Oregon Media Insiders

I'm happy to share as much as I know. Let me know if I start babbling. If anyone wants to contact me directly my email is jbell at opb.org

Anonymous 5:31 says

You're right, we do get higher ratings. But aside from the fact that you p.o. everyone who hates the "commercials" it fundamentally changes the nature of public radio. Member revenue is about $11 mil. Underwriting (the FCC defined form of 'advertising' on public broadcasting) is around $2 million. Who do you want OPB trying to please, businesses or listeners. 'Cause whoever's paying the bills gets to call the shots.

Anonymous 4:28 - Thanks for the $100 bucks. I wish we could have stopped as soon as we got it. Unfortunately, we need more than $100. Pledge drives are an odd beast because some folks always wait until the last day, whenever that is. Partly they've been trained to get into the whole horse-race aspect, partly they're just procrastinators.
As to your other comments

Let us know who you are. If you ask we won't send you additional mail. Our member lists are shared (not sold) with other non-profits with similar member demographics. Let us know and we'll keep your name off the list as well. We're not trying to annoy you. We know it makes it more difficult to get money out of you. ;-)

Well, we wouldn't do it if it didn't work.

We do this. I just got back from the PBS auction conference. I go to the PBS and NPR Development conferences to do just what you're asking for. We share best practices, have advisory boards, collect data on how to do mail, on-air, on-line, telemarketing (shudder!). We are always trying to minimize our cost-to-dollar-raised ratio as well as our programming interruption.

Actually, one of the projects I was hired to take on was a station blog, where this conversation could happen. You can appreciate that some folks are less than thrilled at the idea of providing a forum where people can bash our station and practices. We're getting there, just not this week.

Actually, Car Talk and PHC are some of the highest rated shows. _AND_ some of the least expensive and best performing in pledge. NPR News is by far our largest programming expense. But I wouldn't listen to a station that didn't provide it.

I'm not sure what this means. We have a studio with offices. Is this an odd thing?

I can't tell you what our ratings are for local programs. (I'll find out if you want - I'm home right now). I do know that our mission is perceived to include a strong component of local programs which, by their nature, don't have a syndication potential in other markets. I do know that's one of the considerations our folks are always looking at.

Yes. TV is subsidizing radio. Less so in this market than in many. Resources are shared across platforms. The funds raised by pledge on radio do go to pay for FM programs. But there's also the boring stuff like staff salaries, electricity, paper...

Auctions have one of the worst cost-to-dollar-raised ratios of any form of fundraising. And if you dislike pledge interruptions, auctions aren't any better. Frankly, I also philsophically disagree with auctions as a main form of funding. We have damned fine programming. You should be willing to pony up some money for the shows you listen to all year instead of expecting to get a 50% off habachi at the same time.

I'm trying to answer any questions as honestly as I can. If there are others, let me know. But, in summary, I know pledge drives can be a bitch. But they work. And the tune out factor is not great enough to make them not work. I've seen a suggestion that people who donate should be given a special website where they could stream pledge-free. It's an interesting idea, but doesn't do much for folks who listen over the air. Keep the suggestions coming.

John Bell
OPB Membership