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Initiative
You set some programming-related goals for your station when we began
this project.
Please describe which ones you have accomplished; which ones you are
still working on and where you are in that process; which ones you have
abandoned and why you abandoned them.
1. Main goal was to improve 6 AM to 6 PM programming, resulting
in more overall listening, and to decrease drop-off at transition points
in programming.
Strategy was to make programming more consistent and eliminate the
"patchwork" pattern of programming; particularly in the morning.
One big obstacle was to move the gospel hour forward one hour, from
9 AM to 10 AM. The program had been in this time slot for nearly 20
years and was very popular with older, long-time, loyal listeners.
The gospel hour was moved to 10 AM, and drive-time was extended one
hour.
After drive-time morning programming was very inconsistent, both horizontally
& vertically. Changes were made, programs were eliminated and created,
and now the morning 6-noon format is consistent M-F.
Another strategy was to improve the Noon Hour Magazine format to try
to build more audience. We are still working on the noon hour magazine
program. We have experimented with features on local schools, libraries,
senior groups, etc. We have added a recipe "Let's Dish" segment.
Our news director left to accept another position, which caused us to
temporarily postpone this project. We plan to tackle it again in the
near future.
2. Has there been a financial impact-either directly or indirectly-as
a result of your participation in this project? (For example, has membership
increased or decreased; have you used the research to get new underwriters
or raise your rates; have you used the research in seeking and getting
grants). Please tell us the percentage increase or decrease in financial
support since the summer of 2001 that can be tied to programming and/or
the use of the research.
We have had in increase in donations from membership and also an increase
in underwriting sales during the past two years. We included results
of the research in our underwriting packet that was sent to businesses.
We do not have enough information to determine whether the project has
had a direct financial impact.
3. Please summarize what you have learned about programming and
listening at your station as a result of your participation in this
project.
The project caused us to objectively and analytically review and study
our program schedule. That was probably the most positive outcome from
our participation. Many of the programs were there just because they
had been for many years, and without the project I'm not sure that we
would have or when we would have opened our ears.
4. Can you generalize from anything you have learned about programming
and listening at your station that would be useful for other rural public
radio stations?
Managers need to listen to their stations more
from a listener
viewpoint vs a management viewpoint.
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NEW!
Reply Comments on Diversity of Ownership
On August 29th, NFCB joined with other major media partners to file reply comments that commended the FCC for its effort to increase ownership diversity. [Click here to view the briefs in their entirety]
NEW!
Major Giving Seminar, Pt. 3 Online
Audio and slides from NFCB’s 3rd web seminar on Major Giving: Engaging Management and Leadership Volunteerrs are now available for download and review by Members. Other recordings from past webinars can also be found on this webpage.
[Click here to log into the Member Area and view the recording]
NEW!
Major Giving Seminar, Pt. 2 Online
Audio and slides from NFCB’s 2nd web seminar on Major Giving: Identifying and Cultivating Donors are now available for download and review by Members. Other recordings from past webinars can also be found on this webpage.
[Click here to log into the Member Area and view the recording]
NEW!
Amicus Brief on Indecency
On August 7th, NFCB and the ACLU filed a brief criticizing the FCC’s regulation of “indecent speech”.
[Click here to read the brief in its entirety]
NEW!
Major Giving Seminar Online
Audio and slides from NFCB’s web seminar on Major Giving are now available for download and review by Members. Other recordings from past webinars can also be found on this page.
[Click here to log into the Member Area and view the recording]
NEW!
Business Planning for
New Stations
Audio and slides from NFCB’s web seminar on Business Planning are now available for download and review.
[Click here to view the recording]
NEW!
Governance & Operations
for New Stations
Audio and slides from NFCB’s web seminar on Governance and Operations are now available for download and review.
[Click here to view the recording]
NEW!
Web Conference Series
NFCB proudly announces a new webinar series for Members only.
[Click here to see the schedule of sessions]
NEW!
New Technologies,
New Music
This fall, we’re launching a project for New York stations that’ll help them access independent music via new technology platforms.
[Click here to find out more]
NEW!
The FCC has issued a new version of The Public and Broadcasting, revised April 2008.
[Click here to view and print this document for your station’s public file.]
Political Broadcasting Online
Audio and slides from NFCB’s web seminar with John Crigler are now available for download and review for NFCB Members.
[Click here to log into the Member Area and view the recording]
Press Release
New NFCB Hire Will Head New Technologies, New Station Building
[Click here to read the Press Release]
Legal Handouts from the Community Radio Conference
The law firm of Garvey Schubert Barer provided these handouts on legal issues at the 2008 Community Radio Conference.
[Click here to access the documents.]
The full 33rd Annual Radio Conference Agenda
Descriptions of all the Conference sessions and the full schedule of events are now online.
Latino Public Radio Consortium
The LPRC issues a Brown Paper calling for a different kind of public media system.
[Click here to read the Brown Paper]
Basic Radio Station Website Strategies
See the PowerPoint presentation on listeners’ use of station websites and tips for designing yours.
[View Now]
Music Licensing Information
Includes fee schedules and links to licensing applications.

Check Your Indecency IQ
Attorney John Crigler of Garvey Schubert Barer has an indecency quiz. Take the quiz and see how much you know about current FCC indecency rulings. John has also written an indecency primer. Download and read the Primer.
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