporate owned commercial stations suddenly making a giant political shift.

When you listen to shows like Democracy Now with Amy Goodman on KSER, or online at KSER.org, you quickly realize that you're hearing news and information that you're really not going to get anywhere else. And none of the independent stations have the revenue or resources of companies like Cumulus, Clear Channel or Salem. Instead, stations like KSER survive mostly on listener support. Financial support from people like you.

We can hope the balance changes...but hope, alone,  probably won't get us there.