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.