Oregon Media Insiders

Well, I've run the numbers on this quite a bit. We're adding more local coverage into Morning Edition--we're already filling an 8-minute segment and a 5-minute segment, and starting in late December or early January, we'll actually cover two 8-minute segments. Also, we'll be inserting local stories into All Things Considered in the afternoon much more frequently, as well as producing local specials (series, half-hour and hour docs). In addition to the local newscasts that we're now doing each hour from 5 am to 7 pm, we'll have at least as much regional feature and interview coverage throughout morning and afternoon drive as Oregon Considered offered in just one afternoon drive half-hour. And once the new show (Think Out Loud, thanks for mentioning that, Lynne) starts, that is an additional hour of local programming plus a big new online space. So, that's how we came up with the expanding coverage idea.
I should also note we now have a full-time special projects producer (Christy George) who is working on both radio and TV specials, and a full-time online reporter (Pete Springer) who will be adding more content to opbnews.org.
No one is being let go in this change and with the addition of the Think Out Loud staff, OPB's newsroom is the largest it's ever been.
If I may say so, I think this reflects incredibly well on the public radio audience here, without whom none of this would be possible.

Thanks,
Morgan
(OPB VP, News)