WAMU going under?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a game now where I turn the car radio to 88.5 and see how long it takes for race, gender, or trans issues to come up (always in an in-your-face, non-nuanced way). It's usually less than a minute. It's very clear that the agenda simply became DEI stuff all the time about 5 years ago. We used to give money, listen avidly, etc. It's not not listenable anymore. They obviously just ignored the disappearing audience and chose to ride this into the ground. It stinks because we desperately need a smart local news station.

I just drove 10 minutes to the grocery store with WAMU. Race came up in the second minute. I heard about how difficult it is for a metal band comprised of black females and also how underpaid black actresses are. I’m not doubting these challenges and those stories of course should be heard, but it seems to dominate what I hear whenever I listen. I want a broader set of topics and perspectives and I would think a mass audience (if that is what they are actually trying to appeal to) would want also.

Yeah dude. Based on the timestamp of your post you were listening to "It's Been a Minute," which is largely about black culture. So it's not surprising that you heard a a lot about black culture on a show about black culture.

Why do we need a show about one culture? Do we all get our own show? All I’m asking is for a PUBLIC radio station to try airing content that appeals to the general public. Yes, sometimes that will include culture-specific stories! When there is so much we could all share and discuss, why are we dividing ourselves into groups, putting up walls?

Wow, just wow. 95% of the shows are based on white culture (Yes, white culture) and you complain about one show. I am black and I love Latino USA and the other cultural shows hosted by Native Americans, Asians, etc. If you got your head out of your azz you would learn something and not be so ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I can say is that my family of politically moderate independents stopped our decades of donations recently because of WAMU's reporting that slanted toward Revolution. We won't be supporting Trump but we don't want immoderate voices from the other end to dominate, either. I guess, now that they're no longer an institution I can support, I don't mind if they feel the pain of lost audiences.

This this this!!!

Again, they haven't lost listeners. They are notoriously bad at fundraising, which has been an issue for 25 years at WAMU.

[Anonymous]

Had to ditch WAMU about a year ago. Just trying too hard. Like nerds trying to be the cool kids. I listen to C Span and am now aware of how crazy people and Congress are.

[Anonymous]

Esther C in rare form today. Cracking herself up with lame jokes, over the top joking with Jen White, caring too much about the Oscars. Disgraceful how so many talented reporters were let go from WAMU while Esther remains to pollute the airwaves.

[Anonymous]

What on earth is going on at WAMU? They're doing a story on the history of DCist and interviewing former WAMU staffers about it. What is the point of this? "Gee, we really screwed up by laying off half our staff and shutting down DCist. Why don't we let staffers report on the history of the site and let former employees reminisce about the site so they feel better about it?"

What is the point of that? What does this accomplish? Just report another local story. Reminiscing about DCist to make staffers feel better doesn't serve the listening public.

Fire Erika Pulley Hayes already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ironic thing about this whole WAMU debacle is that it happened under the leadership of the new GM, Erika Pulley-Hayes, who replaced the forced out GM, JJ Yore, due the creepy Martin Di Caro scandal.

Di Caro was justly bounced out of WAMU, but the DCist staffers could not help but write an article seemingly once a week about the guy. well after he was fired. I remember seeing an article on DCist about him being hired by WTOP (I believe) heavily insinuating that he be dismissed. It was very stalkerish "reporting" and not professional at all.

Welp, kids. You got what you wanted. A creep bounced, a boss brushed away and representation stewardship. Look what that got ya.

Something something be careful what you wish for.....

Wait, what? Where can I read more about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ironic thing about this whole WAMU debacle is that it happened under the leadership of the new GM, Erika Pulley-Hayes, who replaced the forced out GM, JJ Yore, due the creepy Martin Di Caro scandal.

Di Caro was justly bounced out of WAMU, but the DCist staffers could not help but write an article seemingly once a week about the guy. well after he was fired. I remember seeing an article on DCist about him being hired by WTOP (I believe) heavily insinuating that he be dismissed. It was very stalkerish "reporting" and not professional at all.

Welp, kids. You got what you wanted. A creep bounced, a boss brushed away and representation stewardship. Look what that got ya.

Something something be careful what you wish for.....

Wait, what? Where can I read more about this?

https://www.washingtonian.com/2021/01/13/martin-di-caro-resurfaces-at-the-washington-times/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ironic thing about this whole WAMU debacle is that it happened under the leadership of the new GM, Erika Pulley-Hayes, who replaced the forced out GM, JJ Yore, due the creepy Martin Di Caro scandal.

Di Caro was justly bounced out of WAMU, but the DCist staffers could not help but write an article seemingly once a week about the guy. well after he was fired. I remember seeing an article on DCist about him being hired by WTOP (I believe) heavily insinuating that he be dismissed. It was very stalkerish "reporting" and not professional at all.

Welp, kids. You got what you wanted. A creep bounced, a boss brushed away and representation stewardship. Look what that got ya.

Something something be careful what you wish for.....

Wait, what? Where can I read more about this?

https://www.washingtonian.com/2021/01/13/martin-di-caro-resurfaces-at-the-washington-times/

https://dcist.com/story/20/07/29/martin-dicaro-wamu-allegations-misconduct/

[Anonymous]

Washingtonian got a lot of scoop on this whole scenario.
https://www.washingtonian.com/2024/04/19/why-did-wamu-close-dcist/

[Anonymous]

Lots of changes over the years/decades, from broadcasters to topics. Agree there seems to be a lot more lgbtq+ items covered, and that's not my cup of tea, but everyone should see themselves in the coverage, right? I could live with it. But Ayesha Rascoe finally did me in (had to look up how to spell her name). Every time she says "git" instead of "get," "wif" instead of "with," etc. When I heard her on the air, I turned WAMU off.

Now I listen to podcasts in the car, instead of the radio

long time WAMU supporter, now a former WAMU supporter


I'm going to disagree with you there - I like Ayesha Rascoe a lot. (She's NPR, not specific to WAMU.) I think she was a good WH reporter and I like her as a host now, too. I always enjoy when she shows up on Pop Culture Happy Hour, as well.


I tried to like Ayesha because listening to Weekend edition because I loved Weekend Edition. But I couldn't. I don't mind her accent but the tone or pitch seems not right for radio. I find her voice irritating instead of soothing. I also stopped listening, first on Sunday mornings, then on Saturdays, too. Sometimes I will try and listen to see if maybe it is better than I remembered, but I never listen for more than 5 minutes.