WMUB Directions

Doesn't like WMUB's pledge drive

2007-10-11T14:10:00.000-04:00

A listener sent us this reaction to the member drive which concluded October 10th. The name is being withheld for reasons indicated below. To respond and to hear more on this topic, listen to our "Ask the General Manager" special on WMUB Forum, Friday 10/19 at 9 am ET, repeated at 7 pm.

“I truly do appreciate your station 50 weeks out of the year. Though I realize that it is vital for you to conduct your twice yearly pledge drive, I must tell you that you lose my patronage during that time. I find the personalities that you use for the event very annoying and unprofessional. The on air banter is trite and annoying. I also do not appreciate the interruption it causes to programming. I find it interesting that public television stations for example can re-work their programming so that programs are not interrupted, yet you cannot. Your cut ins disrupt the flow of information within the programs and diminish your value to me. For example, I attempted to listen to the Diane Rehm show with former president Carter. I feel that I lost a lot of valuable information in that hour, as the programming was cut short by your pledge drive activities. I feel I missed a very informative program at your hands. Thank you for your time.

--"A loyal listener 50 weeks out of the year" [name withheld]

General Manager Cleve Callison replies:

Usually we prefer to use forums such as this for listener comments rather than our own. But this letter politely raises issues which go right to the heart of some of our key activities, and I feel it deserves a response.

First of all, I recognize the validity of the concern. We do try to be careful about how all our programming (including pledge drives) strike listeners. I know that this listener is not the only one to have a similar reaction. And I'm not about to defend every single thing we do or say on the air during a live program. Since I am one of the frequent voices on in the morning, I am very aware of how often I fail to hit the standard I should meet.

Like other public stations we always try to find the most effective ways of raising funds while keeping valuable programming coming to listeners. But as we say during the drive, we are a non-commercial station and we must receive contributions. While we can alway do better with any aspect of the drive, off-air strategies (for example, direct mail and telemarketing) generate only a fraction of the revenue of an effective on-air drive.

Of course, these other strategies have their critics too. And for the most part they can only reach our existing listener base. Try as we might, no public station has ever devised a way to recruit NEW members that's more effective than an on-air drive.

Given that, how to proceed? The writer objects in part to the frenetic sound of our morning "pitches". If we characterize our fundraising messages along a continuum of 'quiet' to 'exuberant', there is absolutely no question that by and large the exuberant hours are far more successful at bringing in pledges. We have years' worth of data to support this assertion. Of course, sometimes we make mistakes and exuberant slides over into frantic, which can backfire. But a first scan of data from this drive supports the contention above.

So then the question becomes, when we are being asked by Miami to raise more and more funds from listeners -- how much are we willing to forego in order to have a drive that will not offend some in our audience; or more starkly, should we plan to have a successful drive or an unsuccessful one?

Given that reality, what can a listener do who doesn't like the tone of the drive, or parts of it? My answer would be that if you listen to the station a lot (in the case of the listener above, 50 weeks seems like a lot to me), then you should support it during times when we are NOT being exuberant -- in the pre-funder mailing, or in overnight hours, or (most effective of all) during a time when we are pitching in a quieter way. I read these charts carefully, and if I can begin to see that the quiet hours can be anywhere near as effective as the exuberant hours, you'll see a shift in emphasis.

Which leads me to the reason I'm withholding this listener's name even though he OKed our using it. Despite his avowed fondness for the station (50 weeks a least), our loyal listener who "gives us his patronage" 50 weeks a year has never made a pledge to WMUB. I say this not to embarrass him, but to indicate the uphill fight that public stations have to raise money from people who can receive all of our services for free.

Which brings me to public television. The writer says that we interrupt our programming while public television "re-works" their programming. If we were to follow the public television model, we would not just cut into Morning Edition and Diane Rehm two weeks a year, we would take them off the air for a month at a time 3 or 4 times a year. I just can't imagine that.

When speaking privately, most of my public television colleagues will acknowledge that their way of fundraising is counter-productive and probably ruinous to sustained audience growth. But they see no way out because their core programs do not raise money for them and the infomercial-type specials do. For all its faults, the public radio method at least acknowledges that these are the programs listeners want, and our method challenges listeners to pay for them. That's the way it should be, and I for one am glad that so many of our listeners accept this challenge.

--Cleve Callison, WMUB General Manager

A gem of a station

2007-09-17T23:01:00.001-04:00

I often think of writing to WMUB--in the car, while I am driving. My husband and I are devoted fans of WMUB. We have steered many others in your direction. The news, the stories, the comentaries-- all are insightful and valuable.

I have worked with scientists who are trying to learn to speak English better and to learn American culture. I always tell them to listen to WMUB. The English of the speakers on WMUB is pretty much flawless, the diction is clear and the message is usually easy to understand. It is a gem of a station and I hope MU continues to recognize WMUB's contribution to the Miami Valley. We will be renewing at the fall drive.

You may use our full names with our permission. We are proud to be associated with your station.

--Mark and Joy Karl, Dayton

Benefit to the community

2007-08-25T21:25:00.001-04:00

I quote you a lot and appreciate your rectifying any statements later found to be in error.

Your broadcasting NPR staples (Morning and Weekend Editions) is a benefit to our entire community. And, for delight, you give us Car Talk and MPR's A Prairie Home Companion.Thank you, thank you, thank you!

--Shirley Marion, Dayton

WMUB is essential

2007-08-08T13:24:00.001-04:00

I am a new faculty member at MiamiU, and to my delight I have found WMUB an excellent service. I am dismayed that the powers that be are considering funding cuts to WMUB. In an era of media consolidation, lack of media representation for non-corporate entities, and extremely poor coverage of locale events and community concerns, WMUB is essential for the Miami Community, Oxford and the intellectual health of the greater university environment. Please continue to fund WMUB at or above it current levels.

--Andor J Kiss, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology

The almost subliminal issues around WMUB and Miami

2007-08-02T11:01:00.001-04:00

I have to share with you one of my early impressions of Miami University. When I first visited the campus, as a client of the DARS software system, licensed by Miami to SUNY College at Brockport, I was very taken by the atmosphere of the Oxford campus. My first recollection is of walking over the stone bridges on Western campus in early October, 1992, and thinking, “Wow! If I could only work here some day.” That image was a drastic jump in quality and impression (an intangible that cannot be bought) from SUNY College at Brockport.

Well, August 1, 1999 found me as a new Miami employee. When I moved to Oxford, I was already in love with Miami, and everything I encountered had that sparkle to it that many new relationships are infused with. But one of the stronger “over the top” items was when I discovered that Miami had a PBS station – not just a link – but its own station! WMUB was one item that I used to tell friends and collogues in other places what was so marvelous about Miami – “…and Miami even has its own PBS station!” As a newcomer I was continually inspired by the obvious “Town and Gown” relationships built and supported through WMUB through how it interacts with the communities of Oxford, Butler County and other areas around Miami.

I think it would be a tangible tragedy if another icon of “The Miami Experience” was to go away. While I cannot put a dollar value, for me, on WMUB, and I can only rhapsodize about the mental stimulation that NPR and Public Radio in general provides, I can strongly argue that the presence of WMUB contributes in a large, subliminal way to what we all are proud of, and is just another item making our Alumni proud to contribute to the University in many other ways.

Thank you and I hope WMUB is on the air for many years to come.

--Carlton Ellis, Miami DARS

WMUB is a special place

2007-07-30T08:47:00.001-04:00

As a graduate of Miami's communications department, I have been made aware of the possibility of the station losing it's funding in order to promote other endeavors.

During a recent visit to the station with over 30 friends that were made in that building 36 years ago, I was reminded how things were in the early 1970's, and of all the wonderful careers that started there. I remembered all of the contributions made by the graduates of the program.

WMUB is a special place where, if given the funding and the chance, students could learn about broadcasting and join the hundreds of alumni that have contributed in monumental ways to the entertainment field. Just in the class from which I graduated, there is a radio station owner, executives of various advertising agencies, technical people, an extremely successful advertising agency owner, world class sports announcers and newsmen and women, and business executives, all of whom have contributed on a national level, and have won national awards for excellence and creativity in their fields.

Miami University did a disservice to the students and to the community by letting WMUB-TV go. On the air experience, both radio and television, is what made the graduates of this program great. Students were given the opportunity, with the guidance of brilliant professors, to make decisions, create programs, expand their own horizons by actually going on the air, and thus were able to make mistakes, learn from them, and triumph at the end of the day. No other department on campus has afforded students this unique experience. No other university, including UCLA or USC, allowed students this experience. Per capita, no other department has garnered the loyalty or generated the successes of the WMUB/WMUB-TV experience.

Your suggestion to somehow cut back or terminate this program is short sighted, destructive to the university mission, and just plain wrong. WMUB taught me confidence, loyalty, business,broadcasting skills, and all of the best about how to succeed in life. While breaking into the business in Hollywood, my Miami education was widely known, highly regarded, and unmatched by any program in the country. This program is the epitome of what a university should teach. It should be expanded, duplicated, and nurtured. it shouldn't be smothered.

Please don't blow it now.

--Joseph F. Rosenfield '71, Los Angeles

Enjoys station and streaming

2007-07-25T08:32:00.001-04:00

I'm a new listener to WMUB. I travel a lot by car, and heard Mama Jazz at night, but I couldn't get the show from my home here in Northern Kentucky. Just wanted to let you know, that using streaming over internet, I listen to WMUB frequently. I enjoy Mama Jazz very much as I am a long, long time jazz lover. Then I found your 24 hour jazz stream, and I've got to tell you it is fantastic. Whoever is putting together the play lists must be reading my mind. Absolutely marvelous.

So, I enjoy the station, and I enjoy streaming both channels. And I will be financially supporting WMUB.

--Barrett Morris, Jr., Union, Kentucky

No station compares

2007-07-19T14:48:00.000-04:00

I’m still nearly rabid over the value Miami University should place on WMUB. I drove to Toronto over a long weekend and became acutely aware that between here and there, I could find no radio station that even remotely compared to WMUB’s quality. CBC Radio was interesting because it was different, but it could not be compared to NPR and/or WMUB in terms of quality or content. Northern Ohio is a wasteland where public radio is concerned. There seemed to be nothing worthwhile.

Peter Williams’ commentary yesterday spoke to my beliefs. Miami University has something (besides football) that it can really be proud of and capitalize on to set it apart from other Ohio, and regional, universities. Under your guidance, the station has grown and diversified in so many positive ways while retaining its appeal to the surrounding area. What an opportunity to shine a light on the university and what I presume it stands for – intelligent thinking and reasoning. WMUB is “out there,” a vehicle by which the university can be known and enhanced. It deserves support in every way.

--Gail A. Moeller, Centerville/Dayton

Greatly appreciated

2007-07-17T10:27:00.001-04:00

I'm just writing to say how much I love the program line-up over at WMUB - I've only been a listener for the past couple of months, but what a couple of months they've been!!! I've learned so much and the topics covered are quite thought provoking. Issues covering PTSS - post traumatic stress syndrome; first hand accounts of war attrocities happening in REAL TIME; numerous interviews both archived and up-to-date of writers, photographers, poets, artists of any trade & many many more topics too numerous to list - all I can say is THANK YOU. You're work is greatly appreciated and I'm looking forward to hearing many more great things to come from your station. Don't change a thing!!!

Kudos.

--Toni Caldwell, Enon, OH

The voice and face of Miami

2007-07-16T13:57:00.001-04:00

I have lived ion Oxford for 40 years. I have traveled throughout the United States for all of those 40 years. In all my travels I have not encountered a Public Radio Station with the depth and breadth in its programming found on WMUB. Why should WMUB continue to receive substantial funding from Miami University? There are several important reasons:

  1) WMUB is the voice and face to Miami University for an area covering a 100 mile radius from Oxford. Much of the listening audience knows of Miami University from no other source. With the advent of the internet the reach of Miami University via WMUB has become even wider and indeed international. No institution can afford to buy the publicity that its Public Radio Station gains through its broadcasting and programs.

  2) WMUB provides an educational and training experience for many Miami students who go on to pursue careers in broadcasting via radio and television as well as the new forms of electronic media. In a real sense WMUB is to the Broadcasting student what the research laboratory is to the science student here at Miami University. It allows the student to get a hands on experience and in affect get an apprenticeship. And

  3) There is no other really effective way that the Oxford Community is informed about those issues important to the University community. Pieces broadcast by local professors and community members serve to inform and answer important issues for the area. Our lives are significantly enriched by hearing Peter Williams. Alan Winkler, Karen Dawisha, Jack Keegan, Jim Michael, many area doctors and health care providers, and so many others. Reducing funding to WMUB would be extremely short sighted and in effect starve the patient to death.

--W. Hardy Eshbaugh, Emeritus Professor of Botany, Miami

Life is richer

2007-07-16T11:13:00.001-04:00

I listen to WMUB almost every day. Since I don't read the paper and I don't listen to local news, it is my main source for national and world news. I adore the [Story Corp] stories! My husband and I often spend our Saturday evenings listening to Garrison Keillor. I've learned more on WMUB in the last 3 years than I did in three years of high school.

My mind is expanded and my life richer due to WMUB. My gratitude to all their employees. Please keep WMUB up and running!!!!

--Lynda Routley, Kettering

Catastrophe to lose WMUB

2007-07-09T09:33:00.000-04:00

I have no connection with MU but have been a daily listener ( and a contributor) to WMUB for years too numerous to count. It would be a catastrophe to lose this station with such a wonderful variety of programs that educate, challenge, entertain, you name it. Without public radio ( and public television, as we choose not to have cable), we would be lost. I hope Miami U. can work out a mission that will keep the station alive.

--Eileen Rehg, Dayton

FW: Miami Committee

2007-06-29T10:13:00.000-04:00

We, here in Dayton, would really miss some wonderful programs...

Dianne Rehm, All Things Considered, Prairie Home Companion, and Terry Gross. We also enjoy the locally produced programs (medical call in as well as computer help for our Mac. As my husband is a Miami Grad School grad, we have a special place in our hearts for MU and Oxford. We want to stay positive about "the center of the universe." Please don't stop broadcasting.

We must confess that as we are supporting WGUC and DPR we are not able to contribute to WMUB.

--Dick and Cynthia Robinson, Dayton

Re-transmit WMUB?

2007-06-28T15:47:00.000-04:00

Why don’t you buy WYSO’s transmitter and retransmit WMUB on it? I work in Dayton and your signal is usually weak here, but I would rather listen to your shows.

--Bryan Riddiford

Clearly identified with Miami

2007-06-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

I urge Miami University to continue to provide full financial support to WMUB. The radio station provides the voice of the university to the community.

I know a little bit about public radio; between 1979 and 1982 I was a student staff member and eventually one of the first paid employees at WVXU . It was deeply offensive to me when Xavier University sold off the station to fund a new campus building. People worked for decades to transform WVXU from a closed-circuit operation to a medium-power station to the Midwestern public radio hub it became. The university's move was a slap in the face to the personnel, the listeners and the community alike. Now the buyers have taken the further step of breaching the spirit of the deal by selling off New Paris-Richmond's WVXR to create a religious station, in a needless duplication of programming already widely available in the region. So much for operating in what the Federal Communications Act calls the "public interest, convenience and necessity."

If the "old" WVXU management made any mistake, it was in failing to clearly associate itself with the university overall. This is a mistake WMUB has not made. The station is clearly and consistently identified as the voice of Miami University, and the relationship is beneficial both to the station and the university.

I have been a supporter of several public radio stations over the years, and became a member of WMUB last year. Keep a good thing going!

--Steve Gottlieb, Connersville, IN

A great career because of WMUB and Miami

2007-06-28T13:51:00.000-04:00

At this very moment I am writing copy to put on a remastered CD that was originally produced on a 5" reel at WMUB circa 1969, when I was a radio/TV major at Miami. You may or may not know, but about 30 radio/TV majors will be reuniting in Oxford, July 5-7, 2007. This event is spearheaded by RIck Ludwin, Executive Vice President for Late Night Entertainment at NBC. Most of the attendees, myself included, still make our living in the business in one fashion or another. I own an advertising agency; my roommate and sorority sister, Sanki Link is CFO of an ad agency, Grant Hill heads up production for DDB Worldwide, Rick Sellers has a station in Iowa, and many other people are still broadcasters of the highest rank.

I came to Miami with no skills and by the end of sophomore year, got a summer job at WFMJ radio and WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, Ohio, as a writer/producer. I continued to work there summers and Christmases until graduation, and actually went back for several month after graduation. I have had a great career because of WMUB and Miami.

Rick Ludwin, Rick Sellers, Grant Hill and I endow a scholarship in William Utter's name for mass comm students. I don't think I'd feel like doing that anymore if there were no WMUB. It is so sad that students no longer operate the station, but to have no station at all would be a shame. A colleague of mine in St. Louis, Jim Schnurbusch, has twin sons. One is a Miami student. The other wanted to pursue a career in broadcasting, so he was forced to choose another school that had a decent program. That broke my heart.

What can I do to prevent the demise of WMUB?

--Sallie Ervin, Ervin Marketing Creative Communications, St. Louis, MO

Integral part of the day

2007-06-27T16:50:00.000-04:00

WMUB in all its programming is an integral part of my every day. The quality and variety of programs enrich my radio listening. Please keep it up!!

--Susan Oertel

Wonderful opportunity to take a leadership role

2007-06-27T16:44:00.000-04:00

I wanted to add my two cents worth to your discussions about the future of WMUB. First, I love the programming and hope that you all can find a way to keep WMUB intact. I listen mornings and evenings during the week and Saturday mornings on the weekend. I try to contribute what I can to help keep WMUB viable and have managed to be a dollar a day member for the past few years.

That isn't why I am writing you today. This weekend I heard several stories about Antioch College making the decision to close in 2008. While WYSO is part of Antioch University and theoretically not impacted, this is a wonderful opportunity to take a leadership role in Miami Valley Public Radio. I believe that WMUB could easily be the single voice of public radio for the combined WMUB/ WYSO listening area. With the unrest surrounding Antioch's decision, helping WYSO survive becomes a positive reinforcement to the WMUB name (versus a negative for ultimately removing WYSO as a stand alone entity). If WYSO was set up as a repeater station with a few of their local programs intact, you could bring many of the current WYSO members into the WMUB family. I don't know the details of radio program purchasing, but my hunch is that you could manage to keep the same program costs while adding the WYSO membership to your pledge lists.

WMUB is a strong part of the Miami University brand in the Miami Valley. A combined station preserves quality public radio with a focus on news for the greater Dayton, Oxford and Yellow Springs listening area. Rather than looking at WMUB as an expense, I think the combined listening area would allow you to operate free of University funding after the purchase and consolidation was completed. You might also start a separate funding campaign to help offset the acquisition costs. I'm sure that there are a few financially well off individuals or corporations that could help cover the cost of this acquisition for Miami University.

I recognize that many of my comments are based on guesses without the benefit of actual operational conditions. However looking at WMUB from a 50,000 foot vantage point, I believe that there is a clear opportunity for Public Radio leadership, a major enhancement to the WMUB brand and a strengthening of the Miami University reputation.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this suggestion.

--William Houghton, Springboro, WMUB member

Nothing to equal WMUB

2007-06-25T16:08:00.000-04:00

I want to express my hope that Miami will continue to provide financial support for WMUB, a station that I think is truly unique. Any time I travel by car, I hunt for public radio stations on the dial and I never find anything to equal the programming that our station has here at WMUB. The university should brag about the excellence of this station!

We members will continue to lend our support and many of us will increase the level of our support as the institutional commitment declines. But Miami's financial leadership is really crucial to continued excellent programming.

Thanks very much for considering my comments.

--Norma Pennock, Oxford

WMUB has local flavor

2007-06-25T15:27:00.000-04:00

DO NOT REDUCE FUNDING TO THE BEST LOCAL PROGRAMMING AROUND. VXU ALREADY RUINED A GOOD STATION WITH NOTHING BUT NATIONAL NEWS AND ZERO LOCAL FLAVOR. SINCE I'M NOT DIRECTLY "BEHOLDING" TO MIAMI UNIVERSITY , I CAN ASK THIS QUESTION. WHAT MORON WOULD CONSIDER SUCH A MOVE?

--Herbert Hyde, Hamilton

WMUB bridges town/gown divide

2007-06-24T18:36:00.001-04:00

I find it alarming that an educational institution of Miami's caliber is spending time and energy, both of which equate to $s being spent, to even consider eliminating the one program at Miami University that comes remotely close to bridging the town/gown divide; a program that allows Miami University to give back to the community that supports it; a program that, by its very nature, contributes to lifelong learning. The radio is one of the first communication instruments to begin to bring the world into homes, to "extend frontiers of knowledge" and "serve society." Students deserve to have other outlets from which they can make informed decisions; be introduced to and come to appreciate and understand other cultures. As a MU grad, I am saddened Miami seems to have forgotten its mission. Below is Miami's mission. It is my hope that it's importance has not been lost in the process.

The mission of Miami University is to preserve, add to, evaluate, and transmit the accumulated knowledge of the centuries; to develop critical thinking, extend the frontiers of knowledge, and serve society; and to provide an environment conducive to effective and inspired teaching and learning, promote professional development of faculty, and encourage scholarly research and creativity of faculty and students...

Miami is committed to serve the community, state, and nation. It offers access to higher education, including continuing education, for those who can benefit from it, at a reasonable cost, without regard for race, creed, sex, or age. It educates men and women for responsible, informed citizenship, as well as for meaningful employment. It provides both disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to the pursuit of knowledge and to the solving of problems. It sponsors a wide range of cultural and educational activities which have significance beyond the campus and the local community.

I urge the committee to give serious thought to WMUB's value to Miami students, faculty and staff, and to the community in which Miami resides.

--Catherine, Miami ’90

Prefers WMUB

2007-06-21T11:34:00.000-04:00

I have been a long-time subscriber to whatever public radio station was available in my area. Primarily it was for the opportunity to support and listen to NPR. Outside of NPR and other news-related programming I haven't typically listened to much else offered by any of the public radio stations.

However, I will say that I have been far more pleased with WMUB than other public radio stations in the past. I think this is due mostly to your programming being mostly geared towards news and information (while many others played classical music outside the NPR time slots). I have enjoyed WMUB and I enjoy it's current mix of programming and hope that the final outcome is that little if anything changes.

... I do prefer your station over any and all others on the radio dial.

--Mark Alfson, Dayton

Value Miami's role

2007-06-21T11:17:00.000-04:00

Please do NOT make any additional cuts to WMUB. Being a resident of Indiana, and with limited reception from Cincy, we are totally dependent on WMUB for information and enlightened viewpoints. It is incredibly difficult to get a balanced view in Richmond, IN. We rely so heavily on NPR, specifically WMUB, that you are contributing in a very large sense to the education of the citizenry of Ohio and Indiana; not just educating the students at Miami. Our son is a graduate of Miami and I just can't fathom the universitynot caring about the educational qualities that WMUB provides to all of us. We are day sponsors annually and value the financial role Miami has given to support WMUB. PLEASE continue your full support of the station, and find alternative ways to cut your expenses.

--Concerned WMUB supporter, JoAnne Sobol

Miami should be proud

2007-06-21T09:55:00.000-04:00

I depend on WMUB for local and national news every day. Their national programs are excellent and informative. Please allow WMUB to continue their valuable service to the community. Miami should be proud of their public radio station.

--Bonne Brown, Oxford

Positive impact on my opinion of Miami

2007-06-12T16:44:00.000-04:00

I am a resident of Ross Township and an avid listener and financial supporter of WMUB. I just wanted to take a moment to convey to you the value that I see in WMUB and Miami University's continued support of the radio station.

* As a transplant from California, I very much appreciate the diverse perspectives and topics reported on by NPR in general and WMUB specifically. In my opinion, they do a much better job at representing varying viewpoints than most other news organizations.

* When I first moved to this area, I had heard of Miami U. but did not know much about it. Knowing that Miami is a strong supporter of public radio has had an extremely positive impact on my opinion of the University.

*WMUB provides me with a unique link to the Miami University community and campus events. I have attended several lectures and concerts on campus which I would never have known about had they not been publicized on WMUB. Simply hearing about the variety of speakers and cultural events being sponsored by Miami U. has strongly influenced my perception of the University, and my regard for it as a first-class liberal arts University.

I firmly believe that WMUB is a valuable asset to the local community, as well as an irreplaceable asset to Miami University. I strongly encourage the Committee to recommend that the University continue its current level of financial support for WMUB.

--Heather, Ross Township