Monday, April 28, 2008
New KOSU offers diverse programming
At OSU, we are lucky to have so many international students because it exposes us to other ways of thinking and other approaches to life. Their presence somehow makes international events more relevant.
We are also lucky to have excellent music and arts programs that allow us to experience art that spans genres and generations.
Overlooked for too long, however is another domain for culture that we can access any time, any where — the airwaves.
Sure, in Oklahoma you have a wide selection of top 40, R&B, country, oldies and rock stations as well as AM talk radio, but what are the alternatives?
KOSU is one alternative in Stillwater. KOSU may be recognized as the station that always plays classical music. That is no longer the case.
Before, most of the programming on KOSU was taken up by classical music, thanks to the leadership of the director, Craig Beeby.
Although well-credentialed, I don’t think Beeby was ever truly aware of what listeners wanted in a National Public Radio station. That, or he ignored the requests of listeners.
Under his leadership, diversity of programming, even quality of signal in Stillwater, declined. Some may say it is in poor taste to disparage a man who has now moved on. But I think what I am saying is in line with what a lot of KOSU listeners thought.
Beeby seemed to lack vision and failed to address the concerns of the audience.
Luckily, a new director is on board, Kelly Burley.
Today, KOSU offers diverse news and talk programming previously unavailable to listeners in Stillwater.
The new music programming is also exciting. On Friday and Saturday nights, instead of tuning in to hear classical music, listeners may find jazz, blues, bluegrass and Celtic music greeting them.
There is nothing better than spending a summer evening with friends barbecuing and listening to some relaxing music on the radio, without commercials cutting in to kill the mood.
Many devoted NPR listeners have come to Stillwater and found the programming on KOSU lacking.
Accounts of listeners’ exasperation with the old KOSU can be found in survey results at http://www.kosu.org. The survey was given in the fall, shortly after Burley arrived, to find out what listeners were looking for in their NPR station.
One listener’s comments sum up my views on the role of a good NPR station succinctly: “Don’t be so timid about airing controversial programs. This is a university town and we value hearing new opinions. It’s sad that the University of Tulsa’s station is bolder about airing controversial views than is KOSU.”
Although things are much different, I don’t think many people are aware of this great source of entertainment and information.
Not only is it different and eye-opening, it is never interrupted by constant annoying advertisements. The variety of new programming is too long to list.
I encourage everyone to tune in to 91.7 KOSU soon to hear what’s new. The full programming schedule can be found at http://www.kosu.org/media/KOSU program grid.pdf.
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Justin Akers:
Comment on 28-Apr-08 at 3:22 am
“Don’t be so timid about airing controversial programs. This is a university town and we value hearing new opinions. It’s sad that the University of Tulsa’s station is bolder about airing controversial views than is KOSU.”
By “controversial”, you do mean left-wing, correct? Am I being pesumptuous?
Jonathan Pollnow:
Comment on 28-Apr-08 at 4:00 pm
You are. A lot of the new programming is not left-leaning. Right-wing agitation and labeling everything it doesn’t agree with as left-leaning will no longer be a valid criticism. This sort of partisanship has originated in the right-wing and it is time for it to stop.
But liberals are scum and intent on destroying this country.
That is what you are implying isn’t it?
All you said was “left-wing.” I am left to interpret that as a playground slur. Care to elaborate on what is so bad about the left-wing? Or did I misinterpret your comment as an insult when in reality it is a compliment?
So what then? What if KOSU is actually left-leaning? AM radio has plenty of conservative news and talk, a lot of it “controversial” as well. Do you see me gibbering on the street about the ultra right-wing and their apparent jack-boot approach to everything?
Does the fact that something leans to the left mean there is some kind of conspiracy afoot? Judging by your other posts, you seem to think there is.
Just because something is not toeing the Republican party line or isn’t simply American jingoism, it must be the left-wing “lieberal” media at work, obviously. I don’t agree with some of the stuff that is aired on NPR, but I have a mind to disagree and move on and appreciate it for what it is - a superior source of information. Because I favor NPR over Foxnews does not automatically make me a liberal either. I favor NPR for the quality of its content - well researched and balanced news that isn’t in sound bite form. Foxnews is nothing but emotional appeal and hyperbole, with heavy emphasis on sound bites, and advertisements thrown in for good measure. Political or ideological orientation doesn’t even factor into my decision. I am a moderate.
Oh, I forgot. Moderates are part of the left-wing now. My bad.
Justin Akers:
Comment on 28-Apr-08 at 5:31 pm
“Right-wing agitation and labeling everything it doesn’t agree with as left-leaning will no longer be a valid criticism.”
You seem to be agitating against “right-wing agitation” here.
“This sort of partisanship has originated in the right-wing and it is time for it to stop.”
You say this partisanship has to stop, yet, in the previous sentence, you said I was engaging in “right-wing agitation.” Don’t you think that labelling me a right-wing agitator is a partisan comment? And don’t you think it’s a bit partisan to say that partisanship “originated in the right-wing?”
“But liberals are scum and intent on destroying this country. That is what you are implying isn’t it?”
No, actually, I was implying that “controversial,” in the context of this column, is in fact a sort of code-word for “left-wing,” or liberal, if you prefer. It’s no secret that Public radio is left-wing. Just as it’s no secret that there are many right-wing radio programs.
“All you said was “left-wing.” I am left to interpret that as a playground slur. Care to elaborate on what is so bad about the left-wing?”
Well, I think there would be more appropriate slurs for the playground than left-wing. And, in this context, it wasn’t meant as a slur at all, it was meant to be descriptive. As for elaborating on what is so bad about the left-wing–that would take volumes!
“So what then? What if KOSU is actually left-leaning?”
Indeed, so what! It’s a free country. Left-leaners are entitled to be left-leaners, and I am entitled to call them left-leaners, or left-wingers, or liberals, or Democrats. Wherein lies the problem?
“Do you see me gibbering on the street about the ultra right-wing and their apparent jack-boot approach to everything?”
No, but when I lived in Berkeley, I often saw people gibbering on the street about the ultra-right-wing. Literally.
“Does the fact that something leans to the left mean there is some kind of conspiracy afoot? Judging by your other posts, you seem to think there is.”
Yes, there is a conspiracy afoot, and it’s called the Demcoratic Party. And unfortunately, half my relatives and most of my friends are a part of the conspiracy.
“I am a moderate.”
Me too.
Lane West:
Comment on 28-Apr-08 at 11:55 pm
Just SO refreshing to see that KOSU is now interested in truly serving its audience and its purpose…instead of empire building. Thank you, Kelly Burley and the KOSU staff!