Local Democracy Now Group First Meeting ­-- my notes/thoughts

I. Our goal -- ­ To broaden WOUB’s coverage by including Democracy Now ­ an hour-long program five days a week. Broaden can mean one or two things:

• A news program with a different perspective on the same or similar news items ­ somewhat ideological
• A news program with different stories than are typically covered on WOUB’s regular news programming

II. One way of thinking about the process of trying to get WOUB Radio to adopt Democracy Now

1) Immediate contacts with WOUB

• Make a request
• Get an initial response
• Follow up contacts
• Think of ways to respond to their rejection or postponement ­ i.e., what are our reaons/rationale
• Possibly seek out a Community Advisory Board person to talk to
• Continue honing reasons/rational
  

2) The process of developing a rationale and a set of reasons ­ which at some point members are satisfied with (although this will undergo continuing changes). Some methods:

• A blog in which members can pass on their ideas; examples of DN’s program; examples of how DN handles particular issues/topics different from WOUB….
• Student tutorials directed at DN, WOUB, or related issues.
• Specific projects for members ­ e.g., looking up some of Bill Moyers’s speeches and identifying what he says, if anything, about NPR and Democracy Now
• Generally, looking for articles that discuss/criticize NPR and/or Democracy Now, in order to deepen our knowledge about the two broadcast systems.
  

3) Collect signatures ­ on a petition which states our reasons for wanting Democracy Now

4) Start a letter-writing effort ­
* The risk here is that you antagonize current supporters

III. There may some in our group who would like the group to be more direct and confrontational in our approach to the goal of getting WOUB to incorporate DN into its programming. If there is such a position, I think we should discuss its merits ­ and risks ­ and not simply dismiss this approach ­ or any other.

In a quick search for books on NPR this morning, I identified two that may be of interest to some of us. I’m not sure I’ll bother to read them myself.

Micheal P. McCauley, NPR: The Trials and Triumphs of National Public Radio ($31.35)

Jack W. Mitchell, Listener Supported: The Culture and History of Public Radio ($39.95)

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Bob Sheak