Beware the Airwaves
It’s Membership Drive time again at WAMU and WETA, which means that instead of plain Morning Edition, you’re going to get 20 minutes of emotional blackmail, plaintive cries for help, cajoling and flat out begging for money. WAMU is hoping to raise $650,000 before this weekend, and WETA’s goal is unpublished. I may love me the Lehrer News Hour, or All Things Considered or Marketplace, I just know that I give enough in my taxes each year to cover the once a week that I actually listen.
But, if you’re so inclined, you can give to WETA or WAMU via the Web and your credit card right now. If it’s based on the website alone, I’d say WAMU ought to get your cash…
Keep in mind that NPR proper doesn’t actually receive federal funds–it’s the individual stations that receive funding (from Corporation for Public Broadcasting) and they can use it how they see fit (including dues to NPR). Typically, the vast majority of funding for public radio stations is not from the federal government.
(above comment in regard to “I give enough in my taxes each year”)
The nice thing about WAMU is that you can examine how they spend their funds. Their financials are right here. Among the interesting details, and perhaps a good reason to toss them some money this year, is the additional expenses in 2005 – in 2004 AU waived the “indirect costs” to the station, but in 2005 they did not do so and charged them 1.43M.