Friday, April 22, 2016

WBEZ PARTNERS WITH CHICAGO’S ADLER PLANETARIUM FOR “EARTHFEST”


WBEZ is joining Adler Planetarium this weekend for a weekend-long party to celebrate the planet we call home. Earthfest looks beyond your backyard to rediscover the brilliance of Earth and its place in the Universe. Events take place on-air and on all of WBEZ’s digital platforms, at the Planetarium and other locations on Chicago Friday (4/22) through Sunday (4/24).

Complete information about Earthfest can be found [here]. 

 
Adler Planetarium at dawn


WBEZ-FM will air live broadcasts from the Planetarium's Johnson Family Star Theater and other locations in the Planetarium including:

 




Worldview with Jerome McDonnell, Friday at noon

Front and Center: Heat of the Moment, a panel discussion about climate change, Friday at 1:00pm

Worldview Astronomy Slam, Friday, April 22, 2pm – 3pm at Cafe Galileo

Adler astronomers square off in head-to-head verbal battles to answer that very question while throwing down their best space facts. They will attempt to answer the question Why is Earth freaking awesome?

• How to Talk to your Kids About Climate Change, Saturday, April 23, 1pm

Climate expert Dr. Gavin Schmidt will discuss our changing environment with The Field Museum’s Rob Q. Telfer and Adler astronomer Lucianne Walkowicz.

• WBEZ’s Nerdette podcast, Saturday at 3:00pm

Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda



Nerdette is co-hosted by Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda.  For Earthfest, Nerdette explore the ways science fiction has influenced real science…and vice versa. Audience members can test their nerdy knowledge.

 



• Special broadcast of Worldview with Jerome McDonnell, Saturday at 4:00pm 

Jerome McDonnell



Jerome McDonnell hosts an in depth conversation about global issues and their impact on Chicago.

Non-broadcast events:

• Earthfest Expo, all weekend long during museum open hours

Learn what you can do to keep Earth beautiful, build a telescope mount for your smartphone, check out the Northwestern University’s 6th generation solar car, take a selfie from space, and so much more!

• Evening Telescope Observing, Friday, April 22, 8:30pm – 10pm (weather permitting) at the Doane Observatory

View celestial objects such as Jupiter using the Midwest’s largest publicly accessible telescope in the Adler’s Doane Observatory.







Thursday, April 21, 2016

NONCOMMvention FEATURES INTERVIEW WITH BOB FORREST • NFCB & PRNDI CONFERENCE PREVIEWS


One of the things I like the most about the Triple A NONCOMMvention is, besides the fun, that they focus on real issues of personal and industry concern.  There is no better example than the guest for Dan Reed’s NON-COMMversation: Bob Forrest.

Bob Forrest

Forrest is a rock music living legend, by his own choice. Forrest is the lead singer for Thelonious Monster and The Bicycle Thief.  He is a close associate of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Forrest was also one of the last people to see a friend, actor River Phoenix, alive the night Phoenix died of a drug overdose.  Forrest himself survived several near-death experiences before he found a way to defeat his addiction.




Then Forrest went beyond his own recovery to offer help for others. In 2010, Forrest began hosting a weekly radio show, All Up In The Interweb, on LA’s Indie1031.com. He is a longtime collaborator with Dr. Drew Pinsky, appearing on Celebrity Rehab and Sober House. Forrest has helped countless musicians dealing with alcoholism and drug addiction get sober and find their purpose.

Forrest is the subject of the documentary Bob and the Monster, an electrifying chronicle of the LA rock scene of the 1980s and ’90s. The documentary was released to theaters in March 2011 and on DVDreleased in September 2013.

Marketplace did a terrific story about him called Bob Forrest's long comeback in 2015 [link].

Dan Reed’s NON-COMMversation with Bob Forrest is scheduled for Thursday (5/19) from 1:15-2:10 p.m.
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40th ANNUAL NFCB COMMUNITY RADIO CONFERENCE


The National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) is holding its 2016 conference June 8 – 11 in Denver. This is the first NFCB national conference since Sally Kane became CEO of NFCB.  Last year Kane & company held regional gatherings that, by all accounts, were very successful.

This year’s Community Radio Conference offers five “tracks” of breakout sessions: Administration, Development, Programming, Operations and “Media Makers.”



Malkia Cyril


The keynote speaker is Malkia Cyril, Executive Director of The Center for Media Justice that specializes in media rights, access, and representation.


There will be summits for Rural, Latino and LPFM station folks. AIR (Association of Independents in Radio) is presenting a Maker’s Intensive and Livingston & Associates are presenting a Governance Intensive session.

SAMPLE THE “ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH”
NFCB has arranged for a limited number of attendees to learn first-hand about Colorado’s legal marijuana industry. A four-hour magic bus tour on Saturday afternoon visits an edibles manufacturing facility, a product warehouse and a dispensary along. Included is a Q&A with a local journalist who covers the industry. The cost to participate is $75 per person. Pre-registration is requested.
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PUBLIC RADIO NEWS DIRECTORS (PRNDI) CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON TRAINING & INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING



 This may be the final “PRNDI” conference because the organization will likely change its name to the Association of Public Media Journalists at a Board meeting following the conference.  We reported on the name change last January [link].

Conference sessions include Doing Great Local Talk Shows, Covering Communities in Crisis, Social Media Ethics, Diversity in the Newsroom, NPR’s Program Clocks: What Have We Learned So Far and The Future of Public Radio. The conference concludes with the presentation of the annual PRNDI Awards.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

PUBLIC RADIO SHINES IN REGIONAL RTDNA EDWARD R. MURROW AWARDS


This week the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) announced 654 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in 14 categories. According to RTDNA, there were more than 4,300 entries, setting an all-time record for the fourth year in a row.

NPR News stations won over 65% of the radio awards in two categories: Smaller markets and Larger markets in each region. Notable winners include:



• KUT-FM in Austin, Texas was tops in large market radio, winning seven regional Murrow Awards, including News Series, Writing and Overall Excellence.

• KRTS Marfa Public Radio in Marfa, Texas took home eight Murrow Awards in smaller market radio, including Overall Excellence, News Series and News Documentary.

 

• PRX and The Center for Investigative Reporting received six Murrow Awards for episodes of Reveal.

A complete list of the winners is available at [link]. 




Regional winners automatically advance to the national Edward R. Murrow Awards competition, which will be judged in May. National awards, including those for network news organizations and for students, will be announced in June. The national awards are presented at the RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala at Gotham Hall in New York City on October 10.

SALUTING SMALL MARKET EXCELLENCE

In addition to KRTS Marfa Public Radio, other public radio newsrooms in smaller markets got the recognition they deserve.  Some of my favorites are:

• KBIA, Columbia, Missouri won a Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in its region. KBIA’s website [link] also won top honors.

• South Dakota Public Radio won seven regional Murrow Awards.

• KBSX Boise Public Radio won five Awards.

• Other smaller markets shops winning more than one Murrow Award include Wyoming Public Media; KCLU, Thousand Oaks, California; KUNC, Greeley, Colorado; North Country Public Radio, Canton, New York; and Vermont Public Radio.

MY FAVORITE: MARFA PUBLIC RADIO’S SERIES ABOUT THE TOWNS OF WEST TEXAS

 In October 2015 KTRS Marfa Public Radio featured Past & Present: A Focus on the Towns of Far West Texas [link]. 

The series provided a closer look at some of the key towns in the KRTS coverage area. In the past towns such as Presidio, Van Horn, and Balmorhea, Texas, were important regional hubs for pioneer trails, water sources, or early highways. Some towns have thrived but others haven’t.

Past & Present: A Focus on the Towns of Far West Texas not only examined the past, it focused on the towns today and opportunities for the future. Each report featured the voices of residents as local guides. Their stories became radio reports accompanied by YouTube videos about each community.

For example, listen and view the story of Presidio, Texas. [link]

 The area around the present town of Presidio on the Rio Grande, known as La Junta de los Ríos, is believed to be the oldest continuously cultivated farmland in Texas. About 1500 B.C. indigenous corn farmers settled here for access to water and the game and vegetation it supported. Presidio’s strategic location is as important in 2015 as it’s been for more than 3000 years, and it is a key to the town’s hope for economic expansion.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

JACOBS TECH SURVEY #12: RADIO RULES IN VEHICLES BUT EVERY THING ELSE IS UP FOR GRABS


Jacobs Media released the results of its 12th annual Tech Survey at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention going on now in Las Vegas. Radio continues to be the top audio source in vehicles but elsewhere media usage continues to evolve toward digital sources.

Results of Tech Survey #12 show that around 90% of new vehicle purchasers want broadcast radio in their cars:

 
Don’t confuse this Tech Survey with the Public Radio Tech Survey (PRTS), also conducted by Jacobs Media.  (Scroll down to see more about the PRTS.)

The just-released Tech Survey #12 was conducted online between January 19 and February 22, 2016. According to Jacobs Media, there were 39,403 in-tab respondents. Folks were asked to identify platforms and devices they had used during the past week for at least one hour per day.

Summary results are included in the Media Usage Pyramid:



PODCAST USAGE IS WAY UP            

Podcasts were the fastest growing platform – 28% of respondents said they listened to at least one. Jacobs Media CEO Fred Jacobs said:

“Every year when we sit down to analyze the data, we’re in search of ‘the one big thing’ that impacts radio. This year, we see strong signs that podcasting may emerge as a game changer for broadcasters.”

Connected car ownership has doubled from last year. One in five respondents say they drive a car with an in-vehicle system. Two-thirds (64%) of respondents reported connecting their phone to their car’s audio system. Use of Smart Phones, social networks, texting, radio and TV all exceeded 80%.

“PUBLIC RADI0 TECH SURVEY” (PRTS #8) IS NEXT

The 8th annual PRTS will be conducted in May 9 - 17.  Results of PRTS #8 will be available at Public Radio Program Directors (PRPD) conference in September.  PRTS #8 and Tech Survey #12 use similar methodology and results are also similar. Jacobs Media is adding several questions of interest to noncom folks:

• Podcasting: Who is using, how much, on what platforms and how valuable is this media option? In addition to tracking usage, PRTS8 will explore the key podcasting topics that listeners are interested in, and how listening to on-demand content affects AM/FM radio listening.

• NPR One: Jacobs is following up on last year’s initial questions about the platform and how public radio listeners are using it.

• The Connected Car:  PRTS #8 be looking at the in-car audio share of radio, satellite radio, apps, and other audio sources.


• Editorial & Promotion:  Jacobs will explore how the Presidential race has impacted listening and public radio interest. The study will also focus on the impact of cross-promotion on usage and occasion setting.


Noncommercial stations interested in participating should contact Lisa Riker (lisariker@jacobsmedia.com) at Jacobs Media for more information. The deadline for participation in May 5th.

WCAI & KRTS SWAP HOSTS AND COMPARE HOMETOWN PERSPECTIVES 

 
Woodshole, Massachusetts

WCAI, Woodshole, Massachusetts [link] and KRTS, Marfa, Texas [link], are doing a public media exchange called Radio Hometown: Two Stations, Two Hosts, One Community of Listeners. Though the stations are over 2,000 miles apart, both are successful small-market community stations known for their innovation and leadership.






For three weeks in April and May, Steve Junker of WCAI will travel to Marfa, Texas, to host Morning Edition, while Travis Bubenik of Marfa Public Radio goes to coastal Massachusetts to host All Things Considered.

According to WCAI, Junker came up with the idea of an exchange program more than one year ago. Since then, he’s been working with Tom Michael, General Manager of Marfa Public Radio, who was once approached about swapping reporters with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Steve Junker

Junker said “We want this project to be a chance to expand our definitions of community, to share our stories more widely, and to grow our sense of connection by learning more about each other—letting Massachusetts talk to Texas, the desert talk to the Cape.”

The project will run from Monday, April 18 through Friday, May 6. The two stations will document the process throughout and make their findings available to other public media organizations interested in similar exchanges.

Travis Bubenik




Both hosts report on environmental and land-use issues.  Junker specializes in, among other topics, saltwater fishing. Bubenik reports from West Texas and covers organic agriculture, rural economics and other issues affecting the Big Bend and the Permian Basin.





Monday, April 18, 2016

AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA IS THE TOP NONCOMMERCIAL “STATION GROUP OWNER”


One of the biggest differences between secular noncommercial radio and commercial radio is the fact that noncom does not have “group owners such as iHeartMedia and Cumulus. There is no reason, other than tradition, why a noncom organization can’t own multiple stations in multiple markets.

APM HQ, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
 American Public Media (APM), based in St. Paul, is an exception. Not only does APM own three stations with distinct program streams in the Twin Cities, it operates KPCC. Los Angeles, via a local marketing agreement (LMA). 

Until last year APM owned two stations in south Florida.  Over the years APM has negotiated for broadcast properties in several other major markets.



Stations are being asked by CPB and other funders to consolidate operations by creating station clusters. There is no reason to believe consolidation won’t include out-of-home-market license purchases.

Today was have public radio group and cluster owners in PPM markets ranked by their Nielsen Audio estimated weekly cumulative listeners in March 2016. Some of these owners, particularly APM, also own and/or operate stations in Nielsen Audio Diary markets.  Weekly listening in these markets is not included.

Please note that religious noncoms operate much differently than public radio. The majority of noncommercial religious stations are owned by “networks” such as Educational Media Foundation (EMF), Way FM, American Family Association and many others. No doubt these organizations have internal data showing their national audience reach but I don't have this info.

One caveat on the list below: Because listeners typically listen to more than one station, a listener may also be included in more than one station’s weekly cumulative listeners.  Here is the chart:



TOP TWENTY NONCOMMERCIAL STATIONS
NIELSEN AUDIO PPM MARKETS
RANKED BY ESTIMATED WEEKLY CUMULATIVE LISTENERS

STATIONS 1-10

 STATIONS 11-20
 
These data are provided for use by Nielsen Audio subscribers ONLY, in accordance with
RRC's limited license with Nielsen Audio.
Monday-Sunday 6AM-Midnight Persons 6+
Data Copyright Nielsen Audio.
Format designations are the sole responsibility of Ken Mills Agency, LLC.