Obama Says 'Wait' on PPMs

Illinois' two U.S. senators -- including the one running for president -- have weighed in on the debate over rolling out Arbitron's Portable People Meters (PPM).

Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Richard Durbin co-signed a letter to Arbitron asking it delay rolling out PPMs in the Chicago market. They are asking the research company hold off deploying PPMs in Chicagoland until they receive the blessing of the Media Ratings Council (MRC).

In their letter, the presidential candidate and the senior senator from Illinois say:

"MRC accreditation is the only third-party tool we have to judge whether or not the system is being properly implemented. And the implications of poor implementation of a new PPM system for the public interest are too serious to ignore."

Former WFPL PD Dies

Heidi Caravan, news producer/editor for WFPL-Louisville, died Saturday following a two and a half year fight with breast cancer. She was 40.

Caravan, a native of Newfoundland, formerly was director of news and programming at WFPL. She joined the station in 2000 as producer of State of Affairs and became news/programming director in 2005.

The Louisville Courier-Journal quotes Louisville Public Media's Donovan Reynolds: "She was really a remarkable person. … She was a serious journalist."

These Times Demand NPR

The economy. War in Iraq. China. Energy. Americans have a lot on their minds these days and that means many turn on the radio.

NPR Vice President for News Ellen Weiss today told The New York Post:

"I think there's an enormous appetite for information. Our challenge is to present that information so it connects with people and makes the story come alive."

She also believe listeners are anxious to

"... hear and discuss things they might not agree with. That's what we try to provide, and I think that's a big reason why our audience is growing."

Change: A Look Inside Colorado Public Radio

A detailed article in The Denver Post examines many of the continuing issues facing public radio PDs in the context of life at Colorado Public Radio.

Local vs. national:

"The thinking at Colorado Public Radio is simple: The more local, the better. The more objective, non-opinionated local news the outlet can offer, the more satisfied its managers will be, and the happier the funders will be."

Audience growth:

"While CPR seems fairly conservative, even by public radio standards, it does have a consistent voice. That's both a strength and a roadblock to growth: If the intention is to expand the audience, there's a need to bring in people who don't ordinarily listen."

Collaboration:

"A consortium called News Network of the Future is at work informally, using regional and local reporters to share expertise. The Northwestern News Network similarly has established a production bureau, using resources from four states including Colorado. Collaborations with Rocky Mountain PBS are also underway. "

Radio on the Web:

"Until the future arrives, there's plenty of good radio available via computer."

NPR Web Site Adds Features

NPR technoid (and new father of Sean David born Sept. 22!) Andy Carvin reports that the NPR Web site will be adding several new features starting early next month. In a blog posting, Carvin says NPR.org will be adding:

• user profiles;
• discussion threads;
• story recommendations.

And, that's not all. Carvin adds:

"Not too long after we roll out these features, we're also planning to launch a set of community tools not unlike groups on Facebook. We'll be able to set up community pages for shows and other NPR activities where users can start conversations in a discussion forum, upload photos and video, post event listings and the like."

More on New NPR Digital Head

We received the following release from NPR today:

KINSEY WILSON NAMED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, NPR DIGITAL MEDIA

September 25, 2008; Washington, D.C. – Kinsey Wilson, who has overseen USA TODAY’s combined online and print news operation since 2005, has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager, Digital Media, NPR, it was announced by Mitch Praver, NPR’s Chief Operating Officer.

Wilson will join NPR on October 20 and will report to Praver. He will lead a 100-plus digital media team and continue NPR’s multi-year commitment to continued growth in digital multimedia. NPR is poised to position NPR.org as a world-class, must-visit destination by creating greater collaborative opportunities with Member stations, establishing its unique voice, and increasing its relevance and appeal on the Web and mobile platforms. Recent and ongoing efforts include the September 29th rollout of NPR.org’s social media platform; an upcoming major Web site redesign; the expansion of NPR.org’s open API (Application Programming Interface), an online content sharing online tool launched in July 2008; and the evolution of NPR Music, a music discovery site launched in November 2007.

NPR’s COO Mitch Praver notes, "NPR is committed to making smart, thoughtful investments in the Web and mobile platforms that best support and extend its journalism, while meeting the rapidly changing ways that audiences consume news and information. The strategy calls for developing the digital infrastructure to allow for areas of greater collaboration with NPR’s 850 plus stations in order to build the foundation for a shared digital future. Kinsey Wilson brings the digital media leadership experience, editorial judgment, and vision we need to build upon past successes and take NPR.org to the next level."

Wilson has played a leadership role in digital media for more than a decade. Since 2005, he has been Executive Editor, USA TODAY and usatoday.com and was appointed to that position upon the merger of the newspaper’s print and online newsrooms. There, he was responsible for strategic planning, product development and day-to-day editorial management of one of the nation’s most widely read news publications. Previously, he was vice president and editor-in-chief of usatoday.com, overseeing the editorial operations and strategic development of a news and information Web site that reaches more than 1.5 million readers a day. Under his leadership, the Web site was an early pioneer in interactive graphics and was among the first national news sites to take full advantage of social media. The site has won numerous awards, including the 2007 Online Journalism Award for general excellence.

Wilson began his journalism career at City News Bureau of Chicago and from 1988-1995 was a reporter at Newsday. For the last 13 years, he has been involved in online journalism, first at Congressional Quarterly, where he helped spearhead that company’s successful digital publishing efforts, and since April 2000 at USA TODAY. He is past president of the Online News Association (2007), chaired the national advisory board of the Poynter Institute from 2006-2008, and is a member of the advisory board to the journalism school at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and lives in the Washington D.C. area.

-NPR-

NPR Media Relations: Danielle Deabler 202.513.2303 / ddeabler@npr.org

EDITOR’S NOTE: PHOTO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Ramsey Audio from Conference Available

The keynote speech by Mercury Research president and blogger at Hear 2.0 Mark Ramsey was one of the highlights of the recently concluded PRPD Public Radio Programming Conference. Now you can hear his presentation, The Future of Listening on the PRPD website.

Final edits are being made and all audio from the conference will soon be available on the PRPD website.

NPR Gets New Digital News Leader

A top USA Today news exec is now in charge of NPR's digital media.

In a post on the Poynter Online Forum, USA Today announced that Executive Editor Kinsey Wilson will be leaving USA TODAY to join National Public Radio as senior vice president and general manager of digital media.

According to paidcontent.org:

NPR has finally found a new digital head, after Maria Thomas left in April. Kinsey Wilson, the executive editor of USA Today and previously the editor of USAToday.com has left the paper and joined NPR as its digital head, according to the internal memo... Wilson had been instrumental in last year’s relaunch of USAT’s website.

The memo detailing Wilson's exit said,

"Kinsey has been a driving force and advocate for change throughout his years here, in both his initial role as editor-in-chief of usatoday.com and in his current position as executive editor of all of our news operations."

NYC Council Votes to Ask FCC for PPM Probe

On Wednesday, the New York City Council voted in favor of asking the Federal Communications Commission to investigate Arbitron's Portable People Meter's potential effects on the diversity of radio. The Council was responding to requests of the Spanish Radio Association, a consortium of Spanish-language broadcasters.

Arbitron responded:

"We are disappointed by the Council's failure to recognize: that broadcasters, agencies and advertisers in New York and other major markets have made it clear that PPM is critical if radio is to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging media marketplace; the quality of the PPM samples in terms of African-American, Hispanic and Spanish-Dominant representation; the continuing dialogue Arbitron maintains with Urban and Hispanic broadcasters and agencies; and the outreach we are making to highlight the value of African American and Hispanic consumers in the PPM world."

Gjelten's Book Mixes Rum & Revolution

NPR's Tom Gjelten's new book Bacardi & the Long Fight for Cuba is gaining considerable recognition. Like this from today's The New York Times:

"What makes Mr. Gjelten’s book such a standout is its quality of subjectivity. Presenting his history through the lives of people who affected the events they personally experienced and were in turn affected by them, he gives us drama, not chronology or statistics."

Gjelten tells the story of modern Cuba against the creation and success of the Bacardi family's rum distillation business.

Gjelten joined NPR in 1982 and now reports on national security issues.

About Other NPR Authors ...
At last week's PRPD conference in LA, NPR's Eric Nuzum mentioned his book, The Dead Travel Fast has just come out in paperback. The book is about vampires and vampire culture.

Dedicated To The Craft

This video redefines the concept of being "dedicated to one's craft." Check out how this host goes above and beyond the call of duty.

PRPD Says 'See You in Cleveland!"

The 21st annual PRPD Public Radio Programming Conference is history. It wrapped up about noon on Saturday with the annual "benediction" delivered by All Things Considered's Robert Siegel (left).

Earlier in the morning, Mark Ramsey of Mercury Media Research and Hear 2.0 addressed the crowed at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel.

PRPD President Arthur Cohen formally announced that PRPD would convene in Cleveland, OH next September.

From the Conference: A Major Initiative to Shape a New Sound for Public Radio

At the PRPD conference this morning, CPB has announced a big initiative to find the best independent producers, support them, and encourage them to reinvent public radio's sound. CPB Senior Vice President for Radio Bruce Theriault made the announcement during his address to the conference.

CPB and the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) have announced the Public Radio Makers Quest 2.0 to disburse up to $400,000 in grants (each ranging from $20k-$40k) to producers who are "reshaping programming to fit new media."

Ingrid Lakey, former PD at WETA in Washington and EP of Justice Talking, is the talent manager for the project.

This is more evidence of a growing commitment at CPB to "throwing open the doors" as Theriault said in his address this morning. I've published some basic notes from his address here. We'll have video from his address online soon at PRPD.org.

• AIR's FAQ about the project
• The official announcement
  

Congratulations ACE Award Winners

Live, or nearly live from the PRPD Conference, a first look at the winners of the 2008 ACE Awards, presented this morning by Kai Ryssdal of APM's Marketplace:

Promotions
Michigan Radio, Ann Arbor
runner-ups: Oregon Public Broadcasting and WUNC, Chapel Hill

Classical Programming
Classical Minnesota Public Radio (for the third year in a row)
runner-up: WSHU, Fairfield CT

Jazz Programming
KXJZ, Sacramento
runner-up: WNYC, New York

Triple A Programming
KUT, Austin

News/Information Programming
KNAU, Flagstaff AZ
runner-up: North Country Public Radio

On-Air Fundraising
KCRW, Santa Monica AND WGLT, Bloomington/Normal IL
runner-up: WSHU, Fairfield CT

We had a record number of entrants this year, and you'll be able to hear all the entries on our web site in the coming days. Watch for details!

Congratulations to the winners!

Hollywood Producer has Driveway Moment

Brian Grazer, one of the most successful producers in Hollywood, today opened the first general session of PRPD's Public Radio Programming Conference by telling everyone he had a "driveway moment.

Grazer, who produced American Gangster, Eight Mile, Friday Night Lights and TV's 24, said he recalled one impressive public radio program in specific. He recounted listening to an NPR piece about Chandler Burr and his book, The Emperor of Scent, about making perfumes.

Grazer, who was interviewed on stage by NPR's Kim Masters, said he was so taken by and interested in the story that he pulled his car into the garage and sat in it and listened to the piece that aired in February of 2003.

He praised the assembled public radio PDs for creating such compelling stories.

It's Official: PRPD Convenes in Hollywood

Members of PRPD from across the US and Canada have convened at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. Format-specific meetings are under way with the Arrival Lounge opening at 2 p.m.and the Newcomers Session starting at 4 p.m.

Jeff Hansen (left) of KUOW-Seattle moderated the News/Talk Format Station Group gathering, which drew an overflow crowd.

Thurston Briscoe, PD at WBGO-Newark, led the Jazz Station Consortium meeting.

Also on the schedule is the Classical Station meeting, overseen by Robin Gehl, VP of programming at WGUC-Cincinnati and Frank Dominguez, PD at WDAV-Davidson, SC.

Taking Off for Hollywood

The PRPD office is now closed through our conference... We'll be back in the office on Wednesday, September 23rd.

This blog will probably slow down over the next couple of weeks. We'll try to update it occasionally, and maybe even get some board members to share their experiences here...

For your conference travel, we have posted Ground Transportation information for travel to the hotel from both LAX and Burbank.

See you in Hollywood!

Bruce Warren announces his candidacy for President

Yes it is true, I have decided to run for President. Check out this early news coverage here

Radio Tower Stolen

"Risk-Taking Thieves Steal Scrap Metal" - they stole a 120' radio tower, according to WJAC TV in SE Pennsylvania. The unused tower in the Allegheny mountains was toppled and cut in to small pieces. Somehow, none of the neighbors noticed.

.

NY Attorney General Subpoenas Arbitron Records

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating Arbitron and its Portable People Meters. Cuomo issued a subpoena to Arbitron Tuesday, seeking data as far back as 2003. Arbitron has a week to produce the materials.

It appears Cuomo's investigation is in response to complaints from minority broadcasters in New York City. They claim they will suffer lower ratings and reduced revenues because PPM methodology undercounts Hispanic and African-American listeners.

Public Radio Tech Poll - Call to Stations

PRPD, with Jacobs Media, iMA, and NPR will be conducting a nationwide web survey of public radio listeners to better understand how they use new media and technology. Public radio stations who participate will have their listeners surveyed and will receive a detailed report of their responses. All of the data from participating stations will be aggregated into a national report for public radio to be issued in late 2008.

Participation is open to all public radio stations at a cost of $600 per station. NPR offers a $100 discount for those who allow their listeners to be part of the NPR Listener Panel.

For details or to join the project, contact jimdavis@jacobsmedia.com. Further details are available at www.publicradiotechsurvey.com.

Procrastinators - This is THE TIME - LAST DAY TO PRE-REGISTER

CONFERENCE PRE-REGISTRATION ENDS AS FRIDAY MOVES INTO SATURDAY - TONIGHT! REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

OVER 430 PEOPLE ALREADY REGISTERED AND WAITING FOR YOU TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON OF FUN AND LEARNING.

THE PUBLIC RADIO PROGRAMMING CONFERENCE, SEPTEMBER 17-20, RENAISSANCE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL.

THERE WILL BE ON-SITE REGISTRATION...

WWW.PRPD.ORG AND FOLLOW THE LINKS.

The Media Habits of the Rich and Famous

Advertising Age magazine reports that the wealthiest Americans are listening to radio slightly less than before and are spending more time online at the expense of television. Ad Age says this about a survey of affluent magazine readers:

"Respondents making more than $100,000 annually said their average hours online had grown to 22.1 each week from 10.7, while the time they said they spent watching TV sunk to 18.6 hours from 23.7 in the 2003 survey. And they said their time spent listening to the radio had declined slightly. But they said they're regularly reading an average of 15.3 print publications, a notch above 15.1 five years earlier. Readers making more than $250,000 said they read just as many publications, 23.8 now, as they did in 2003."

No Waste of Bandwidth Here; Carvin Leads Gustav Info Effort

NPR's digital impresario Andy Carvin led a group of some 500 volunteers using social networking technology to keep folks informed about Hurricane Gustav.

Carvin, who blogs at Andy Carvin's Waste of Bandwidth, helped create the Gustav Information Center. It used a variety of social media to inform and assist people along the Gulf and also their relatives elsewhere.

Voices of Gustav used Utterz technology to receive, transcribe and post calls from those in the hurricane. The team also created a Gustav wiki and used three Twitter feeds to disperse information.

Goodman Arrest Update

More details have been made public about he arrest of Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman. It appears she and her two producers were arrested for conspiracy to riot as they covered protests at the Republican Convention Monday.

The AP story.

From The Washington Post.

And, what The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Conference Pre-Registration Closes Friday

If summer slipped by without registering for the 2008 Public Radio Programming Conference, you can still take advantage of the lower pre-registration rate. Just complete the online registration form before 5pm on FRIDAY.

After September 5th you'll need to register on-site at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, Wednesday, September 17th - Saturday September 20th.

An updated Agenda with links is now posted on the PRPD website.

Hope to see you in Hollywood!

Another PubRadio Arrest: Volunteer at KPFA

Six police officers were needed to restrain and arrest a pregnant volunteer late last month as a dispute between KPFA-Berkeley management and the woman escalated. The volunteer was identified as Nedra Foster, who worked at the station for 12 years.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

"The incident is the latest source of tension between management and volunteers at the station. In 2007, KPFA derecognized its Unpaid Staff Organization, the council that represents about 200 volunteers. The staff has long squabbled with the parent company, Pacifica Radio, saying it's attempting to make the network more corporate and soften its voice of dissent. Insiders say management wants to get rid of some of the volunteers at the station, which has about 60 paid employees."

Goodman Busted at GOP Convention

Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman was arrested Monday afternoon at the Republican convention in St. Paul. It's reported that Goodman was trying to have two DN producers released from police custody.

The producers -- Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar -- were arrested while covering street protests at the convention.

See Goodman's arrest on YouTube.

HD Radio: Is All it Needs is Time?

"More stations, playing different kinds of music, with better sound.

"HD Radio, offering all those features, sounded like a natural. But five years after its introduction, digital radio, even with all its technological bells and whistles, is still struggling to gain a foothold in the American marketplace."

That's the lead of a lengthy Baltimore Sun article about HD radio.

And this is how it ends:

"'The other major conversions, from AM to FM, from black and white to color, those were decades-long conversions," he says. 'Remember that first digital cell phone you got? It didn't work so well. But once you got on the digital platform, consumers could expect new features, new functionalities as time rolls on. That's what we expect with HD Radio.'"

In between, the Sun covers a lot of ground on HD technology and arguments pro and con.