Changes coming to WAMU
http://www.wamu.org/programs/message.php
January 30th, 2007
Recently WETA announced that it was returning to an all classical music format. (Click here for more information…) This created some concern and interest as to whether or not there would be any changes in the programming at the radio station at American University – WAMU.
Yes, dear reader, be gentle - but I am addicted to “public radio.” Yes, it is quite liberal (make that profoundly liberal) – to a fault; but for a rabid news and information junkie like me, its, well - news and information.
To be certain, one must balance the information by switching the dial to WCBM and WBAL – and for me, to really mix it up; I like to listen to WYPR in Baltimore.
Grazing through WAMU’s website, I came across the following note:
A Message to Our Listeners
As you might imagine, we're receiving lots of questions right now from folks like you -- public radio listeners who are wondering what WAMU 88.5 will be changing, if anything, in light of current changes in the Washington, D.C., area radio landscape. I have some updates I'd like to share with you.
Downloadable Schedule
A downloadable (PDF, 62KB) version of our schedule is available.
Starting Saturday, Jan. 27, we'll begin airing A Prairie Home Companion from 6-8 p.m. Hot Jazz Saturday Night will follow from 8-11 p.m.
We're also making several changes to the Saturday schedule:
Weekend Edition Saturday moves to 8 a.m., and Car Talk will follow at 10 a.m.
Studio 360 moves to 1 p.m., followed by The Splendid Table at 2 p.m., Marketplace Money at 3 p.m., On the Media at 4 p.m., and Weekend All Things Considered at 5 p.m.
Weekdays beginning Monday, Jan. 29, we'll start the morning with The BBC World News Update at 5 a.m. Morning Edition now will run from 6-10 a.m. In the afternoons, the BBC Newshour will air at 4 p.m., followed by All Things Considered from 5-6:30 p.m., Marketplace at 6:30 p.m., and All Things Considered from 7-8 p.m.
Weekday evenings, Mondays-Thursdays, we'll air The World at 8 p.m., and On Point at 9 p.m. Friday evenings, you can still hear The DC Politics Hour with Kojo and Jonetta at 8 p.m., followed by the entire "Friday News Roundup" from The Diane Rehm Show, 9-11 p.m.
Moving into the wee hours, we're bringing Fair Game with Faith Salie to WAMU 88.5 at 1 a.m., followed by News and Notes at 2 a.m., and re-broadcasts from The Kojo Nnamdi Show and The Diane Rehm Show at 3 and 4 a.m.
Some of you may still have questions about different shows that you would like us to carry. We'll continue to evaluate our programming over the next few months, and as always, we'll release any information about additional changes as soon as we have them available.
I wish our colleagues at WETA-FM great success with their return to classical music. WAMU 88.5's focus will not change -- to be the public radio listener's source for news and information in the Washington, D.C., metro area, and to showcase the best of traditional American music.
Sincerely,
Caryn G. Mathes, WAMU 88.5 General Manager
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
WAMU-FM has removed Nick Spitzer's unique American Routes show from their broadcast schedule. WAMU-FM radio made some great programming changes recently, but this is not one of them. The New Orleans-produced show has many loyal listeners here, who appreciate it even more since it's post-Katrina return to the Crescent City. Their opinion is widely-shared:
ReplyDelete"In the history of American radio, no series has come close to Nick Spitzer's American Routes in exploring the many streams of this nation's music."
-- Nat Hentoff, Wall Street Journal
"It's tough to make such different music into an entertaining, coherent show, but Spitzer and his staff do with style, wit, and an unpretentious appreciation of what the music of this great country is all about."
-- David Kunian. Offbeat Magazine
Spitzer's combination of scholarship and populist appeal has taken off like prairie fire.
-- Paul de Barros Seattle Times
Here's how to help:
WAMU fundraising week is Feb 3 - 10, but you don't have to wait to join or donate. The on-line "Membership" and "Donate Any Amount" forms (at wamu.org under the "Support WAMU" tab) have a "Send us your comments!". My advice as a former public radio employee: limit comments to "Bring back American Routes!" etc. Don't add statements about other issues; it will just confuse them. Don't add how much you like other shows -- this promotes complacency, not action. Don't tell them what other program to cut or when to air American Routes -- these are hard decisions, and someone gets paid to make them.
If you see something in the Washington Post or Washington CityPaper on the topic, go on-line and add a comment. Post to any blogs you can about WAMU and American Routes -- this intensifies the "echo effect." Someday this reflex may extinguish itself, but it hasn't happened yet.
Get WAMU back on track with American Routes.