WAMU going under?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Didn't Boston University public radio have similar problems a few years ago w/lots of layoffs?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I stopped listening long ago when they couldn't ease up on their "angle"

I love WAMU local news coverage, politics hour, etc. but the agenda that the replacements for Kojo and Diane Rehm had was just too much. Everything had to talk about trans or race or social justice. I’m fine with insightful discussions of those topics, even if I disagree with the views discussed - but it was constant and to the exclusion of other interesting topics that used to only be covered (well) by WAMU and then didn’t get covered at all. I was so happy when they restarted dcist but they didn’t pull much of that work through to be on the air.

I agree with you 1000%. I'm a Democrat, I consider myself reasonably liberal, so I'm not someone who's gonna switch over to hate radio (the Rush Limbaugh style crazies). But WAMU "agenda" really started to wear on me. I listen to WTOP to get news. And I can still listen to the NPR shows that I love, like the Daily.

Imagine just how far to the left WAMU had to be to get run of the mill liberals to complain about their leftist agenda.

That’s just mind blowing.

To me - and this isn't WAMU specific; I think it's NPR more broadly - it's not just that everything is done from a DEI perspective. It's that being paired with a default right wing perspective! Yesterday I listened to a segment with Black Republicans talking about how yes they are going to vote for Trump. Well no sh** Republicans are voting for Trump. It's like every freaking day there's another story about Rs who like Trump, and did you know they like Trump, and are going to vote for Trump? How about a segment or two about women who are FURIOUS still and still crawling over glass to vote for Biden - who, did you know, is actually old? He's old! That's news again on NPR today.

[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.

How much coverage of the Alexandria mayor's race have you heard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

How much coverage of the Alexandria mayor's race have you heard?

None. Because she is a black woman with a felon husband. It would be a cardinal sin for them to shed light on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does this affect Matt the cheerful weatherman?

Awww, just thinking about Matt makes me smile. I don't think it would affect him.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry to lose DCist but value WAMU’s local coverage and will continue to support them. I also appreciate moves to diversify coverage at both WAMU and NPR. Never cared for Diane Rehm.

[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.

Pretty rich coming from a suburbanite. Did you type that between bites of Applebee’s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you tour the studios, you see no employee over…maybe 27. They must pay them peanuts.

Sorry, this comment was about npr, not wamu.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Pretty rich coming from a suburbanite. Did you type that between bites of Applebee’s?

The point this poster is making is that you came from somewhere else. You always will be a transplant, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here. Every post you make still has that transplant vibe, we can smell the foul stench. The PP was born and raised in DC and moved to Alexandria. The only people who think he doesn’t qualify as a native are the transplants, usually from someplace like Des Moines, desperate to establish a “bridge and tunnel” caste system that didn’t really exist until you fools moved to town 30ish years ago.

[Anonymous]

Leftist NPR crap crash & burns.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Could not have happened to a better group!😊

[Anonymous]

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.