Legislature Eyes 50% Cut To Public Broadcasting

Gutierrez, A. (2015, February 25). Legislature eyes 50% cut to public broadcasting. Retrieved February 27, 2015, from http://www.krbd.org/2015/02/25/legislature-eyes-50-cut-to-public-broadcasting/

Ketchikan FM community radio's funding is threatened to be cut by the state legislature. Representative Lynn Gattis says the state government needs " to evaluate the wants versus the needs." Funding will be reduced from $5 million to $2.5 million. Tyler Gallagher, Gattis' assistant, made a statement claiming “With the advancements in technology...there’s less of a need to maintain public service programming…"

Reading articles like this is more and more dispiriting to the future of public radio. State governments aren't seeing the medium as important as technology evolves. Public radio is getting lost among television and smartphone applications. I truly wish public radio would not lose funding and governments were more supportive of this medium. Public radio is important for communities and should not be cut off. Public radio needs to be alive in a digital age. 

Public Broadcasting Braces for Possible Cuts Under Scott Walker's Budget Plan

Hall, D. (2015, February 8). Public broadcasting braces for possible cuts under Scott Walker's budget plan. Retrieved February 18, 2015, from http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/public-broadcasting-braces-for-possible-cuts-under-scott-walker-s/article_38a8f9f3-7a0c-5522-9b97-3c09f229546d.html

Governor Scott Walker has proposed a budget cut in Wisconsin state funding, including a $150 million a year cut to public television and radio networks. "It’s unknown how much of that cut, if approved by the Republican-run Legislature, would trickle down to public broadcasting" but public radio stations are already preparing to ask for donations and grants. Nationally, restoring funding to public broadcasting is trending now that the national recession is no longer an issue. Governors in Florida and Indiana have appeased to the trend. But Assembly Speaker Robin Vos “doesn’t have a problem with the proposed cut because with so many media options these days, government should no longer subsidize one particular outlet." Public radio stations now have to think about what program to cut, which will most likely be from local radio. NPR and PBS programs are the core to their public broadcasting, so of course the public broadcasting networks would not cut those first. Public broadcasting needs to also keep in mind that "both public TV and radio have some large fixed costs that cannot be whittled down, including memberships in organizations that provide core programming for their stations." Although they are hopeful, public broadcasting networks are not extremely confident they will get enough funding in time to cover all of the costs of their programs. 

This is the first time I noticed public radio broadcasting and public television broadcasting thought of as one unit. I always thought of both public networks differently, but I guess now in the government's eye they are seen as one public broadcasting unit. It disappoints me that those supporting this budget plan don't want to put an emphasis on public broadcasting anymore because of other popular forms of media. They don't see the importance of supporting public broadcasting. This worries me because many other people think similarly and have the mindset that radio, especially public radio, is an "old" form of media and "boring." I do not want government officials to think that same way too. I would hope the government would support other forms of media that are not Twitter or other social media platforms. I would at least want government to support public radio broadcasting as everyone should have the right to media, even through public broadcasting. Radio is not a "lost" form of media, even though many people regard it that way. 

Adnan Syed, Subject Of 'Serial' Podcast, Granted Appeal

Neuman, S. (2015, February 7). Adnan Syed, Subject Of 'Serial' Podcast, Granted Appeal. Retrieved February 12, 2015, from http://iowapublicradio.org/post/adnan-syed-subject-serial-podcast-granted-appeal

The story of Adnan Syed has been heard by numerous people on the popular podcast show "Serial," which has been dubbed the most popular podcast in history. Now, the man this popular podcast has shined light on, Adnan Syed, has been given an appeal by the Maryland Court system. The case is now going to be relooked at and "new evidence could be brought to the surface," as said by the Washington Post. The main buzz of conversation is the fact that this was brought into the court system "thanks in part to the popularity of the radio show." 

I think this is absolutely mind blowing that this case is going to be seen again in court due to the extreme popularity of the podcast. So much attention was given to "Serial" that the show became more than entertainment, reporting, or questioning of a case over 15 years ago. The show became a criticism on the social justice system, and not only that, but a huge question on the conviction of Syed's case, and if he deserved his sentence. The show points out many holes in the evidence for and against him, as well as evidence that do look convincing. I have listened to the entire first season of the show and agree that there was not enough evidence to convict him, so I am glad he is getting an appeal. This action really shows the power of the media. I never thought the podcast would create such a roar that the court system would listen to the media criticizing them. 

NPR's Invisibilia Reaches 10 Million Plays

NPR's Invisibilia Reaches 10 Million Plays. (2015, February 3). Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://www.npr.org/about-npr/383255428/npr-s-invisibilia-reaches-10-million-plays

NPR's newest podcast Invisibilia, which debuted on January 9 of this year, has become NPR's most downloaded show. The show is in the Top 10 list on iTunes and in a surprisingly short amount of time. The show has been available for about a month and already the show has been heard 10 million times. NPR's Vice President of Programming stated that "this confirms...expert story-telling, approaching difficult subjects with a combination of rigorous reporting and a human perspective, works across all platforms." Invisibilia became the biggest public radio program launch, with the program premiering "on more than 300 public radio stations around the country and... streamed in podcasts and web players everywhere." 

Borrowing words from a previous blog post, I am believing more and more that this year is "the year of the podcast." The podcast Serial became the "big break" for podcasts into the mainstream culture, and the 10 million plays on this brand new podcast just proves it. Audiences are recognizing the quality and entertainment of podcasts much more now. It is amazing to me how this show is already receiving a huge audience after launching only a month ago! It is a smart move on NPR's part, though, to make the show available on all of their resources, which is all the public radio stations and other NPR podcasts. In NPR podcasts I listen to, I have heard mention of Invisibilia. NPR wants to lead fans of podcasts to another podcast by using podcasts. Like I said…2015 is going to be the "year of the podcast!"

How NPR Is Preparing for "The Year of the Podcast"

Beaujon, A. (2014, December 30). After 'Serial,' NPR Says Podcasts Are Mainstream Now. Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/media/how-npr-is-preparing-for-the-year-of-the-podcast.php

NPR's vice president Eric Nuzum has boldly labeled 2015 as "the year of the podcast", which is not a huge assumption to make considering the wild success of NPR's podcast Serial , which became the most popular podcast in history. NPR's newest podcast, which has been recently released, is called Invisibilia, but a new action they are doing is plugging in this podcast into other podcasts and radio shows the company uses, as well as having the podcast on its own. Nuzum argues "for a lot of people [podcasts] do serve as the gateway to public radio." Many people are using smartphones to listen to podcasts and that has brought a larger audience. Another podcast, TED Radio Hour, does depend on the digital audience to sustain terrestrial radio. "…[TED Radio Hour] wouldn’t be sustainable if it were “just supporting itself off its radio underwriting revenue.” Podcast listeners do associate the podcast to the radio station. When radio stations ask for donations, users mistake the money they are giving as going directly to their favorite podcast, when the donations are going to the radio station in general. But Nuzum says this time is a "golden moment" in podcast history and the NPR team will continue to take advantage of this new age of the podcast in front of them. 

I agree with NPR that 2015 could be the year of the podcast. Serial was a monumental feat in podcast history. Podcasts now bring in a larger, but digital, audience; they are no longer seen as "nerdy" or "boring." In my personal experience, I see younger people, like teenagers, become drawn in by podcasts now. The popular podcast was a game changer for NPR and podcasts in general, and podcast shows are going to shift and respond to that. It makes sense Invisibilia will make small cameos in other shows in the sense that NPR wants to draw podcast audiences into the radio station as well, not just on-demand podcasts. They want the radio station audience to grow bigger and not get stuck in the podcast world.