Friday, February 02, 2007

Committee to study WMUB

[Text of Miami University e-Report of 02/01/2007]

Miami President David Hodge has appointed a committee to review the future of WMUB and its relationship with the university.

The evolution in the public radio market caused by technological developments and the declining state support to the university were cited as forces making the review necessary.

The committee has been asked to:

* Examine the role, both current and potential, that WMUB plays at Miami.
* Provide a strategic perspective on WMUB's future in the context of the significant changes that will affect public radio in the next few years.
* Delineate the investment that Miami currently provides WMUB and examine the full range of alternatives to the current financial commitment.

"I ask that the committee consult widely with all the relevant stakeholders and bring in selected and appropriate expertise," Hodge said.

The committee is to report their findings no later than May 1.

Committee members are:

Richard Campbell (journalism), committee chair; Adolph Haislar (finance and business services); Howard Kleiman (communication); William McKenna (philosophy); Cathy McVey (IT services); Adrienne Rexroad, Kay Snavely (management); Peyton Stanforth (student); Justine Stokes (graduate student); Bill Triick, Allan Winkler (Distinguished Professor of History); Richard Little (university communications), ex-officio.

15 Comments:

At 4:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Miami University's value to the community is enhanced by the existence of WMUB-FM. I haven't lived in the area for a long time and am not familiar with the options that radio listeners there have, but I'm sure none matches the quality and educational value that WMUB does. -- Jo-Ann Huff Albers, 1959 graduate

 
At 5:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why no non-employee community members on the Committee? No one from Dayton or Cincinnati markets?

 
At 7:04 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a WMUB podcast listener living in Savannah, Georgia, I'd like to mention to the "Committee to Study WMUB" that the station not only serves a wider public than my local NPR station, but also serves as a wonderful public relations tool for your university. My husband is on the faculty at a local university, and yet we knew nothing about Miami University until I started listening to WMUB via podcast. Since then, we have learned about what a fine institution it is, and have found ourselves listening with interest to news about academia in Ohio. What was hitherto an unknown quality in your part of the U.S.A. is certainly much more appreciated by us here now.

 
At 3:13 PM, Blogger Cleve Callison said...

In reference to Anonymous on 2/6/07, there are two community members on the panel. Adrienne Rexroad is a WMUB member from Beavercreek who works at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; Bill Triik is President of the Middletown Chamber of Commerce. The other members are Miami faculty or staff.

 
At 1:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Surely all entries here are motivated by our strong belief in the high quality & value of WMUB. I go way back to the late '70s as a listener. Please help us better understand what is meant by "...context of the significant changes that will affect public radio in the next few years." These words are taken from WMUB Directions. Thank you.

 
At 4:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Used to be that things were done because they were just right to do not because of money. That is why NPR and PBC had such great standards. Now it is all about value. And the "value" ideal leads to the lowest common denominator because it is almost imposible to measure and value all the great things is done. I know first hand, I worked for GM (the car company) and you can see where all that value has gotten it.

 
At 6:30 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I travel a lot and have found no parallel to the fine programming on WMUB. In fact, I no longer live in the broadcast area but continue to listen to WMUB on my computer and include the URL on my syllabi as recommended listening for my students. I continue to support it financially as well.
Democracy rests on voters having good information and the ability to process it. WMUB programming serves as a model for this with an ideal mixture of topics presented in a fair and balanced manner. This level of excellence needs to be sustained. It combats the ignorance and isolationism that is often associated with Americans and that holds us back in the global economy.

 
At 2:31 PM, Blogger Cleve Callison said...

Posted on behalf of Michael Loudenslager:

I am a 1991 graduate of Miami University, grew up in Dayton, and lived in Cincinnati for ten years before moving to Virginia about 3 years ago. While living in Cincinnati, I used to listen to WMUB while commuting to and from work. I continue to listen to WMUB throughout my work day on my computer over the web. WMUB provides unparalled programming from "All Things Considered" to "Fresh Air" to the local programs that it produces, such as the "Help Desk" and "Sound Health."

While I am no longer a resident of southern Ohio, WMUB continues to allow me to connect to Miami University and my Ohio roots. Miami University would definitely be losing an important resource if WMUB was not allowed to continue its excellent programming.

 
At 6:27 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

I have been in the Miami Valley for a little over 2 years and I really ejnoy WMUB. I like the selection of National programming and I especially enjoy the local programming. I have even had a question answered on "Help Desk!". It feels accessible, local and relevant to my day to day life. There is always room for improvement in life and I am not opposed to change, but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I am a member, and I support the station. I have even become curious about the University because it supports such a fine station and I have been to visit the University and recommended to my bright young friends as a good place to consider for college.
I am looking for superlatives to describe your station and I hope you don't do anything drastic to it's wonderful programming.
Thank you.

 
At 12:15 AM, Blogger Nicolas Martin said...

There are far too many public radio stations, with considerable redudance. Many of them are available on the web. It's time for consolidation.

 
At 8:43 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Balanced news, intereting sicence & other learning opertunities are just a few things that are special to the tri-state. The idea that this might be gone, makes me sick.
Skip Faulkner

 
At 9:19 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I cut my teeth at WMUB and cherish my years there as a student newscaster and Chief Board Operator. The lessons I learned there I've carried with me though my broadcasting career. I am not sure if the station serves the students this way anymore, but I'd hate to think about what my Miami years would have been like without it.

 
At 6:28 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello-
I am glad to add my comments to this important issue. Is it actually possible that WMUB may go off the air? Am I misunderstanding this "Committee to study WMUB"?
I, an ordinary person from PA that moved to Hamilton, OH 5 years ago, would be very unhappy if this powerful public radio resource was no longer available. Although the Cinci-Dayton area is a generally rich market for radio stations below 92.0 on the FM dial as opposed to other areas, WMUB is simply the best over-all station in the spectrum. It's local news during the morning and afternoon broadcasts of NPR programming is superb, and the locally-produced programming is of the highest quality, as well as being entertaining ("Help Desk", fine example).
Although it should be noted that some or much of WMUB's programming is similar to WVXU in the same listening area, the major difference between the two stations is WMUB's voice. Its unique locally-produced programs, plus its news team, as well as its on-air personalities, distinguish it from the other station's content. WMUB's "people" matter to me, and I am glad they are doing what they do so well, and I would feel a deep loss in my radio listening experience if they were no longer on the air.
In closing, I am not a captain of industry, an important government official, or part of some greater lobbying group. I am simply an ordinary American that is very pleased to listen to WMUB as often as I am able, and I really appreciate what they do, every day. It makes my day to listen to WMUB. I just thought you should know.
Consolidation (an issue from another posting on this blog) of Public Radio is a reduction of available voices, and I hope it does not happen to WMUB.
-Don in Hamilton, OH

 
At 11:25 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I live on the northern edge of WMUB's listening area. I can assure you it's programming overlaps with nothing else that I am able to reach with a car or stationary radio. WMUB is essential to my day. The news available on other stations and on TV or even in the local papers has no equal, not even close, to the news available from NPR and the state house news from WMUB. I get really tired of hearing newscasts that amount to nothing more than the police blotter from the previous day or two. One has to wonder, how do other people find out what is going on in Columbus? How do they know how their congressperson is voting on issues? I have to have WMUB to hear what is really going on in the wider world.

I listen on my computer when I am home, because the reception is better. I have always known that WMUB has a wider audience than its signal reaches, because there are callers to the local shows from other states and occasionally from over seas. I believe I once heard a computer question to the Help Desk from an American on a Caribbean island. And on NPR, people on the national shows call from Europe on occasion. Armed Forces personnel call from Germany for example. Perhaps some of them are listening to the shows via WMUB on the web.

If Miami University administration doesn't see the value of that kind of wide audience, they aren't looking. I direct your attention to the item from "lcooksey in georgia." I have relatives in academia and I can assure you it is an effort to get people to look at schools that do not reside on a coast or have NCAA caliber sports programs. I mean no disparagement to Miami's sports program, but it doesn't enjoy OSU's or Notre Dame's national attention. I believe it is in Miami University's interest as they seek quality students, graduate students and a diverse academic staff to maintain WMUB's presence and format.

Thank you for providing a service to the community and to me personally. I intend to keep my membership in WMUB and support it however I can.

 
At 8:01 AM, Blogger SkiipF said...

W.M.U.B is as much a part of Miami U. as the english department, basketball or football teams. They should all be supported to the max.
Who is wanting to silence this true voice in the darkness? I wonder?

 

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