“WHYY, How dare you leave our city”, (to the tune of O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree)
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
Without an ounce of pity
You say you're not aband'ing us
And who are we to make a fuss!
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Citizens are left to stew
You say your plans are misconstrued
But bottom line, we all got screwed
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
But now it all seems balderdash
Your anchor was a talking head
I tuned at 5 with fear and dread
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
O HYY
O HYY
Ted Kaufman's vote may be the key
You state your costs will not allow
But your GM makes 500 thou.
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
The Dredging of the Delaware River
( to the tune of Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly”)
Deck the shores with tons of sewage
Folly, folly, folly la la la la.
Underneath Memorial Brid...ge
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
Trust Army Corps of Engineers?
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
All we get are haughty sneers!
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
See the wildlife dead before us,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Just say no and join the chorus,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Call Markell to voice displeasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la.
No corp'rate greed, no corp'rate treasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Ode to Mike Castle, “Biden's Son is Coming to Town” (to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town”)
You better watch out
Don't sit, don't sigh
Better not flout
Joe's telling you why
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau's making a list
And checking it twice;
Goin' to DC to get some advice
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau sees you when you're polling
Beau knows that you're ahead
First state's... been historic'ly blue
Castle wants to make it red!
O! You better watch out!
You better look spry
Won't be a blow out...
Could make you mince pie
Biden's son is coming to town!
Showing posts with label WHYY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WHYY. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
WHYY, DE Division of Arts grants, DE Theatre Co
Aisle Say has the August Dog Day blues...the doublewide blues. No theatre to report on the one hand and on the other some wins and losses for Delawareans. But, as Lady Macbeth urged, I will 'screw my courage to the sticking place' and have at it.
WHYY
At least three dozen Delawareans woke up and took notice several months ago when their televised nightly sleeping pill, Channel 12's “Delaware Tonight” ceased operation. Scintillating reportage it was not. But it was OUR bland reporting! Yes, they were the quintessential talking heads. But they were OUR talking heads. But, in June of 2009, after obtaining millions in grants from the state for the refurbishing of their Wilmington studio and construction of their Dover studio, HYY slinked off in the night as stealthily as Mr. Irsay's Baltimore Colts to Indiana many moons ago.
After protestations from Senator Kaufman and Mayor Baker, Delaware's “coverage” was replaced by an alleged news magazine “First” for an hour each Friday night. “WHYY is not adequately serving the community needs of its city of license, which is Wilmington”, bellowed Mr. Mayor.
Your intrepid Aisle Say investigative reporter tuned in last Friday to determine how “First” was serving tax payers. (Even with this indecent behavior they still received $100,000.00 from the Joint Finance Committee this fiscal year). Last Friday's “news” story featured Balinese dancing. “The sport carries you where you want”, chanted the Balinese dance guru. The aged man covered the dance floor slowly, very slowly. “We would dance if nobody showed up to see us”, he exclaimed. Yup, that says it all.
The second segment was even more compelling: 15 minutes on dehydrating vegetables. “But wait,” exclaimed the dehydrator, “we also do macaroons. Wednesday is macaroon day!”
The FCC denied Wilmington's challenge to WHYY for license renewal. They win. We lose.
DELAWARE DIVISION OF ARTS 2011 GRANTS
Eighty-six organizations throughout the state received 104 grants from $1000.00 to $110,000.00 totaling $1.4 million. (Last year it was $1.47 million to 84 groups). The funding comes from both the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment For The Arts.
Last year Aisle Say took to task some of the perceived imbalance of the grants. It appears more reasonable in FY 2011. The way I define this imbalance is 1) number of people employed in the organization 2) number of guests they serve and 3) the positive economic ripple effect it has on the community ( eg. overnight stays, busy restaurants and visits to other venues).
New Candlelight Theatre justifiably was awarded $25K. Their quality and their integrity is high and they are the ONLY surviving dinner theatre in the state...and they are the best theatrical value. On the down side their profit margin has all the profile of a flounder snoozing on the bottom of the bay.
The Grand received $101K; DE Art Museum, $110K; Opera Delaware, $62K; DE Symphony, $101K; - that's all good. The DE Center for the Contemporary Arts – arguably a pioneer on the Riverfront – attracts nowhere near the traffic of The Grand or even New Candlelight, and they received $93K! DE Theatre Company received $101K. (more on that below)
In relation to guests served and economic ripple, it is, however, very difficult to swallow the $43K given to the Yorklyn Center for The Creative Arts. At least that is down from an outrageous $68K in last year's grants!
For the second year running, the Aisle Say Golden Fleece Award goes to DE Dance Company on Elkton Rd. These pre-teens are impossibly cute in their tutus I'll say, but $32K (down from $40K) for a group that is only witnessed by their doting parents and grandparents? We've got to get their lobbyist and send him to DC. That dude has the suave to bring millions in earmarks to Delaware!
DELAWARE THEATRE COMPANY
Still no news about their schedule. Aisle Say was told by their Marketing Manager that the revised schedule was to be out in 1 week. That was 6 weeks ago. Email and a call to Mary Ann Ehlshager, the Managing Director, was not returned.
POSTSCRIPT
Aisle Say commented a few months back that Tim Geithner, US Secretary of the Treasury reminded him of Robert Stack when he played Eliot Ness on “The Untouchables”. Well, dear reader, we have another one. I was watching the evening news with my dear sister Liz. Thad Allen, the Coast Guard Commandant in charge of the oil spill was before the podium. Tell me he is not Oliver Hardy reincarnated!
WHYY
At least three dozen Delawareans woke up and took notice several months ago when their televised nightly sleeping pill, Channel 12's “Delaware Tonight” ceased operation. Scintillating reportage it was not. But it was OUR bland reporting! Yes, they were the quintessential talking heads. But they were OUR talking heads. But, in June of 2009, after obtaining millions in grants from the state for the refurbishing of their Wilmington studio and construction of their Dover studio, HYY slinked off in the night as stealthily as Mr. Irsay's Baltimore Colts to Indiana many moons ago.
After protestations from Senator Kaufman and Mayor Baker, Delaware's “coverage” was replaced by an alleged news magazine “First” for an hour each Friday night. “WHYY is not adequately serving the community needs of its city of license, which is Wilmington”, bellowed Mr. Mayor.
Your intrepid Aisle Say investigative reporter tuned in last Friday to determine how “First” was serving tax payers. (Even with this indecent behavior they still received $100,000.00 from the Joint Finance Committee this fiscal year). Last Friday's “news” story featured Balinese dancing. “The sport carries you where you want”, chanted the Balinese dance guru. The aged man covered the dance floor slowly, very slowly. “We would dance if nobody showed up to see us”, he exclaimed. Yup, that says it all.
The second segment was even more compelling: 15 minutes on dehydrating vegetables. “But wait,” exclaimed the dehydrator, “we also do macaroons. Wednesday is macaroon day!”
The FCC denied Wilmington's challenge to WHYY for license renewal. They win. We lose.
DELAWARE DIVISION OF ARTS 2011 GRANTS
Eighty-six organizations throughout the state received 104 grants from $1000.00 to $110,000.00 totaling $1.4 million. (Last year it was $1.47 million to 84 groups). The funding comes from both the Delaware General Assembly and the National Endowment For The Arts.
Last year Aisle Say took to task some of the perceived imbalance of the grants. It appears more reasonable in FY 2011. The way I define this imbalance is 1) number of people employed in the organization 2) number of guests they serve and 3) the positive economic ripple effect it has on the community ( eg. overnight stays, busy restaurants and visits to other venues).
New Candlelight Theatre justifiably was awarded $25K. Their quality and their integrity is high and they are the ONLY surviving dinner theatre in the state...and they are the best theatrical value. On the down side their profit margin has all the profile of a flounder snoozing on the bottom of the bay.
The Grand received $101K; DE Art Museum, $110K; Opera Delaware, $62K; DE Symphony, $101K; - that's all good. The DE Center for the Contemporary Arts – arguably a pioneer on the Riverfront – attracts nowhere near the traffic of The Grand or even New Candlelight, and they received $93K! DE Theatre Company received $101K. (more on that below)
In relation to guests served and economic ripple, it is, however, very difficult to swallow the $43K given to the Yorklyn Center for The Creative Arts. At least that is down from an outrageous $68K in last year's grants!
For the second year running, the Aisle Say Golden Fleece Award goes to DE Dance Company on Elkton Rd. These pre-teens are impossibly cute in their tutus I'll say, but $32K (down from $40K) for a group that is only witnessed by their doting parents and grandparents? We've got to get their lobbyist and send him to DC. That dude has the suave to bring millions in earmarks to Delaware!
DELAWARE THEATRE COMPANY
Still no news about their schedule. Aisle Say was told by their Marketing Manager that the revised schedule was to be out in 1 week. That was 6 weeks ago. Email and a call to Mary Ann Ehlshager, the Managing Director, was not returned.
POSTSCRIPT
Aisle Say commented a few months back that Tim Geithner, US Secretary of the Treasury reminded him of Robert Stack when he played Eliot Ness on “The Untouchables”. Well, dear reader, we have another one. I was watching the evening news with my dear sister Liz. Thad Allen, the Coast Guard Commandant in charge of the oil spill was before the podium. Tell me he is not Oliver Hardy reincarnated!
Friday, January 1, 2010
3 Delaware News Stories put to Xmas tunes
“WHYY, How dare you leave our city”, (to the tune of O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree)
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
Without an ounce of pity
You say you're not aband'ing us
And who are we to make a fuss!
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Citizens are left to stew
You say your plans are misconstrued
But bottom line, we all got screwed
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
But now it all seems balderdash
Your anchor was a talking head
I tuned at 5 with fear and dread
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
O HYY
O HYY
Ted Kaufman's vote may be the key
You state your costs will not allow
But your GM makes 500 thou.
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
The Dredging of the Delaware River
( to the tune of Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly”)
Deck the shores with tons of sewage
Folly, folly, folly la la la la.
Underneath Memorial Brid...ge
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
Trust Army Corps of Engineers?
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
All we get are haughty sneers!
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
See the wildlife dead before us,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Just say no and join the chorus,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Call Markell to voice displeasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la.
No corp'rate greed, no corp'rate treasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Ode to Mike Castle, “Biden's Son is Coming to Town” (to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town”)
You better watch out
Don't sit, don't sigh
Better not flout
Joe's telling you why
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau's making a list
And checking it twice;
Goin' to DC to get some advice
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau sees you when you're polling
Beau knows that you're ahead
First state's... been historic'ly blue
Castle wants to make it red!
O! You better watch out!
You better look spry
Won't be a blow out...
Could make you mince pie
Biden's son is coming to town!
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
Without an ounce of pity
You say you're not aband'ing us
And who are we to make a fuss!
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Citizens are left to stew
You say your plans are misconstrued
But bottom line, we all got screwed
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
But now it all seems balderdash
Your anchor was a talking head
I tuned at 5 with fear and dread
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
O HYY
O HYY
Ted Kaufman's vote may be the key
You state your costs will not allow
But your GM makes 500 thou.
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
The Dredging of the Delaware River
( to the tune of Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly”)
Deck the shores with tons of sewage
Folly, folly, folly la la la la.
Underneath Memorial Brid...ge
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
Trust Army Corps of Engineers?
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
All we get are haughty sneers!
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
See the wildlife dead before us,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Just say no and join the chorus,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Call Markell to voice displeasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la.
No corp'rate greed, no corp'rate treasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Ode to Mike Castle, “Biden's Son is Coming to Town” (to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town”)
You better watch out
Don't sit, don't sigh
Better not flout
Joe's telling you why
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau's making a list
And checking it twice;
Goin' to DC to get some advice
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau sees you when you're polling
Beau knows that you're ahead
First state's... been historic'ly blue
Castle wants to make it red!
O! You better watch out!
You better look spry
Won't be a blow out...
Could make you mince pie
Biden's son is coming to town!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Firestone's AISLE SAY comments on DE social/political scene
“WHYY, How dare you leave our city”, (to the tune of O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree)
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
Without an ounce of pity
You say you're not aband'ing us
And who are we to make a fuss!
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Citizens are left to stew
You say your plans are misconstrued
But bottom line, we all got screwed
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
But now it all seems balderdash
Your anchor was a talking head
I tuned at 5 with fear and dread
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
O HYY
O HYY
Ted Kaufman's vote may be the key
You state your costs will not allow
But your GM makes 500 thou.
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
The Dredging of the Delaware River
( to the tune of Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly”)
Deck the shores with tons of sewage
Folly, folly, folly la la la la.
Underneath Memorial Brid...ge
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
Trust Army Corps of Engineers?
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
All we get are haughty sneers!
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
See the wildlife dead before us,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Just say no and join the chorus,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Call Markell to voice displeasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la.
No corp'rate greed, no corp'rate treasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Ode to Mike Castle, “Biden's Son is Coming to Town” (to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town”)
You better watch out
Don't sit, don't sigh
Better not flout
Joe's telling you why
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau's making a list
And checking it twice;
Goin' to DC to get some advice
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau sees you when you're polling
Beau knows that you're ahead
First state's... been historic'ly blue
Castle wants to make it red!
O! You better watch out!
You better look spry
Won't be a blow out...
Could make you mince pie
Biden's son is coming to town!
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
Without an ounce of pity
You say you're not aband'ing us
And who are we to make a fuss!
O HYY
O HYY
How dare you leave our city
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Citizens are left to stew
You say your plans are misconstrued
But bottom line, we all got screwed
O HYY
O HYY
We put big money in you
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
But now it all seems balderdash
Your anchor was a talking head
I tuned at 5 with fear and dread
O HYY
O HYY
Each month we get a call for cash
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
O HYY
O HYY
Ted Kaufman's vote may be the key
You state your costs will not allow
But your GM makes 500 thou.
O HYY
O HYY
Next stop may be the FCC
The Dredging of the Delaware River
( to the tune of Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly”)
Deck the shores with tons of sewage
Folly, folly, folly la la la la.
Underneath Memorial Brid...ge
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
Trust Army Corps of Engineers?
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
All we get are haughty sneers!
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la
See the wildlife dead before us,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Just say no and join the chorus,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Call Markell to voice displeasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la.
No corp'rate greed, no corp'rate treasure,
Folly, folly, folly, la la la la.
Ode to Mike Castle, “Biden's Son is Coming to Town” (to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town”)
You better watch out
Don't sit, don't sigh
Better not flout
Joe's telling you why
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau's making a list
And checking it twice;
Goin' to DC to get some advice
Biden's son is coming to town
Beau sees you when you're polling
Beau knows that you're ahead
First state's... been historic'ly blue
Castle wants to make it red!
O! You better watch out!
You better look spry
Won't be a blow out...
Could make you mince pie
Biden's son is coming to town!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Does Delaware need WHYY's "Delaware Tonight"?
By Greer Firestone
Community News
Posted Jun 01, 2009 @ 12:10 PM
Last update Jun 02, 2009 @ 04:42 PM
Wilmington, Del. —
Walter Cronkite said it best two decades ago: “Local TV news is irrelevant.” The man was a seer. He must have been talking about WHYY's “Delaware Tonight.”
Cronkite, of course, was speaking to a national audience about inconsequential teasers such as, “stay tuned for the update on the house fire,” and “latest video of theft of corner bodega” by glamorous and obsequious anchors alike.
Do we really need “Delaware Tonight?” It would not be so bad if this public broadcasting station out of Philly was self supporting, but they receive $500,000 from the state of Delaware for operations.
In this economy, that is difficult to justify.
After much ballyhoo for the Dover satellite station to open five years ago at a cost of $1 million, this facility is rarely used, and the promise to video live legislative sessions is rarely achieved.
News agencies should give us the power to make informed decisions and provoke us to action, but news from “Delaware Tonight” is boilerplate stuff.
Aisle Say spent three torturous afternoons watching Delaware Tonight at 5:30 p.m. The script readers appear to be the age of student interns and possess the glitz of high school dramatists. Compared to the green screens, smart boards and multiple camera angles of other networks, the production values were laughable.
On the cultural side, one former anchor responded in a recent letter to the editor that WHYY delivers “unparalleled cultural arts information to the state.” I am not sure the galaxy in which this individual lives, but I beg to differ. Over two decades, I have attended hundreds of arts-related functions of every genre, and if WHYY attended 10 percent of these functions, I would be surprised.
Moreover, they have been completely MIA since opening the Delaware satellite.
But at least one person is happy: WHYY CEO Bill Marrazzo.
In 2007, Marrazzo's overall salary package came in at $740,000, making him the country's highest paid local public broadcasting executive, when WHYY is by no means the largest public broadcasting market.
Marrazzo's smarmy statement on the reduction of his overall compensation this year was delightfully magnanimous: “These economic conditions made it a simple decision.” What a sacrifice, guy. Just the kind of news we want to hear. His 6 percent pay raise (to $528,800) came to light a few weeks after 16 full time employees were laid off to save $1.2 million.
This year, fully one-quarter of WHYY's expenses -- $7.2 million -- is devoted to fund raising. We should pay $150 for for CD's of big bands when they can be downloaded for $25?
Why should we fund Delaware WHYY at all? “The Most Trusted Man in America” had it right. Let's put the money into something that actually produces benefit for the state. We can still turn to Channel 12 for programs and derive benefit without the pain.
Community News
Posted Jun 01, 2009 @ 12:10 PM
Last update Jun 02, 2009 @ 04:42 PM
Wilmington, Del. —
Walter Cronkite said it best two decades ago: “Local TV news is irrelevant.” The man was a seer. He must have been talking about WHYY's “Delaware Tonight.”
Cronkite, of course, was speaking to a national audience about inconsequential teasers such as, “stay tuned for the update on the house fire,” and “latest video of theft of corner bodega” by glamorous and obsequious anchors alike.
Do we really need “Delaware Tonight?” It would not be so bad if this public broadcasting station out of Philly was self supporting, but they receive $500,000 from the state of Delaware for operations.
In this economy, that is difficult to justify.
After much ballyhoo for the Dover satellite station to open five years ago at a cost of $1 million, this facility is rarely used, and the promise to video live legislative sessions is rarely achieved.
News agencies should give us the power to make informed decisions and provoke us to action, but news from “Delaware Tonight” is boilerplate stuff.
Aisle Say spent three torturous afternoons watching Delaware Tonight at 5:30 p.m. The script readers appear to be the age of student interns and possess the glitz of high school dramatists. Compared to the green screens, smart boards and multiple camera angles of other networks, the production values were laughable.
On the cultural side, one former anchor responded in a recent letter to the editor that WHYY delivers “unparalleled cultural arts information to the state.” I am not sure the galaxy in which this individual lives, but I beg to differ. Over two decades, I have attended hundreds of arts-related functions of every genre, and if WHYY attended 10 percent of these functions, I would be surprised.
Moreover, they have been completely MIA since opening the Delaware satellite.
But at least one person is happy: WHYY CEO Bill Marrazzo.
In 2007, Marrazzo's overall salary package came in at $740,000, making him the country's highest paid local public broadcasting executive, when WHYY is by no means the largest public broadcasting market.
Marrazzo's smarmy statement on the reduction of his overall compensation this year was delightfully magnanimous: “These economic conditions made it a simple decision.” What a sacrifice, guy. Just the kind of news we want to hear. His 6 percent pay raise (to $528,800) came to light a few weeks after 16 full time employees were laid off to save $1.2 million.
This year, fully one-quarter of WHYY's expenses -- $7.2 million -- is devoted to fund raising. We should pay $150 for for CD's of big bands when they can be downloaded for $25?
Why should we fund Delaware WHYY at all? “The Most Trusted Man in America” had it right. Let's put the money into something that actually produces benefit for the state. We can still turn to Channel 12 for programs and derive benefit without the pain.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Does Delaware need WHYY's "Delaware Tonight"?
Walter Cronkite said it best two decades ago: “Local TV news is irrelevant.” The man was a seer. He must have been talking about WHYY's “Delaware Tonight.”
Cronkite, of course, was speaking to a national audience about inconsequential teasers such as, “stay tuned for the update on the house fire,” and “latest video of theft of corner bodega” by glamorous and obsequious anchors alike.
Do we really need “Delaware Tonight?” It would not be so bad if this public broadcasting station out of Philly was self supporting, but they receive $500,000 from the state of Delaware for operations.
In this economy, that is difficult to justify.
After much ballyhoo for the Dover satellite station to open five years ago at a cost of $1 million, this facility is rarely used, and the promise to video live legislative sessions is rarely achieved.
News agencies should give us the power to make informed decisions and provoke us to action, but news from “Delaware Tonight” is boilerplate stuff.
Aisle Say spent three torturous afternoons watching Delaware Tonight at 5:30 p.m. The script readers appear to be the age of student interns and possess the glitz of high school dramatists. Compared to the green screens, smart boards and multiple camera angles of other networks, the production values were laughable.
On the cultural side, one former anchor responded in a recent letter to the editor that WHYY delivers “unparalleled cultural arts information to the state.” I am not sure the galaxy in which this individual lives, but I beg to differ. Over two decades, I have attended hundreds of arts-related functions of every genre, and if WHYY attended 10 percent of these functions, I would be surprised.
Moreover, they have been completely MIA since opening the Delaware satellite.
But at least one person is happy: WHYY CEO Bill Marrazzo.
In 2007, Marrazzo's overall salary package came in at $740,000, making him the country's highest paid local public broadcasting executive, when WHYY is by no means the largest public broadcasting market.
Marrazzo's smarmy statement on the reduction of his overall compensation this year was delightfully magnanimous: “These economic conditions made it a simple decision.” What a sacrifice, guy. Just the kind of news we want to hear. His 6 percent pay raise (to $528,800) came to light a few weeks after 16 full time employees were laid off to save $1.2 million.
This year, fully one-quarter of WHYY's expenses -- $7.2 million -- is devoted to fund raising. We should pay $150 for for CD's of big bands when they can be downloaded for $25?
Why should we fund Delaware WHYY at all? “The Most Trusted Man in America” had it right. Let's put the money into something that actually produces benefit for the state. We can still turn to Channel 12 for programs and derive benefit without the pain.d
Cronkite, of course, was speaking to a national audience about inconsequential teasers such as, “stay tuned for the update on the house fire,” and “latest video of theft of corner bodega” by glamorous and obsequious anchors alike.
Do we really need “Delaware Tonight?” It would not be so bad if this public broadcasting station out of Philly was self supporting, but they receive $500,000 from the state of Delaware for operations.
In this economy, that is difficult to justify.
After much ballyhoo for the Dover satellite station to open five years ago at a cost of $1 million, this facility is rarely used, and the promise to video live legislative sessions is rarely achieved.
News agencies should give us the power to make informed decisions and provoke us to action, but news from “Delaware Tonight” is boilerplate stuff.
Aisle Say spent three torturous afternoons watching Delaware Tonight at 5:30 p.m. The script readers appear to be the age of student interns and possess the glitz of high school dramatists. Compared to the green screens, smart boards and multiple camera angles of other networks, the production values were laughable.
On the cultural side, one former anchor responded in a recent letter to the editor that WHYY delivers “unparalleled cultural arts information to the state.” I am not sure the galaxy in which this individual lives, but I beg to differ. Over two decades, I have attended hundreds of arts-related functions of every genre, and if WHYY attended 10 percent of these functions, I would be surprised.
Moreover, they have been completely MIA since opening the Delaware satellite.
But at least one person is happy: WHYY CEO Bill Marrazzo.
In 2007, Marrazzo's overall salary package came in at $740,000, making him the country's highest paid local public broadcasting executive, when WHYY is by no means the largest public broadcasting market.
Marrazzo's smarmy statement on the reduction of his overall compensation this year was delightfully magnanimous: “These economic conditions made it a simple decision.” What a sacrifice, guy. Just the kind of news we want to hear. His 6 percent pay raise (to $528,800) came to light a few weeks after 16 full time employees were laid off to save $1.2 million.
This year, fully one-quarter of WHYY's expenses -- $7.2 million -- is devoted to fund raising. We should pay $150 for for CD's of big bands when they can be downloaded for $25?
Why should we fund Delaware WHYY at all? “The Most Trusted Man in America” had it right. Let's put the money into something that actually produces benefit for the state. We can still turn to Channel 12 for programs and derive benefit without the pain.d
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