Discouraging to hear about smoking ban reaction

It was discouraging to hear smokers continue to view smoking bans as a privacy or individual rights issue rather than as a public health issue. Smoking is not a solitary, individual action. It has dramatic effects on other people. Numerous studies have shown the significant public health benefits to all of smoking bans. I applaud Oxford University for taking its stance against smoking.

--Don, Centerville, OH

Reaction is not positive

My comments are not very positive, sorry. I am a jazz lover, a Mama Jazz fan, and I really don't find the BBC any more interesting than CNN or MNBC, both of which rarely have a serious critical analysis of important global issues. I would rather hear reruns of Leherer and would prefer Democracy Now. You are a key player in this area, and hope you will listen to your supporters' comments. A mix from good reporting from some of the outstanding sources in Latin America would fill an important gap in U.S. news coverage, not another European centered news source such as BBC. But most of all, this area is starved for good jazz or classical.

--Howard Lamson, Earlham College

Followup message: I guess so many of us are so tired of the superficial political debate going on since the beginning of the primaries, that we yearn for serious analysis of the issues beyond the parameters of the current date. BBC rarely attempts to go to the heart of issues.

I am so sorry about Mama Jazz' health.

Interrupting your guests

I hate the way you all interrupt your guests in the middle of their sentence. It really is rude.Can't you do it as the network NPR shows do? That is start the theme music at a low volume and gradually increase the volume. I understand that you have to get to station breaks (although I don't know why- most of it is telling me what I'm listening to - which I already know) but why is the time of the break so sacrosanct?

--T.S., Miami

Please rethink your decision

I have been a long time listener and a supporter in recent years. I am very disappointed that Mama Jazz will no longer be on the regular 88.5 FM signal. I have spent many hours looking for a HD radio and an HD receiver for my car. There is really no choices availably in the Dayton area. I will listen on-line, but I did not buy a computer to listen to the radio. That is what I do while I am on the computer paying bills, etc. The price I pay for the stuff I must have to listen to Mama Jazz will have to come from my support to WMUB and Think TV. Please rethink you decision to do reruns instead of Mama Jazz.

--F.S., Centerville, OH

Bye-bye MUB

Did I hear right tonight? You're replacing jazz programming at night with repeats of daytime talk? They weren't worth listening to the first time, let alone repeated!

--M.M., Dayton

You're about the same as WVXU

Golly, congratulations, now you’re just about the same as WVXU.

Why do you want to lose listeners who previously heard Diane in the morning and, much as we enjoy her, really don’t need an encore later that day?

Speaking for myself, I’ll probably be listening to WMUB two or three hours less a day. That’s not even counting the many evenings I’ve enjoyed Mama Jazz for an hour or two (or three). Is she retiring?

How about overnight jazz? We always turn in listening to Tony Mowod (Yuck) and better yet, the weekend guys. Can’t remember their name(s), (Studebaker???) They played much better jazz than Tony M. Are they gone, too? If this a money-saving move, it doesn’t seem to be very well thought out. Save a few bucks, lose a few (or more) listeners.

Whatever. Good luck.

--W.H., via email

P.S. (later message):

I’m afraid after all these years I’m stuck of WMUB.

The BBC sounds good to me. Since it seems that NPR and PBS are leaning rather drastically to the right (or wrong).

While I never attended Miami ( I’m an IU graduate), I played with the Campus Owls for 6 or 7 years after graduating from IU in ‘50. Jazz Trumpet and Flugelhorn. Hence my love and appreciation of jazz.

I’m sue I could think of some things to complain about – if I tried. But, in the main, (and in the past), I’ve always been pleased with your programming, and I’m sure (reasonably) that I shall be in the future.

Good Luck with your new direction.

--W.H.

What a loss

I have been listening with apprehension to your announcements about the upcoming “all talk” format to begin August 4th. The talk segment you are adding is from 8:00 PM until 10:00 PM. This leads me to believe Mama Jazz will no longer be included in your programming.

Your radio station was unique with its live programming. The change away from this programming effectively puts you in the generic category of radio stations. What a loss. I am not interested in hearing a repeat of programs which were on air earlier the same day.

--M.S., Richmond

Loss of Mama Jazz is horrible

I have only heard bits and pieces about the upcoming changes in programming. The loss of Mama Jazz is horrible. Not everyone has an HD radio. In fact, the majority of people don’t. I certainly can’t afford the change in this economy.

I have listened to Mama Jazz for many years with absolute enjoyment. It is the only true jazz station I can find. I can’t tell you how upset I am about this. Your station was perfect the way it was. Now I have to find another station.

If I find out that you have taken Diane Rehm’s 10:00 am show off there will be no more pledges from me. I guess I’ll have to try Cincinnati’s NPR.

What a shame. Has your station been bought out recently or come under new management? I have also heard a subtle change in the news, more slanted toward McCain and conservative views. IF this continues I’ll have to push all my friends who are also viewers to stop listening and supporting the station as well. They too are upset about the changes.

--LKM, via email

This dismays me

Every night, I listen to WMUB's Jazz programs, from Mama Jazz on throughout the night, and from midnight til 5 a.m. However, due to your new programming plans to repeat the Diane Rehm show at midnight, my favorite nighttime entertainment is going to be interrupted. This dismays me, and I hope you will reconsider.

During weekday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, I do enjoy listening to her interview program. However, your new scheduling will not please me; even if I miss her daily show, I will not look forward to hearing an interview talk show during late night hours.....I want to listen to relaxing jazz music ! Perhaps you could repeat her show during early evening hours, when most people who wish to hear it, will be awake to do so!

Please reconsider this decision.....let the nighttime Jazz hours remain as they are, for relaxing and good listening. To my knowledge, there is no other NPR station which plays jazz at night.

Thank you for this opportunity to let you know how a constant, and faithful listener feels.

P.S.: Please know I won't be a constant listener in the future. My financial support has been mainly in return for the enjoyment I have gained by listening to nighttime jazz programs of the past five or six years. As I am now in search of another listening source for nighttime hours, I am sorry your proposed new programming does not fulfill my search of relaxation methods. An interview talk show is supposed to be stimulating, not fodder for nighttime rest periods.

I suggest you canvas other regular WMUB listeners for their input; what demographics are in play, how have you determined that Jazz programs are not popular with your NPR listeners? As matter of fact, I do prefer the jazz music played on WNCU, Raleigh, NC, but I can listen to it only thru the Internet, not 'live' radio. When I visit the southern tier area of New York state, there are multiple jazz programs offered only at night, I enjoy those stations when I am there.

--Dianne Short, via email

Disheartened about jazz

While I am glad to hear you are adding the BBC to your broadcast, as I drive to work at 2 am, I am disheartened to hear that the jazz I have come to know and love will not be on your flagship broadcast. Mama Jazz will be missed. I would at least encourage you to ensure promotion of the other HD stations to inspire more people to make the switch in their cars to an HD radio, as I will now consider.

Another concern of mine is the fate of the Tavis Smiley Show on Sundays, will this still be part of your programming? I consider his show and Michelle Martin's to be essential parts to understanding America as a whole. As people stay safe in their little bubbles, these shows help force issues of race, poverty, sexism and discrimination to the forefront for discussion, instead of leaving them invisible in the background because those subjects do not get ratings. This is a vital part of the responsibility duty-bound to public broadcasting, and one WMUB has always partaken. I hope this continues in all future realignments of the programming format. Thank you.

--Rob Lavezzi, via email

P.S. Please feel free to use my comments including my full name for Friday Feedback. I feel NPR and WMUB are vital parts of public discourse and information sharing and I want to support you any way I can. Thank you for your consideration.

Why are you copying WVXU?

I listen to your station quite often. I also hear WVXU when I'm out of your range. Your recent programming announcement sounds to me like you are copying VXU. Why? I don't understand why reruns are considered a better choice than jazz.

Mama Jazz is a treasure. I know she's nearing retirement and maybe this is a way to ease her into that role. But, why in the world waste an FM signal on more talk while moving music to the horrible fidelity that is most computer speakers.

I like Diane R, and I like TofN, but, as you know, Mama Jazz is a huge part of the WMUB identity. Why not repeat Fresh Air? At least Terri doesn't take phone calls which always bring the shows to a screeching halt.

"Hello, Charleston, you're on the air...Charleston"
"Hello"
"Hello, you're on the air."
"Hello, oh hi, hold on let me let out the cat first......................."
"It's 16 past the hour and you're listening to the Diane Rheem Show."
"Hello"
"Yes go ahead"
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes, go ahead"
"Oh hi Diane"

I will miss Mama Jazz and to a lesser extent, overnight Jazz. Are you doing this to keep from paying rights fees or because you are non-profit you don't pay fees?

One more suggestion, increase your Miami U sports coverage. My guess it MU will not be on 96.5 fm this year and will need a But Co outlet. WMOH has no coverage, especially in the evening.

Thanks, keep up the good work.

--SB, Millville

Wanted BBC for the longest time

Hello to Mr. Callison and the good folks at WMUB,

My dad sent me an email about the changes in the WMUB lineup and I was ecstatic. I'm away at college and far from the WMUB listening area, but I still listen online whenever I can. I have wanted for the longest time for WMUB to have the BBC World Service on at night. Listening to other area stations that do have this was really great at night, especially when I was doing homework, if I couldn't sleep or if I was driving for quite a distance. I am so happy also that the Diane Rehm show has an encore at 8pm and that Talk of the Nation is repeated at midnight. Fantastic!

Mama Jazz has been a familiar voice to me since my toddler years, and it's sad to see her off the main channel, but since there haven't been any new programs produced in a few years, I don't think we listeners are really being slighted.

I am so glad my parents support WMUB through their membership and that the station's approach to programming is forward-looking. Cheers and keep up the good work.

--Allison Dierks, Hagerstown, IN

How about "Day to Day" instead?

How about doing a replay of NPR's "Day to Day' instead of all the Rehm shows? The second hour is almost always a throw-away & hard to listen to? In other words worthless, except on Friday, that's good at least when the professional guests look at the headlines of the news for the week.

I think you would get a much better rating, but don't run it instead of any of the BBC you propose.

--Eric, Greenville, OH

[Program Director John Hingsbergen writes:

Thanks for the comment. Regarding the use of “Day to Day,” in the evening, that is not an option for us for a couple of reasons: 1) We do not air it during the day so we would need to become paying subscribers to the show in order to run a repeat; 2) Since it is a midday news magazine, it must be run “live.” The “feeds” of the show end at 5:00 p.m. and no recorded repeats are allowed.

We are grateful for your suggestion and will continue to consider “Day to Day” for addition at some time in the future even though an evening re-play is not possible.]

Supports the changes, especially BBC

I am writing to support WMUB's change to a full-time news and information station. I am particularly glad to see the addition of BBC news.

Thank you.

--Penn, via email

Thanks for extending the news

[from WMUB Forum's 'Ask the General Manager' show Friday 7/18/08]

I realize your jazz fans may be upset with your changes. As a news and information fan I'd just like to thank you for extending BBC, etc. into the evening hours. Please keep doing everything you can to cover Indiana (and not just Ohio) local news.

--Sarah, Richmond

Applauds the changes

[from WMUB Forum's 'Ask the General Manager' show Friday 7/18/08]

I applaud the changes. Anytime the public has available more information on current events at a convenient time it is beneficial to the public good.

Question: Is this new programming exclusive to WMUB or did it also happen currently with other NPR stations?

I think it would also be good for the station to have regularly scheduled broadcasts of how our local congress people have voted on current issues. I think this is particularly important in light of the many failures and budget and national deficits of the federal government.

--Mort Meier, Hamilton

[There are other stations that repeat Diane Rehm (e.g., WAMU, which produces the show). But the decision and the scheduling are WMUB's own. - Ed.]

Loves Almost Monday

[from WMUB Forum's 'Ask the General Manager' show Friday 7/18/08]

I love the "Almost Monday" program on Sunday evenings. Will it continue in the new format?

--Cindy, Richmond

[It's still on the schedule, alternating with specials. It's produced by Miami students under professional supervision. At present all our student producers of the show have graduated. We're continuing to evaluate.]

I appreciate the changes

As a news junkie, I fully appreciate the changes you are making. Keep up the good work.

In recent months I have listened to many public radio stations throughout the country. Yours is among the best.

--Nancy, Richmond

Internet is the way to go

There are many times I cannot listen to Diane’s show during the day at work. The ability to listen again in the evening is a nice idea. However, there are a couple of other options for Diane (1) download her podcast from WAMU and (2) the shows are also repeated on Sirius at 4:00 and 5:00. This makes the drive home more pleasant.

For those who say the Internet is not an option, they need to get with the new reality in the information age. Computers are very user friendly now and external speakers are easy to attach. I listen all day on the net. If they need assistance, call the helpdesk.

--David, via email

Mama Jazz will be missed

While I am glad to hear you are adding the BBC to your broadcast, as I drive to work at 2 am, I am disheartened to hear that the jazz I have come to know and love will not be on your flagship broadcast. Mama Jazz will be missed. I would at least encourage you to ensure promotion of the other HD stations to inspire more people to make the switch in their cars to an HD radio, as I will now consider.

Another concern of mine is the fate of the Tavis Smiley Show on Sundays, will this still be part of your programming? I consider his show and Michelle Martin's to be essential parts to understanding America as a whole. As people stay safe in their little bubbles, these shows help force issues of race, poverty, sexism and discrimination to the forefront for discussion, instead of leaving them invisible in the background because those subjects do not get ratings. This is a vital part of the responsibility duty-bound to public broadcasting, and one WMUB has always partaken. I hope this continues in all future realignments of the programming format. Thank you.

--Rob, WMUB Member

Idea for new program

I have no complaints about the upcoming new format.

I've wondered for a time, however, about setting aside an hour a week, perhaps (don't know where), or maybe just an hour a month, to let various department spokespersons at Miami U. talk about their programs, what the trends are in the English department, or Engineering, or Music, e.g. This would serve the dual purpose of community service to the university and to the community.

--Gail Moeller, via email

Please reconsider

Wait, please reconsider. Mama JAZZ should be retained on WMUB. HD is so obsure, so unavailable. Will she be streaming on the web?

--Faye, via email

[Repeats of Mama Jazz shows produced through late 2006 will air on HD2 from 8 pm to midnight ET, and be streamed on the web. - Ed.]

I'll be listening less

Golly, congratulations, now you’re just about the same as WVXU.

Why do you want to lose listeners who previously heard Diane in the morning and, much as we enjoy her, really don’t need an encore later that day?

Speaking for myself, I’ll probably be listening to WMUB two or three hours less a day. That’s not even counting the many evenings I’ve enjoyed Mama Jazz for an hour or two (or three). Is she retiring?

How about overnight jazz? We always turn in listening to Tony Moad (Yuck) and better yet, the weekend guys. Can’t remember their name(s), (Studebaker???) They played much better jazz than Tony M. Are they gone, too? If this a money-saving move, it doesn’t seem to be very well thought out. Save a few bucks, lose a few (or more) listeners.

Whatever. Good luck.

--WH, former WMUB member, via email

[No original hours of Mama Jazz have been produced since 2006. Repeats of shows produced through then will air on HD2 from 8 pm to midnight ET, and be streamed on the web. - Ed.]

Mixed feelings about the changes

I have mixed feelings about the changes to the program schedule. I am glad that you are keeping the locally-originated talk programming -- it makes WMUB stand out from other public radio stations in the area. I will miss Mama Jazz. I do not own a receiver for the digital IBOC signal and live in a fringe area for the analog signal that's within the primary coverage area for the adjacent-channel stations of WMUB, so I doubt that an inexpensive Ibiquity receiver would work for me.

On the other hand, I wish that you would put something else on overnight other than the BBC World Service, which is already available on two other stations which I receive. Anyway, an hour or two of the BBC is enough, since it repeats. Please consider substituting other programming overnight -- there is plenty of worthwhile programming produced by NPR and by other sources. May I suggest "As It Happens" from the CBC to start?

--Bob Koblish, Madeira

You had the balance right

We are long-time listeners and supporters who recently (early June) moved to Colorado. We always liked your mix of news, intelligent talk, and jazz. You had the balance just right. So we are disappointed that you are pushing jazz out of your regular broadcast lineup. (The NPR station here is "news and diverse music," but after "Morning Edition" it is nothing but music until ATC in mid-afternoon.)

We are happy, however, that we will be able to get it all over the internet!

--name withheld, Estes Park, Colorado

Very saddening to me

The move of all jazz programming to HD2 is very saddening to me. It'll surely cut the potential listening audience to a tiny fraction of what it was. (I don't know a single person who has HD radio.) Sure, it might be great for those who do have HD radio, but when I'm driving around at night in my rusted old 1991 Ford Escort, I guess I'm going to have to find other listening alternatives.

--Ken Fasimpour, Dayton

I really like the ideas

I really like the ideas showing up in the new line up of broadcasting explained in your recent e-mail. I've never been a fan of jazz so your previous later evening programming was not appealing to me. And working full-time, I seldom got to hear the Diane Rehm Show with its interesting political and literary interviews. I will appreciate the repeat of Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me, and I really like BBC programming. With the dearth of worthwhile television programs as an alternative, your new schedule ought to have a solid following. Best wishes as you initiate your new approach.

--Karen, Earlham College, Richmond

Please remove my name

Please remove my name from yor mailing and membership list as there is too much talk on the radio as is. I am unable to pickup WMUB on my HD radio, therefore I will no listen after 8/3/08.

--Mike, via email

I can't tell you how sorry I am

I can't tell you how sorry I am that we will no longer have access to Jazz After Midnight or Jazz After Hours. While I know I could receive jazz from MUB via streaming, that makes little sense if your listening as you go off to sleep - -and HD radio is also not an option in much of this area. So now - the only jazz left is smooth jazz (milquetoast) or limited offerings on WYSO. I'm really not into Coltrane, but Kevin Mahogany - Freddie Cole - Regina Carter - Mulgrew Miller - Diana Krall - - and many others who have been warmly welcomed in the Dayton area - what radio station can you turn to now?

I know there is little you can do about this, but I just wanted to let you know my disappointment.

--Beth, Germantown

What a terrific idea!

What a terrific idea, I can't wait!

--listener, Earlham College, Richmond

Inform the area's conservatives

Glad to see the new move to provide more current events and opinion programs to the people. It is sorely needed.

--Mort Meier, Hamilton

Looking forward to BBC

I am glad that you have expanded coverage! I look forward to the BBC program. Just make sure you keep Tell Me More with Michelle Martin. Just have to say how much I enjoy the Barbershop segment on her show as well. Thanks.

--Mary Johnson, via email

I am very disappointed

I am very disappointed in the changes in programming coming soon. I tend to listen at various times throughout the day and night depending on my schedule and what I am doing/where I am. I like the variety of news/talk/music. Your message didn’t say anything about the local or national music shows on the weekend. I hope those do not go away. I also hope make the Mama Jazz show available as a MP3 download and not just a live stream. It will be likely that a lot of people won’t be next to their computer when they were used to hearing it on the radio.

Moving shows to HD or streaming is basically sending them off the air for most of us. I don’t sit next to a computer all night and HD radio is expensive. SO now I have a decision: give a donation to the station that doesn’t play what I want to hear or spend even more money to buy a radio that gets the programs I want to listen to. This just makes the divide larger between those who have money for a computer plus high speed internet or a $100+ HD radio and those that do not or just find it difficult in these hard economic times to afford such things. This is disappointing since you are publically funded and tied to a state institution.

--Robert, Miami University

Listens all day long

I LOVE IT!!! Thank you, thank you!!! I listen all day long and even find myself keeping it on in the evening!

I listen on the internet. You are providing a wide variety and I just so happy I can finally listen to Jazz anytime I want!!

Thank you again!

A devoted listener.

--Denise, via email

Congratulations to the staff

Congratulations to the staff of WMUB for your award-worthy journalism! I comment to friends often about what I've heard on WMUB.

I'm sorry that some listeners feel WMUB's programming is so "liberal" that they must stop their support.

For myself, a Christian and resident of the political middleground, the necessity for conversation is an imperative. I never learn anything listening to myself talk. Nor do I learn much listening only to people who share views I already hold.

God never asked anyone to check their brain at the door.

I feel quite free to agree, or disagree, with the information presented or the guests booked on your shows. As I listen and begin to understand them, I can measure their beliefs--and my own!--against what Scripture teaches, and learn how I can be compassionate in my relationship with them. I can disagree without ending the conversation in disgust or anger.

When conversation stops, so does the chance to encourage or even challenge someone else. The Christian faith is all about relationships. If you go away mad, you've ended the conversation and probably the relationship.

--Donna, via email

Moved by the coverage

I listen every day and I often have silent criticisms about what you don’t cover- especially locally. But it would never have occurred to me to cover the change of command at Wright Pat, and I was very moved by the coverage this morning. Best wishes to all of you and all at the base.

On a different note, I will be very happy with the format change. I haven’t listened after 8pm for years now, and will be able to hear the shows I like and can’t hear while I am at work.

--Michele, Dayton

Your democratic bias

THERE YOU GO AGAIN! This morning news (8 a.m.) Cheri Lawson's piece about politics had a sound bite from Gov. Strickland promoting Barak Hussein Obama along with a brief mention that John McCain was in Portsmouth, Ohio at a town meeting. This is the template you NPR people always use. First a long sound bite of the Democrat candidate followed a brief statement that the Republican candidate was speaking at for example, Portsmouth. You just watch, you liberals will consistently use this type set throughout the campaign. That's why I stopped giving to NPR years ago. I contribute involuntarily through my taxes. You always say you are "listener supported" and always fail to say that you receive public funding too. In fairness why not say "LISTENER AND TAX PAYER SUPPORTED PUBLIC RADIO?"

--Jim, via email

[General Manager Cleve Callison replies:

We do acknowledge taxpayer support; we credit the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) several times a day as a supporter. We don't receive money from NPR; we pay NPR for the right to broadcast the shows we carry.]

Likes most of the changes

I like most of the changes a lot, especially doubling Diane Rehm and Talk of the Nation. I could do without Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me; a bit vacuous for me.

--Gene, Oxford

Objects strongly to the plan

I just learned of the proposed programming change, i. e. doing away with jazz programming on your regular broadcast channel and object strongly to this plan. We frequently listen to Mama Jazz and other jazz programming in high quality audio and will miss it very much. I doubt we can get the HD signal where we live (Kettering). We have no capacity to "stream" through our audio system. We have consistently supported WMUB for a number of years and have relied on you for quality Jazz programming. Please reconsider!! Thank you for your attention.

--Gil, Kettering

Applauds the change

I've been hearing the blurbs about your upcoming program change in the evenings, and I applaud the change. I currently turn off or change the station on my radio at 8pm because I do not like the Mama Jazz show, so I am glad to hear I will be able to catch a couple shows that I may have missed earlier in the day and BBC World News the rest of the night. I currently download the podcasts of the Diane Rehm Show and Talk of the Nation when I miss them during the day. I think this format will reduce the number of show I download. Thanks!

--Mindy, Connersville, IN

Very disappointed by this move

My wife and I have been day sponsors of WMUB for many years, but I doubt that we will continue. We are very disappointed by the move to all informational programming in the evening. We have always listened to more radio then we have watched television, and for years your evening jazz programming has been a welcome alternative to classical public radio (WGUC & WDPR) and the commercial stations. I guess we will now need to do without.

Unfortunately, the shift of jazz programming to an HD feed does little good. Stand alone HD radio tuners for in home use with an established audio system are extremely difficult to find, and only a handful are on the market. Many are quite expensive. Streaming audio is not a consideration.

Hopefully, the station has done the necessary research before the program switch. WYSO experimented with the same type of evening informational programming and ultimately returned to a rather eclectic mix of musical genres for its evening programming. Even WVXU, which is supposed to be news and information, continues to broadcast old radio shows and music in the evenings.

I understand that nothing is static and that things change over time. However, we've given to WMUB over the years because it chose to be different from other public radio stations. Now with a switch to an entirely syndicated format, I fail to see any real difference between WMUB and the other public stations in the area. We will more than likely be reassessing our gift to the station at renewal time.

Thanks for the many years of enjoyable evening radio!

--Steve, Centerville, OH

Thanks for the BBC, but why the hole?

Thanks for adding the BBC to your new lineup.

But I'm wondering: Why the 12-2 am hole in BBC?

--Jim, Miami University

[General Manager Cleve Callison replies:
In a nutshell: we wanted to provide a repeat of NPR’s successful Talk of the Nation. Airing that at 10 pm would have duplicated the midnight-5am BBC schedule that other area NPR stations carry, so we chose these hours. We’ll evaluate as we go along.]