January 13, 2005

Reversing past trend, WYSO adds new local programs

By Diane Chiddister

WYSO Public Radio recently announced that it is introducing three new volunteer-hosted programs and reducing its syndicated shows in an effort to save money and improve programming.

“This will take us back to having the freshness of volunteer-hosted programs and will also improve the quality and scope of music during that time,” interim Station Manager Joe Colvin said in an interview this week.

The new volunteer-hosted programs, currently titled “Retro Excursions,” are broadcast Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 8 to 10. The programs will take the place of the syndicated “World Cafe,” which will continue to be broadcast each weekday from 1 to 3. Niki Dakota, the station’s music director, continues to host “Excursions” weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The station is cutting the following syndicated programming: “Thistle and Shamrock,” “Sound and Spirit,” “The World,” “Marketplace,” “As It Happens,” “The Writers Almanac” and “Afropop.” In other changes, “Car Talk,” in addition to its regular time on Saturdays at 10 a.m., will be rebroadcast at 6 p.m. on Sundays, and “Le Show” moves to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Jacki Mayer, the station’s business manager, estimated that the program changes would cut 15 percent from WYSO’s budget.

The station continues to struggle with a budget deficit of about $100,000, according to Antioch University budget figures. The station’s deficit has gradually grown since 2001, when it last had a balanced budget. In winter, 2002, Steve Spencer, the station’s general manager at the time, cut a significant number of the station’s volunteer-hosted shows and replaced many of them with syndicated programming. The controversial move prompted the formation of Keep WYSO Local, a group of listeners who continue to seek the reinstatement of those shows, along with the rehiring of former News Director Aileen LeBlanc and Music Director Vick Mickunas.

Colvin and Don Tecklenburg, the new vice chancellor at Antioch University who will replace Glenn Watts as station overseer, said that they would not comment on whether the new programming cuts indicate that Spencer’s programming changes were ill-advised.

The new volunteers were chosen from about 10 who responded to an on-air ad seeking volunteer hosts, according to Colvin. Ken Carolus hosts the Monday show, Shawn Harding hosts Tuesdays and Christopher Olvis hosts Wednesdays.

The new hosts, all of whom live in the Miami Valley, “have mostly great backgrounds in music and are widely qualified,” Colvin said. Carolus previously hosted a program at Dayton’s classical music station WDPR and was a former host at WYSO, while Olvis previously worked at the Wright State radio station.

The new volunteer hosts will program their own shows, which will all feature a diverse musical selection, Colvin said.

“There will be some jazz, some blues, some pop. You might hear some Dean Martin,” said Colvin. The diversity of music means that “everyone will occasionally hear something they like,” he said.

Colvin said that he had approached two of the station’s volunteer hosts whose shows had been canceled in 2002 about hosting the shows, with the stipulation that the new shows feature diverse music, but both declined to do so.

Steve Schwerner, whose 25-year jazz show “Alternate Takes,” was among those canceled in 2002, said that he had not been approached to host a new show. However, he said that he felt strongly that he would not return to WYSO until the station rehires LeBlanc and Mickunas, who both left due to difficulty working with Spencer, and until the station would resurrect the volunteer-hosted “Women in Music.”

“One of the saddest things about this is that even if WYSO ever goes back to where it was four years ago, in the black, with Aileen and Vick, it will take years to come back to where it was,” he said. “The way the station is going now, there’s no hope for it.”

In early December the station began posting ads for a new general manager, according to Tecklenburg, who said the station has received a good response so far. A search committee, which has not yet been appointed, will help narrow down applications, Tecklenburg said. The final decision will be made by him, with help from Colvin and the committee, he said.

“Ultimately, it’s my call, but I’m a participation kind of guy or I wouldn’t be at Antioch,” said Tecklenburg, who served previously as the Antioch University controller.

Tecklenburg said he has little experience in public radio, although he did host a sports program at Brown University’s radio station while he was a college student.

Asked what the station is seeking in a new general manager, Tecklenburg said, “someone who understands the business and the product and also can promote the product so we get an ample amount of contributions and people to underwrite programs.”

“I’d like to see the station succeed, and I’d like to be able to help it do that,” he said. “The station manager is a key hire for us. We’re looking for someone to provide leadership, direction and energy to make the station what it can be. I want to see that happen.”