Iowa Public Radio – A Possible Merger
If you're like me (an admitted public radio addict, and donor to WOI) – you've probably heard about this story:
Iowa's
three university-based public radio stations would get less money from
the state, would merge as a network called Iowa Public Radio, and would
extend service into western Iowa, under a consultant's recommendations
released Tuesday by the Board of Regents.
You might ask “how much money will the state save”? According to the report:
Authorizing
universities to gradually decrease money for public radio stations by
$300,000 over the next five years, reducing universities' share of
public radio's budget from 35 percent to 29 percent. The money would be
replaced with improved private fund-raising.
$300,000?
Considering that many individual public high schools in the state are
dealing with budget problems much larger than this, going through the
motions of the “saving money” argument here just doesn't ring
true.
(For example, it was estimated that the Des Moines school district needed to cut $4 millon from its budget for this fiscal year.)
A few thoughts on a possible merger – minus the seemingly bogus financial argument:
Pro:
There would likely be an opportunity to see music offerings enhanced
and expanded.
On my wish list: a good jazz station in
Central Iowa with daytime programming.
combined offering would also allow stations to combine
resources to produce and broadcast concerts and events from state and
private colleges in Iowa.
Con:
Combining news reporting functions into a statewide network seems
likely to greatly reduce (or eliminate) the last reliable source of
good local radio news in the state. I listen to WOI Radio, and
appreciate the mix of national, state and local (Ames/Des Moines) news
and weather reporting – it's something that commercial radio just doesn't do well anymore.
There
are some good things going on that could potentially be combined into a
joint news production group – the joint WOI/WSUI program “Talk of Iowa”
is a good example of such a production. However, the two
different broadcast groups allow for a good mix of discussion topics
centered around both Iowa State and the University of Iowa.
What I don't see happening: the merging of functions creating a resource like the neighbors to our north have in Minnesota Public Radio. MPR originates a lot of original programming, even spinning off American Public Media
to produce original content. An Iowa network would be able to
create a few local programs, but not on the level of MPR without
significant investment.
There
are some benefits to merging functions, but it should be done with the
idea of improving services, not just to cut state funding by a few
token percentage points.
(By the way – did anyone ask how much the consultant billed to research and write this report?)
Blog For Iowa 
I have to admit, I like the idea of extension into the western part of the state. It would be very interesting to know the cost, identity, and political persuasion of said consultant…
LikeLike
I have to admit, I like the idea of extension into the western part of the state.
—
As do I – some of the stations are slowly moving that way (WOI's affiliate in Carroll), but the NW part of the state does not seem to be covered very well by an Iowa station. (I do understand that South Dakota has a station that covers Sioux City and immediate NW Iowa – but I have to plead ignorance to knowing much about broadcasting in that area of the state.)
LikeLike