Comments on: NPR Cancels Only Black-Issues Program, News & Notes

By: consejos de belleza

consejos de belleza — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:18:54 +0000

I have a date:What are interesting things that you have heard on NPR lately that I could talk about? I am really nervous so I thought having some interesting stories would be good. I have been listening but haven't found anything that suits a date conversation.

By: Curtis

Curtis — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:48:42 +0000

I believe that black people have to accept some responsibility for losing News and Notes. NPR will base what stays on or is moved off by how many people contribute when they hold fund drives. If 200,000 black people gave $25.00 every fund drive that would mean that News and Notes would be seen as a revenue source. We often complain when things are taken away but we do not do the things that are necessary to keep them around. I know that I have only given money to NPR once and that was to my local station to support the limited jazz programming. I listen to News and Notes via podcast but I have never sent in $10 or $20 dollars to show my loyalty to the program.
When it all comes down to it, media is a business. Tyler Perry is as successful as he is because he can consistently deliver an audience that will support his presentations through ticket purchases or supporting sponsors. Tom Joyner has the same ability. If black people, especially those who want things outside of the traditional menu served up to black people, want things to stay around, we must support them. “Wait wait don’t tell” me has dedicated supporters who contribute during fund raisers and let their voice be heard by voting with their dollars.
We all need to let this be the last time we have to learn this lesson. Petitions mean little if the business knows that the signers are not putting their money behind their signature.
Just the opinion of a 47 year old black man who has seen this movie before and now understands that it is not personal, it’s just business.

By: Listener

Listener — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:52:04 +0000

This is all about the same show. Tavis Smiley quit as host of News & Notes; Ed Gordon was also host of News & Notes.

By: claudia_m

claudia_m — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:46:11 +0000

Same with me. It didn't come on until 9 PM and I would often have a backlog of podcasts, so it was hard to keep up.

By: GoldenAh

GoldenAh — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:31:20 +0000

Color me naive. I always thought that the composite number of blogs listed in your groupings represented a new black media outlet: blog talk radio, some twitter, and the like.

Perhaps the powers at npr feel you don't need them.

By: Rhondacoca

Rhondacoca — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:16:10 +0000

There are political and social talk radio shows out here in NYC on the black radio stations-I listen all of the time. There is an audience for it but that audience is rarely ever properly engaged.

By: NCBM

NCBM — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:00:39 +0000

It comes on so late down here…I have to listen to the stream over the internet. Seems like NPR is continuing to pull the plug of some of its most relevant programming. “Bryant Park” was the bomb as well

By: RonnieB

RonnieB — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:47:45 +0000

Seems to me that this is a pattern at NPR. Tavis Smiley's show got the heave-ho; Ed Gordon was unceremoniously run out; and now News & Notes.

As someone mentioned, when times get tough, we find out who is truly valued most (and least).

By: That guy

That guy — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:23:57 +0000

This is horrible news. I listen to their podcast every morning, love Farai's interview style, and the variety of voices on the show.

By: GDAWG

GDAWG — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:43:16 +0000

Actually I've always had issues with NPR and other publically funded communication entities. I resent my tax dollars going to this entities that are seeming overwhelmed or disporportionately represented with specific ethnics, excluding African Americans. Are they, those that are dosiporportionatelty represented, the only ones who can competently practice good journalism as it relates to our interest as a community?
As such, I feel any public support for these entities should be a annual check off on our tax forms. Period. That way, I feel it would better reflect America and all of her citizens by making more appropiate staffing and programing decisions, not some Scandiavian European institution, for example.

By: The Alienist

The Alienist — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:31:56 +0000

Honestly, would “News&Notes” make it on Black Radio? Probably not. I wish it were not so, but little that is not musical, comical, or kinetic gets much attention in Black America.

By: Librarian

Librarian — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:00:13 +0000

I agree with you about the time that the show was on the air was problematic. In live in NJ and can get radio stations in NYC and Philadelphia. N&N used to be on the NY station at 9AM, I could listen to it first thing in the morning. Then, they canceled the show. So, the show was no longer available in the NYC metro area. The Philadelphia station airs it at 9PM Mon-Thurs. Occasionally, I would listen to the show from one of the west coast stations, but after that round of show shuffles last year, I guess we should have seen the writing on the wall.

By: Miranda

Miranda — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:51:32 +0000

Is that what's up with that annoying McDonald's commercial?? Everytime I see it I wanna gut-punch Ronald.

By: heartsandflowers

heartsandflowers — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:18:09 +0000

Who says we can't rally together and try to save the show? Write to NPR, hold a fundraiser specifically for that show and tell them they need to find a way to juggle things around or cancel one of the many white-oriented shows on NPR which comes across as programming for Neo Cons lately anyway.

By: nikky

nikky — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:33:18 +0000

Why does someone discriminate black? I don't think love is just belongs to white. I'm a black and but my hubby is white. We met at i n t e r r a c i a l romancing . c o m which tell us love is color blind. Our love proved this. I hope each one will not discriminate blacks.

By: Nate_Wesley

Nate_Wesley — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:19:36 +0000

While the end of “News & Notes” is significant…I honestly like Michel Martin's “Tell Me More” much better. Farai Chideya's moderation amongst two guests is sometimes really bad. She has an annoying habit of insisting upon getting her list of questions in, often cutting someone off mid-thought.

By: PabloK

PabloK — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:07:29 +0000

The headline doesn't seem to match with the fact that there are two shows being canceled.

By: Town

Town — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:00:02 +0000

Maybe if they got T-Pain or Chris Brown or Lil Wayne to host, the show would have done better. You know we black folks only respond to sanging and dancing. That's why all the commercials aimed at black folks look like they should be on 106 & Park.

“News & Notes….hosted by T-Pain…”

By: Im sorry to hear this

Im sorry to hear this — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:45:55 +0000

Good points. I feel that way about this Blackbird browser.

By: Im sorry to hear this

Im sorry to hear this — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:41:30 +0000

Radio shows need to push this issue:

(Something that I used to do)
"Hey, if you cant check us out at 9PM (EST) live on your radio, you can always download an MP3 of the show, or subscribe to the podcast on Itunes at your convenience!"

People no longer listen to radio in 2008, they way people listend to radio in 1998, or 1988. Itunes and MP3's run 'tings :). People seem to be happy, to have a choice to listen to what they want, WHEN they want.