Wow, I just now noticed this comment! Keep your commendation, thanks. I’m not groveling or snivelly – I’m proud of my show. I just know enough not to come in here and act like I’m some kind of freedom fighter because we’re doing what everyone should be doing in the first place …the minimum of what everyone should be doing in the first place.

Maybe because I listen to so much Pacifica radio, the difference there is so vast!

I have the feeling – and this thread reinforces it – that your experience of NPR is largely determined by where you live and how your local station is run. Here’s what I find funny – the (correct I’m sure) perception of NPR as being run by and for rich folks, and how that differs from the stereotype of local public radio, broadcasting from a couple dingy rooms in the basement of the library (which was literally the case with us seven or so years ago).

Also, I find I lot of people assume that my station’s workers are all volunteers (we’re not). I went to a conference a few years ago and met someone whose station actually IS run by all volunteers – even the news director was a volunteer. While there will be people who will choose to be really broke so they can volunteer more at the station, for the most part, you have to be able to afford to volunteer, which can result in a skewed demographic.

And Jay, I love StoryCorps and the Griot Initiative – Amazing stuff. Here is a link if anyone wants to hear some: http://www.storycorps.net/listen/index.php?cat=15&submit=Browse+by+Category
And here’s an explanation of what it is: http://www.storycorps.net/griot/

There’s something that still bothering me about this topic, concerning not being able to tell someone’s race on the radio, but I haven’t really formulated it and I don’t know what to say. I do know that in the case of talk show guests, unless they’re kind of famous, the show doesn’t usually put pictures of each of its guests online.

I must admit, I also hear more of an edge to the voices asking for donation money on ‘BAI. It makes me feel like you all need it more ;) I was actually listening to your station when I wrote this post!

That’s the biggest, cultural, Puritan, Calvinist, WASPy marker yet.

And clearly totally subconsciously so.

Amazing how ingrained the “us v. them” perspective is that “we’re” supposed to be fighting against.

Oh, wait …

Have to agree, though, that they remain in dire need of expanding their horizons. (I had some experience with NPR through my work with StoryCorps and the Griot Initiative).