Blogs Give Voice to an Audience

When WAMU, the local NPR radio station in Washington, D.C., abruptly dropped four (4) NPR national newscasts on the half-hour during NPR’s Morning Edition each weekday morning in favor of its own amateurish attempts at local news, I was among a number of people who objected. Some friends and I talked it over, and within a few hours, we had a blog online — WAMUWatch.com — to give voice to listeners, like us, who also objected … because clearly the station had not bothered to ask any of its audience, including financial supporters. We prefer national news from the credible source of NPR during our morning commutes. If we wanted local news, WTOP, another station, does a superb job.

It was another boneheaded programming decision by this non-profit radio station that is noted for flip-flopping its schedule and wondering where its audience went. They don’t quite comprehend that programming consistency is essential to success in the radio business, especially in a competitive market like the nation’s capital.

The point of what I am saying is that we live in an era of accountability and transparency. An organization’s arrogance, like that witnessed at WAMU, will be quickly challenged in today’s online world. We have an instant voice to question wrong moves — especially when we are financial contributors — through such technology as blogs.

Filed Under: Reputation management • Strategic Communications