notloB Music: WGBH appreciates your passion and feedback?

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

WGBH appreciates your passion and feedback?

WGBH appreciates your passion and feedback?

The following is a message from WGBH to members of its Facebook group.

http://www.facebook.com/WGBHBoston http://www.facebook.com/WGBHBoston

(if you have a Facebook account you can post your thoughts there).

WGBH appreciates your passion and feedback ...

Today at 1:23pm

Thank you all for your comments. In designing 89.7’s lineup, we were mindful that WGBH’s signal reaches portions of the six New England states, serving many areas without a public radio station. Without 89.7, many people would have no access to NPR news. So, for years, both WGBH and WBUR have carried Morning Edition and All Things Considered simultaneously. In that same spirit, the only programs added to the WGBH lineup simultaneously with WBUR are Morning Edition on Saturday and Sunday, and All Things Considered on Sunday. A select few other programs heard on WBUR are included in the lineup, but at different times of the day to give listeners additional choices. We also plan to complement our news shows The World and The Takeaway with two new, local daily programs hosted by Emily and Callie, as well as content from our TV programs Greater Boston, Basic Black and Nova. As of right now, there are no plans for a radio version of Frontline, but that could certainly change - we'll pass along this suggestion as well as others. Also, Celtic, jazz, Prairie Home Companion, and Sound and Spirit will remain on 89.7. For the full schedule for both 89.7 and 99.5 All Classical, click on this link: http://www.wgbh.org/listen/index.cfm.

Source - http://www.facebook.com/notes/wgbh/wgbh-appreciates-your-passion-and-feedback-/187592234554

(if you have a Facebook account you can post your thoughts there, too).

The invitation to comment on the programming changes could not have arrived at a more opportune time.

Over this past weekend, “Folk on WGBH” and “Blues on WGBH” were terminated.

For 31 years WGBH has made a home for blues and folk music programs that helped support and build the musical community throughout New England. Listeners could hear a wide variety of recorded music as well as performances by and interviews with scores of artists. After November 29th WGBH plans to cancel these programs as part of its "single format" change to news and talk. Concerned listeners want "Folk On WGBH" and "Blues On WGBH" (as well as Celtic and jazz programs) to remain on the air. Will you join us in taking action to show WGBH management that these programs matter to the community?

Their official spokesperson dismissed the folk and blues communities, with a "let them eat cake" attitude: ""...blues and folk fans have other ways to find their genres of choice in Boston..."
~ WGBH spokeswoman Jeanne Hopkins, in the Boston Globe, 11/6/09

Since the announcement on November 6 and the creation of “Supporters of Folk and Blues on WGBH”, anyone who contacted WGBH to register their thoughts received the same dismissive and insensitive “boilerplate” response.

Now is the time to take action. Come and express your thoughts directly to the board of directors. Seeing and hearing the folk and blues community in person could have a different affect.

"Meetings of the WGBH Board of Trustees, most of its committees, and the WGBH Community Advisory Board are open to the public. The open sessions of WGBH Board of Trustees meetings generally begin 15 to 30 minutes after the published meeting start time. For more precise start times, please call 617-300-2601 within the five days prior to a specific meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held in the Cahners Room at WGBH, One Guest Street, Boston, MA. Also, please note that meeting start times are approximate."

http://www.wgbh.org/about/meetings.cfm

Accept their invitation, come in person! Spread the word! Bring friends!

Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Time: 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: WGBH, Cahners Room

Street: One Guest Street

City/Town: Boston, MA

View Map

If you use Facebook you can spread invitations via “Supporters of folk and blues on WGBH @ WGBH board of directors' meeting.”

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174621907156&ref=ts

Thank you for supporting folk and blues on WGBH.

Jeff Boudreau