I think all of us recognize the staffing situation you have there. What I
think we experienced was that many of us depend on NPR for the majority of
our news. I no longer read the Daily News as a protest. I never watch TV
news. So my news comes from the Spokesman and NPR. I think it is a logical
progression, though not necessarily a fair one, to think that if we can look
to NPR for top quality national coverage, we should be able to look to NWPR
for top quality local coverage.
Perhaps what was needed was a "disaster plan." You've got how many
communications students right there in your own building? As an
undergraduate communications student I would have been jacked to be
recruited to work the phones, drive around, do some interviews. I wouldn't
have expected pay--just a tape for my resume. Perhaps you could have broken
in to your programming regularly, inviting listeners from your broad
regional area to call in and tell you what they know, what's going on in
their area, what roads are closed. (You can do it for a pledge drive.)
Both those suggestions wouldn't have cost much or required more staff.
The broader issue that's been raised has been that those of us in Idaho feel
a little slighted by NWPR year-round. We get very little news from Boise
compared to Oregon and Washington legislatures. Perhaps more of an effort
could be made to get Idaho stringers.
Thanks for the info on Idaho funding/memberships. How does that compare to
Oregon?
Lois Melina