 |
| Tom Livingston |
Tom
Livingston, owner of the search firm Livingston Associates [link] has joined
The Real News Network (TRNN) as interim CEO.
TRNN [link] is a gutsy nonprofit
news source that serves readers online and via digital devices.
Livingston
has made a mark in public media by accepting interim assignments at organizations
that seek stability and a new path forward.
He has taken interim leadership
positions at Capitol Public Radio in Sacramento, Audio Independents in Radio (AIR)
and the Pacifica Foundation.
Livingston often follows his interim roles with a
search for his replacement.
 |
| Paul Jay |
Paul
Jay, a Canadian journalist and entrepreneur, founded TRNN in 2007 in Toronto.
The U.S. office opened in Baltimore shortly thereafter.
Jay has been the CEO of TRNN
until Livingston was appointed to the job.
Livingston
may have been brought in because, moving forward, TRNN faces challenges widening
its business and coverage footprint.
Consider:
•
TRNN keeps a low profile. Many people, even folks in the media biz, are not familiar
with them. Very little of TRNN’s content appears on public radio and TV. TRNN’s
website is heavy with verbiage and light on multimedia reporting.
•
TRNN is a specialty news provider that focuses on social and economic justice
issues and the climate change crisis. Of course this important but it gives the
impression that these are the only issues that matter. TRNN prides itself on
its fact-based reporting but it has agendas.
•
TRNN walls itself off from corporate revenue sources. It accepts no paid
advertising, corporate or government support. It relies on donations and subscriptions.
According
to TRNN’s FY 2017 IRS 990 filing, TRNN had revenue around $4.6 dollars. TRNN
paid reporters and news sources around $1.3 million in 2017. Jay was paid
$91,000 that year.
Nielsen
Audio continues to release Fall Quarterly Reports for station in markets that
use Diary methodology. The current reports reflect listening in the months of
October, November and December.
In
Albany, NPR News/Talk WAMC keeps trucking but it had a larger AQH share in Fall
2017.
Classical WMHT has been trending
down but there is still plenty of gas in the tank.
Adult Alternative WEXT relies on a very
stable and enthusiastic audience.
Dual-format
WCQS dominates the Asheville market – something it has been doing for many
years. Full-time NPR News/Talk WYXT (operated by WCQS) covers a much smaller geographic area. Apparently Adult Alternative WNCW did not
subscribe to the Nielsen ratings in Fall 2019.
You’ve
got to love WYSO’s performance in the Fall Quarter. Not only are they
celebrating their independence as a licensee, their AQH share keeps rising.
Here's another version of this story:
ReplyDeletePaul Jay and Sharmini Peries Ousted from The Real News Network in June; Current Fundraiser Hides that Fact; Falling Viewership and Liberal Turn Result
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2019/11/paul-jay-and-sharmini-peries-ousted-from-the-real-news-network-in-june-current-fundraiser-hides-that-fact-falling-viewership-and-liberal-turn-result.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NakedCapitalism+%28naked+capitalism%29
Ken says:
"TRNN is a specialty news provider that focuses on social and economic justice issues and the climate change crisis. Of course this [is] important but it gives the impression that these are the only issues that matter. TRNN prides itself on its fact-based reporting but it has agendas."
What does that even mean? TRNN had a point of view. I'm not sure what it has now. Saing it has "agendas" implies something nefarious and underhanded and I don't believe TRNN was that. All programs have a point of view even if they pretend they don't. TRNN was located in Baltimore for a reason and I think their focus on certain issues was a strength not a liability.
Ken says:
"TRNN keeps a low profile. Many people, even folks in the media biz, are not familiar with them. Very little of TRNN’s content appears on public radio and TV. "
I would argue that Ken means "folks in the MAINSTREAM media..." Of course TRNN's content didn't appear on public radio and TV because it was far too independent and deals with issues the MSM won't and in ways they won't. I and others I regularly read knew TRNN very well.
Someday I hope to find out the real reason why Jay was dumped. This story isn't it.
- Kim Kaufman
I worked at TRNN for a year and a half. All of these reviews were actually written by different staff over the years. This is why they are gone:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/The-Real-News-Network-Reviews-E916185.htm