WNED Signs Agreement to Acquire WBFO

[TheBigA]

Just where do you derive such ideas?
 

Among my professional activities, one is an occasional college professor.  So my comments are based on experience.  I thought my comments made it clear that the reason for this change in philosophy is money.  As I said, the education business is a business.  Just like broadcasting.   

[SirRoxalot]

I don't know where you teach, or where you've taught, but I sure as Hell wouldn't hire anybody who'd write

"universities are no longer interested in things like providing cultural and educational resources for the community at large. In the old days, an educator was an educator 24/7.  Now he's an educator when he's on the clock."

I fully understand that education is a business, but the opinion that you've expressed here is just plan wrong. It's disproved daily by virtually every institution of higher education in this area. Maybe it's different where you are, but you're surely not talking about the vast majority of educators and institutions in Buffalo, NY.

[SirRoxalot]

BTW, ITT Tech and their ilk might operate that way, but  I'm talking about fully accredited institutions.

[TheBigA]

BTW, ITT Tech and their ilk might operate that way, but  I'm talking about fully accredited institutions.

I wouldn't know about ITT or University of Phoenix, or for-profit instititutions.  But I imagine you're right.

[Mike Saffran]

A couple of much-needed clarifications:

There are fewer full time faculty now at most institutions than there were 10 years ago. Institutions trying to stretch dollars rely more and more heavily on adjunct faculty who simply don't have the same level of experience or program continuity to offer the same quality of education.

That’s only partially true, Rox. Indeed, more and more institutions rely on adjunct faculty today compared with a decade ago; however, because many of those adjuncts hold full-time positions within their fields, they’re typically more experienced and knowledgeable — particularly about current practices — than some full-time faculty. “Contingent” faculty members (adjuncts) might not have the research experience of those who went straight from graduate school to full-time teaching (perhaps without spending a day of their life actually working in the field), but most provide very high-quality instruction.

BTW, ITT Tech and their ilk might operate that way, but  I'm talking about fully accredited institutions.

I wouldn't know about ITT or University of Phoenix, or for-profit instititutions.  But I imagine you're right.

“For profit” doesn’t necessarily mean “unaccredited.” The for-profit University of Phoenix, the largest private university in the United States with 438,000 students (who, incidentally, collectively receive a billion dollars in federal student aid annually), is a full-fledged, accredited university.

Ironically, in an earlier remark, TheBigA said, “...the education business is a business. Just like broadcasting.” That’s very true. And just like the sea change experienced by “old media” (including radio, TV and print) in recent years, higher education also faces major change and formidable challenges.

I work for a highly regarded, traditional, private non-profit institution (recognized this week as “A Great College to Work For”—so I hope it sticks around for a while); however, I can appreciate the niche filled by the for-profits, many of which offer greater access, demand-driven courses and programs (ideally affording graduates solid employment opportunities) and, frequently, convenient online classes.

It’s all part of higher ed’s need to adapt — which includes changing attitudes. Sounds kind of like radio, doesn’t it?

[TheBigA]

It’s all part of higher ed’s need to adapt — which includes changing attitudes. Sounds kind of like radio, doesn’t it?

Exactly.  Your post reminded me that I once worked at a station similar to WNED, which is what is called a "community licensee."  That is a non-commercial station that is not affiliated with a college, state, or other major funding source.  I knew people at WBFO, and their world is about to change.  There is a stability provided by being a university licensee.  Not as much with the community licensees.  It helps that WNED has a TV station associated with it.  It would be far worse if this was a radio-only operation. 

But Rox mentioned that WBFO was not a money-maker for the U of B.  That will change now that it's run by a community licensee.  There will be more fund-raisers, and there may be some programming changes to attract funding.  We did four a year, and they each ran 10 days.  Plus there were the silent campaigns, and the corporate work.  There was a direct relationship between the programming we ran and ability of those shows to raise money from listeners.  If a host had a generous fan base, his show got the better time slot.  That's democracy, folks.  I don't know which programs raise the most now at WBFO, but those that do will get more airtime.  Those that don't won't.

[Temporary Name 100]

SirRoxalot,

You are incorrect on a bunch of posts:

1.  WNY Public Broadcasting is NOT better at fundraising, they actually suck at it.  WBFO will and already is losing members since the announcement because there are a whole lot of supporters who work at UB, that love and support it but won't anymore due to the sale.

2.  WBFO was really close to self supporting and could have easily been with a few tweaks with increasing membership, underwriting and cutting a few expenses.  UB never went down that road to even try.  VP Henderson was only interested in helping Donald K. Boswell get the station as a payback.  President Tripathi is only interested in getting the $4 million to build his downtown Medical Campus, that's the carrot that was dangled in front of him to agree to sell the station.

3.  The Corporate Underwriting that you say was inept isn't!  The department only has one full-time Underwriter and he busts his ass selling Underwriting in the hard Buffalo Market.

4.  WBFO had been doing really well financially if you looked at the numbers on their website, but having high priced consultants for multiple positions can tank a bank account really fast.

Thanks

[GeorgeKramer]

I was told the WBFO on-air talent will likely NOT be retained.

Too bad. WBFO's reporters and anchors have always done nice work despite a limited staff and resources.

I hope those folks can land on their feet. Maybe one or two of them can latch on over at WBEN to help make up for last year's loss of Barbara Burns and this year's loss of Rachel Kingston. A female voice other than Susan Rose doing news on 930 AM would be refreshing.

[JustPastBuffalo]

Buffalo News columnist/jazz/media critic Jeff Simon weighs in with a few opinions about WBFO and some thoughts from his Facebook friends: http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/columns/jeff-simon/article509386.ece.

I agree with those in Simon's column and this thread who opine that WBFO serves the community in ways the present UB administration may not understand or appreciate. I couldn't disagree more with those who say WBFO's news offering is lacking. And I've long thought those who continually and capriciously bashed WBFO's jazz programming and the efforts of certain WBFO jazz hosts were off base. (Like so many fans of rock music in the 60s and 70s; interview twenty people and you'll get twenty different opinions of what constitutes "good" rock bands and musicians.) I'm not a "serious" jazz person, but I appreciate the art form. I've listened to Toronto's 91.1 Jazz FM for years and appreciate the breadth of music as well as the casual, well-informed but non-condescending attitude of Jazz FM's hosts.   

Having been through a consolidation of two (commercial) news radio stations, my experience yields the opinion that WNYPBA is unlikely to operate both WNED-AM and WBFO in "news mode" for any number of reasons. (Last I checked, NPR does not offer a sports format.) WNED-AM and WBFO are fine stations and I'm a listener. Change is likely once the sale is finalized. WBFO may be chosen to carry the mantle of "news station." Both stations are staffed by dedicated professionals and I wish all parties well. Hopefully upheaval is not part of the transition.

[Philip_Airtime]

I've purposely held back from contributing to this thread because of my close association with WBFO.  But after this morning's Jeff Simon article, I must speak out.  Simon is a little, little man.  I've always found him to be pretentious and sometimes unreadable.  It saddens me that so many fine writers at the Buffalo News are accepting buy-outs while this little man continues to prattle on each week.  Yes, I'm taking what some might see as an unfair shot at Simon.  And the only reason I'm taking it is because of his unwarranted personal attack on David Benders.  David is a man of integrity who has done so much to keep WBFO running through the years.  He's the programmer who oversaw the transition of WBFO from a student operation with no listeners to a station that has topped 100,000 in cum audience in some books over the past ten years.  And it was David Benders who actually protected jazz, allowing it to continue in a prominent role on WBFO through 2010.  Believe me, another programmer would have dropped it ten years ago.  I'm proud to work with David.  And I'm proud to call him a friend.  And I will defend him from such trash as I read in today's Buffalo News.  Shame on you, Margaret Sullivan, for allowing a writer to engage in such unfair and unsubstantied garbage. 

Now, Simon, you're deluded if you think WNED is going to bring back jazz.  DELUDED, I say.  Jazz is no longer a viable radio format.  I enjoy jazz.  I, too, tune in 91.1.  I still listen to Doug Blakely at night on WBFO.  And my CD collection probably has more jazz CDs than the average person.  But WBFO would have a fraction of the audience it has today if it was a primarily jazz outlet.  Are there any radio professionals reading this who would disagree?

No, Simon, WNED will be maintaining the NPR programming as it is currently airing on WBFO.  What this actually does is protect the full-time classical service at 94.5.  The folks at WNED are smart radio people.  They read the same public radio research as we do.  For years, we were waiting for the day when WNED would add NPR programming at 94.5, just as dozens of other classical stations have done.  Fortunately, they never did so.  They'll now have an FM outlet for NPR.  So, classical music listeners win.  And NPR News listeners win.

Simon has continually bashed WBFO for its format change in February 2010 to all talk.  He criticizes the duplication.  What he doesn't tell his readers is that WBFO was the first to air Morning Edition and All Things Considered.  And much of the rest broadcast day, except for one hour of On Point at 10am, has different programming.  And you know what, Simon, it appears the audience prefers the new programming.  We've had two of the most successful fundraisers in the station's history.  So, what does that tell you!

One more snipe in your article that I take offense with, Simon.  The "bland" community reporting you refer to actually captured the top AP award in New York State in 2006 and 2008.  WBFO has also been honored with regional Murrow awards and nearly a dozen national public radio journalism awards.  So, we must be doing something right.