Blue Owl Brewing
Money Doesn't Necessarily Guarantee Quality
RECEIVED Fri., Dec. 18, 2009
Dear Editor,
In last week's issue John Callaghan made some very good points about the disparity between the UT athletic department's funding and the comparatively tiny amount that the regents appropriate to KUT [“Postmarks,” Dec. 11]. But in this case, I really don't think the actual dollar amount they give to KUT is going to solve the problem.
Apparently, more money doesn't equal a better station. Station management has been crowing about its "record fundraiser" the past couple of months, but the commercials, or whatever euphemism is used, just keep on multiplying. And the programs that were dropped – citing lack of money – have not been reinstated. This is because station management no longer cares about UT funding or the usual listener donations. Those are small potatoes compared to the money raised by commercial underwriters and fat cat donors. The educational, noncommercial license that John mentioned in his letter has been hijacked by a small group of people who are steering the station toward a commercial model that is not answerable to any type of shareholder or to its listeners. And no amount of money from UT is going to change that.
I really feel that even if the regents were to double or even triple the dollar amount bequeathed, it wouldn't change a thing for listeners. Instead it would probably go toward more Hawaiian shirts for Hawk Mendenhall. Or possibly for that new communications building they've been planning that is rumored to be large enough to house Stewart Vanderwilt's ego.
In last week's issue John Callaghan made some very good points about the disparity between the UT athletic department's funding and the comparatively tiny amount that the regents appropriate to KUT [“Postmarks,” Dec. 11]. But in this case, I really don't think the actual dollar amount they give to KUT is going to solve the problem.
Apparently, more money doesn't equal a better station. Station management has been crowing about its "record fundraiser" the past couple of months, but the commercials, or whatever euphemism is used, just keep on multiplying. And the programs that were dropped – citing lack of money – have not been reinstated. This is because station management no longer cares about UT funding or the usual listener donations. Those are small potatoes compared to the money raised by commercial underwriters and fat cat donors. The educational, noncommercial license that John mentioned in his letter has been hijacked by a small group of people who are steering the station toward a commercial model that is not answerable to any type of shareholder or to its listeners. And no amount of money from UT is going to change that.
I really feel that even if the regents were to double or even triple the dollar amount bequeathed, it wouldn't change a thing for listeners. Instead it would probably go toward more Hawaiian shirts for Hawk Mendenhall. Or possibly for that new communications building they've been planning that is rumored to be large enough to house Stewart Vanderwilt's ego.
Jim Vest
