well, that was a somewhat dismaying webinar

[chanter1944]

Got most of my answers re As It Happens and Kahliweyo'se during tonight's WPR zoom call. Much of the former boils down to either listener numbers which, you keep talking about listener surveys and focus groups, WPR, so why is this the first time I'm hearing about them? or a desire to focus on more local as opposed to national/international content. (Related, if I never hear the word content again, it will be too damn soon! Shove that back to money-scrabbling social media where it belongs.) The latter is getting the delete button along with all the other volunteer-hosted local programs, as well as the remaining regional ones. The whole thing strikes me, given the reason As It Happens is being ditched, as very 'We want more local emphasis. No, not that way!'

I'm sorry, but I'm going to be salty forever about the single indigenous show on the network getting chucked in favor of more one-genre white focus, and no matter how presenters try to broaden their range of composers, the fact is, European-style classical music *is* a one-genre focus, and a distinctly white one. I wasn't happy when the Hmong-language program from the valley ended production a few years ago either.

I know answers were given in good faith tonight. I know directors and staff have the best of intentions. But wow. Inserting regional/cultural segments into Morning Edition when, incidentally, I'm probably either at work already or scrambling around getting going, feels a little token-y, a little like a consolation prize. Yes, more regional and cultural stories from Wisconsin presented as segments in amid Morning Edition is apparently the plan. And who knows? It may turn out excellently down the road, but for now, side-eye! It feels like, just now, WPR doesn't quite know how to serve a population who can hold simultaneous local and international interests, and broader multicultural ones. Or maybe I'm just telling on myself again.

Comments

[muccamukk]

Ugh. That's absolutely maddening. the GALL of cancelling international content in favour of local then slashing Indigenous content too. How are European composers local?

[chanter1944]

Wish I knew. It sounds like there's going to be at least a nod to a more diverse group of composers in what's played, and there *are* a handful of non-classical programs on that particular network, but the majority is still going to be pretty homogeneous. Even with an attempt to widen their field of selection, the genre is very narrow in sound. As for the whole regional/cultural stories as inserts into morning programming thing... I am not sold.

I may have to give in and get the CBC app, is one thing.

[muccamukk]

If you do get the CBC app, I really like Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild, and Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

[jesse_the_k]

My, that was disappointing.

[chanter1944]

Were you in on the zoom call too? Wondering what you took away from it, if so.

[jesse_the_k]

Nope, just reacting to your report.