WAMU going under?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WAMU has not struggled for years. It’s one of the best funded NPR local affiliates in the country. It’s also the most listened-to radio station in DC. They routinely end their funding drives early because they hit their goals.

I’m sorry to see DCist go, but WAMU listeners (myself included) pay to support their programming. DCist users don’t, and unfortunately, that’s the way media is moving.

I agree. I listen to WAMU way more than I read DCist. DC could certainly use another independent newspaper but DCist did not add much. Let WAMU focus on radio programming. I actually really like 1A - yes it has that sometimes annoyingly progressive homogeneity but consistently also gets good guests for in depth stories. I think Jenn White and 1A actually better successors to Terry Gross and Fresh Air than the new Fresh Air host.

[Anonymous]

1A is like the Today show most of the time - fluffy fluffy fluffy or too liberal. Very frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh my, agree it does not sound good.
Love Esther C, 1A, and weather guy Matthew C!

So offensive that talented journalists at WAMU are losing their jobs when a no-talent hack like Esther, who brings absolutely nothing to the table other than cracking lame jokes with Jen White and singing during her shifts, survives. Nobody wants to hear you sing, Esther, no one wants to hear your cringy jokes with Jen. Just go back to Vegas and leave DC already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1A is like the Today show most of the time - fluffy fluffy fluffy or too liberal. Very frustrating.

1A has good content but, yes, hours like "the history of eyeliner" is just too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree. I listen to WAMU way more than I read DCist. DC could certainly use another independent newspaper but DCist did not add much. Let WAMU focus on radio programming. I actually really like 1A - yes it has that sometimes annoyingly progressive homogeneity but consistently also gets good guests for in depth stories. I think Jenn White and 1A actually better successors to Terry Gross and Fresh Air than the new Fresh Air host.

Would be nice to hear other people than the same five guests on Fridays: Anita Kumar, the guy from the Economist in Beijing, so repetitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again, WAMU is not experiencing "demise." It is not troubled. They are actually hiring.

They are shuttering DCist, which is a significant change and is regulating in nearly 20 staffers being laid off. DCist was never really successful for them financially, and the station itself already requires a lot of funding, so it just did not make sense to continue to run it if it wasn't generating substantive ad revenue, which it wasn't. They may still publish some written content to the WAMU site. But the focus will be on on-air content, as it was before the acquisition of DCist in 2018.

Thanks for chiming in, Erika Pully Hayes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, WAMU is not experiencing "demise." It is not troubled. They are actually hiring.

They are shuttering DCist, which is a significant change and is regulating in nearly 20 staffers being laid off. DCist was never really successful for them financially, and the station itself already requires a lot of funding, so it just did not make sense to continue to run it if it wasn't generating substantive ad revenue, which it wasn't. They may still publish some written content to the WAMU site. But the focus will be on on-air content, as it was before the acquisition of DCist in 2018.

Thanks for chiming in, Erika Pully Hayes.

I'm the PP and don't work for WAMU, I just actually read the article about the situation which explained they are closing DCist but actually adding staff positions at WAMU. Sounds like by getting rid of DCist they are freeing up funding for on-air content.

So no, not in "demise."

This thread is funny though. I had no idea how many angry suburbanites needed an opportunity to explain how much they hate public radio. Hope y'all feel better I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCist had a sizable core audience that would gather in the comments, but then they eliminated comments and I'm going to guess those readers had zero reason to click on DCist anymore. It certainly wasn't for the journalism, which -- for all the hosannas it's getting from the terminally online right now -- was pretty amateurish.

I will say that local news is extremely important, but also that it's an extremely tough sell because its audience is capped by geography. And even in DC, which on its face should be a prime audience for local news, we have an *extremely* apathetic population when it comes to local matters, which is why we get the same mediocre politicians elected over and over again. Just look at voter turnout, which is laughably bad here.

The problem with DC local news is that DC only has 700k residents. That isn't enough to support local news. MD and VA suburbs have far more, but they are lucky to get a fraction of the stories that DC proper does from most outlets

+1. I wish they would have expanded Kojo's staff/show to include a full show on VA and MD and have it on three times a week. Maybe I'm naive, but I think people would have listened to that.

Oh well, I got my claim to fame - the Kojo show put me through and I got to vent my spleen once. Thanks Kojo and Tom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCist had a sizable core audience that would gather in the comments, but then they eliminated comments and I'm going to guess those readers had zero reason to click on DCist anymore. It certainly wasn't for the journalism, which -- for all the hosannas it's getting from the terminally online right now -- was pretty amateurish.

I will say that local news is extremely important, but also that it's an extremely tough sell because its audience is capped by geography. And even in DC, which on its face should be a prime audience for local news, we have an *extremely* apathetic population when it comes to local matters, which is why we get the same mediocre politicians elected over and over again. Just look at voter turnout, which is laughably bad here.

The problem with DC local news is that DC only has 700k residents. That isn't enough to support local news. MD and VA suburbs have far more, but they are lucky to get a fraction of the stories that DC proper does from most outlets

Yes, exactly. It's a comparatively small population, and then when you take into account that probably 685,000 of that 700k probably would never click on a DCist link (or even know what it is), you start to see how impossible it becomes.

Such a transplant perspective. There are 6 million people in the DC area. Thinking it is only the 700K in the borders that makes DC, DC is just navel gazing.

Totally agree. Major transplant energy.

The entire area used to follow DC politics when we had quality reporting and the reporting made the stories interesting with good interviews, follow ups, and actual journalism. Even as recently as Michelle Rhee, Fairfax county residents did care what was going on in dc public schools! And local news used to have the stringers to cover Fairfax courthouse and Montgomery at the same time. The last time any local news was at Fairfax courthouse was for the Johnny Depp fiasco.

As someone who has lived in DC proper (not in whatever cul-de-sac nightmare you clearly live in) for more than 30 years, I can tell you that this is an incredibly rose-colored retelling of local journalism. DC residents don't care about what happens in Fairfax and Montgomery counties because it does not affect their lives one bit, and vice versa.

Huh, try not to step in too much dog sh*t whne you're patting yourself on the back because of a .... zip code, gramps.

If you actually followed WAMU, you'd know that they have run ad nauseum since yesterday, the repercussions of Alabama's decision to consider embryos as human. So there goes your point about DC "PROPER!!!!" people not caring about news outside its borders.

- signed, a true DC native, born and bred, that gladly moved to Old Town when it became clear DC had no intent of keeping its citizens safe.

And btw- you'll never be a native like us andno one cares how 'long term' you identify as. You still arent from here.

Heard that before

It still sounds cray cray

No one cares

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCist had a sizable core audience that would gather in the comments, but then they eliminated comments and I'm going to guess those readers had zero reason to click on DCist anymore. It certainly wasn't for the journalism, which -- for all the hosannas it's getting from the terminally online right now -- was pretty amateurish.

I will say that local news is extremely important, but also that it's an extremely tough sell because its audience is capped by geography. And even in DC, which on its face should be a prime audience for local news, we have an *extremely* apathetic population when it comes to local matters, which is why we get the same mediocre politicians elected over and over again. Just look at voter turnout, which is laughably bad here.

The problem with DC local news is that DC only has 700k residents. That isn't enough to support local news. MD and VA suburbs have far more, but they are lucky to get a fraction of the stories that DC proper does from most outlets

+1. I wish they would have expanded Kojo's staff/show to include a full show on VA and MD and have it on three times a week. Maybe I'm naive, but I think people would have listened to that.

Oh well, I got my claim to fame - the Kojo show put me through and I got to vent my spleen once. Thanks Kojo and Tom!

I would have LOVED this!

[Anonymous]

Wamu really just lost direction. I usually listen to wbur online because their content is just more interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, WAMU is not experiencing "demise." It is not troubled. They are actually hiring.

They are shuttering DCist, which is a significant change and is regulating in nearly 20 staffers being laid off. DCist was never really successful for them financially, and the station itself already requires a lot of funding, so it just did not make sense to continue to run it if it wasn't generating substantive ad revenue, which it wasn't. They may still publish some written content to the WAMU site. But the focus will be on on-air content, as it was before the acquisition of DCist in 2018.

Thanks for chiming in, Erika Pully Hayes.

I'm the PP and don't work for WAMU, I just actually read the article about the situation which explained they are closing DCist but actually adding staff positions at WAMU. Sounds like by getting rid of DCist they are freeing up funding for on-air content.

So no, not in "demise."

This thread is funny though. I had no idea how many angry suburbanites needed an opportunity to explain how much they hate public radio. Hope y'all feel better I guess.

Suburbanites?

Sweetie, my city pre dates your adopted city by a century. Keep wasting your breath trying to be something you aren’t . That might impress your HS classmates in Ass Fart, Ohio, but it just makes us local natives pity you. After we stop laughing at you that is...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WAMU has not struggled for years. It’s one of the best funded NPR local affiliates in the country. It’s also the most listened-to radio station in DC. They routinely end their funding drives early because they hit their goals.

I’m sorry to see DCist go, but WAMU listeners (myself included) pay to support their programming. DCist users don’t, and unfortunately, that’s the way media is moving.

I agree. I listen to WAMU way more than I read DCist. DC could certainly use another independent newspaper but DCist did not add much. Let WAMU focus on radio programming. I actually really like 1A - yes it has that sometimes annoyingly progressive homogeneity but consistently also gets good guests for in depth stories. I think Jenn White and 1A actually better successors to Terry Gross and Fresh Air than the new Fresh Air host.

Is Dave Davies the new Fresh Air host?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, WAMU is not experiencing "demise." It is not troubled. They are actually hiring.

They are shuttering DCist, which is a significant change and is regulating in nearly 20 staffers being laid off. DCist was never really successful for them financially, and the station itself already requires a lot of funding, so it just did not make sense to continue to run it if it wasn't generating substantive ad revenue, which it wasn't. They may still publish some written content to the WAMU site. But the focus will be on on-air content, as it was before the acquisition of DCist in 2018.

Thanks for chiming in, Erika Pully Hayes.

I'm the PP and don't work for WAMU, I just actually read the article about the situation which explained they are closing DCist but actually adding staff positions at WAMU. Sounds like by getting rid of DCist they are freeing up funding for on-air content.

So no, not in "demise."

This thread is funny though. I had no idea how many angry suburbanites needed an opportunity to explain how much they hate public radio. Hope y'all feel better I guess.

Suburbanites?

Sweetie, my city pre dates your adopted city by a century. Keep wasting your breath trying to be something you aren’t . That might impress your HS classmates in Ass Fart, Ohio, but it just makes us local natives pity you. After we stop laughing at you that is...

Yup. Typical new-arrival-wanna-be-a-local energy. She radiates it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People here are so ridiculous. We live in an incredibly diverse region. Yes, coverage can be about race. WAMU has struggled for YEARS! Also, every single black show has always been cancelled on WAMU so give me a break so diversity has not been the culprit of its demise.

Black politics and culture, particularly in DC, but not exclusively, has been a cornerstone of WAMU coverage for decades. It was the new age DEI tone that has taken a toll.

Derek McGinty didn’t get canceled, he got a new job. Kojo didn’t get canceled, he’s still on the air but retired from the daily production. They may have cancelled other black hosts, but they have like 5 shows left, one is a weekly with Kojo and (both black). 2 are weekend evening shows (1 hosted by a white jew and 1 a non Jew white guy). The last is a daily production, 1A, hosted by a black lady, so I have no idea what you are talking about.

Are you seriously pissed that on Saturday nights WAMU produces 3 hours of programming in-house that has a white guy as host?

McGinty saw the writing on the wall with their hard-left turn they started making a few years ago. McGinty is a pragmatic centrist, with a strong libertarian streak. He saw where management was taking things with the woke BS, and bailed.

Good for him.