Thursday, August 17, 2017

WLRN Programming Change Ahead ... by gimleteye

Miami's only public radio station has an opportunity to fix its local programming format, now called Tropical Currents, to provide listeners with quality programming equivalent to that of other major American cities.

Certainly, the money is available in the Friends of WLRN budget to upgrade, all around.

Going forward, our recommendation is to rotate hosts; younger, with fresh voices, insights, and perspectives. Try new formats and partnerships. Don't fear peeling back the layers of the Miami-Dade onion and saying so.

Nationally, public broadcasting is (often) fearless in reporting and commentary. WLRN? No and no.

The punches WLRN has pulled in local programming involve sacred cows that deserve their place on the roasting spit. Perhaps not with the spice of Eye On Miami, but well-seasoned would do.

Miami needs strong, local public broadcasting radio programming.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please god let this happen soon. Joseph Cooper, Bonnie Berman and Linda Gassenheimer are just PAINFUL to listen to.

Also, it's not a well run station, I routinely hear dead air, a few weeks ago for a few minutes at a time. Drop the dead weight.

Anonymous said...

terribly right wing orientation-- the batista station

Unknown said...

Yes, change is needed. Why not look to other evolving cities or check public radio subscription data for successful formats and try to replicate them here? Having the school system own the radio station is not working in the public's favor.

Juno said...

Do the younger, fresher audience members know that WLRN exists? New blood is definitely welcome...

tom warnke said...

Local history, food and wine commentary have their place, but if the station cannot carve out a time slot dedicated to real issues - full time - they will be left behind. It will show in their bottom line. Sometimes Topical Currents has real issues discussed, but the listeners deserve more. The Sunday "story teller" show is not carrying it's weight in 2017 so that is another time slot that can be better utilized. Thanks for bringing this issue to the fore. Let's keep pushing for a voice for the listeners. I am in Palm Beach County and WLRN has the Miami Herald for much of its news feed, which can be woefully lacking in fully reporting local news.

Anonymous said...

WLRN local programming has done a disservice to South Florida for a very long time. It is so bad compared to other places you would almost think it was INTENTIONAL.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Eye On Miami, for pointing out the obvious.

Unknown said...

I find WLRN very right wing. Morning Edition, On Point, All Things Considered and Marketplace are all very pro-big business programs with no insight, no analysis, just constant neoliberal platitudes and audience tested lies. It is really revolting. "The World" is interesting but very superficial lite fare. To me Joe Cooper was the only one worth listening to, as the subjects he touched on were both interesting and discussed with less fear of what the advertisers would say. Oh and lets not forget Tom Hudson, from the Charley Rose School of Corporate Brownnosers. I got fed up with his take on things and gave up on WLRN about a year ago. Now I just listen to podcasts from The Real News Radio, CounterPunch, The Black Agenda Report and Chapo Trap House. Still love that old piano though. WLRN come to think of it is just PR camouflaged as news.