Public Radio to the People?
Posted By Cliff Tuttle | January 25, 2010
Posted by Cliff Tuttle (c) 2010
Charlie Humphrey, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Filmmakers and maven of other leading organizations for the arts, is also Pittsburgh’s biggest fan of public radio. He argues in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Forum section that WDUQ, which is the home of the NPR news package and the only broadcaster in the City of serious jazz, should not be permitted to be diverted from its mission when it is sold by Duquesne University. Humphrey argues that the station’s broadcast license, which must be purchased by a non-profit entity, is likely to be acquired by an evangelical religious organization who will turn the station into a full-time fund raising machine.
Good point. Public radio in the WDUQ style, would be a great loss to the community — perhaps irrevocable. Charlie suggests that the employees of WDUQ should form a nonprofit corporation and buy the station. Also a good idea. But does the WDUQ staff have an executive who has the leadership skills needed to make such an ambitious plan happen? Probably not. There is probably only one person in this town who cares enough, knows enough and knows the people who would be willing and able fund the venture. Yes, that person is Charlie Humphrey.
CLT