Uh-oh. Pay-for-Play in Seattle

It was too good to be true.  One of the local TV stations in Seattle, KING 5 started a local arts show.  But it turns out, this is not really a news/feature program, but rather an infomercial paid for by the 5th Avenue Theater to promote its own shows.  When the theater doesn’t need the airtime, it “rents” the airtime out to other arts groups.  And of course, it’s expensive so the only groups that can afford it are the largest ones.  The disclaimer about this being paid advertising is virtually hidden, and the content is treated like feature reporting.

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Blogging from WQXR/WNYC

Hello,

A quick note from the Music Personnel Conference in New York City.  Today was the first day of the Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio annual conference.  Despite the difficulties in the industry that Jack wrote about yesterday, the mood is very positive here.  

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Acts of God

Given overall economic hardships, dwindling government funding for the arts, a distracted and over-stimulated audience, community malaise, dizzying media environment, must we in the arts also factor in “acts of god” when considering our long-term planning?

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