KUOW.org: where old men take their fathers

We're reminded of that old saw about the Rainier Club: It's where old men take their fathers.

We're not talking about a downtown private club past its prime in the 21st Century, but the first redesign of the KUOW website since we don't know when. (KUOW is Seattle's popular public radio talk station).

Unfortunately it's just a rearrangement of the furniture with some tech flourishes and furbelows.

Besides that -- there's nothing new, here: it's a study in disconnectivity and non-interactivity... no blogs; no comments, no forum -- if you want to get in touch -- give them a call or send an e-mail... but if you try the latter -- there are no hyperlinks.

No hyperlinks for email? could it be that when KUOW says "contact us," they don't really mean it?

Two quick questions: 1) How did KUOW miss the community era of the Internets? 2) Think everyone who listens to KUOW is old and always will be? 3) why do we have to ask these questions? (we know there's three).

Blogs: We're sure there are KUOW staffers who'd provide great content at no extra charge -- even on the chump change you pay them...  KUOW could have a big station blog as Chicago's WBEZ does or ones for each show as does KIRO who's developed healthy traffic and an enhanced on-line presence with the addition and promotion of show blogs --particularly Dori Monson and Too Beautiful to Live's). These journals enhance the on-air content and get listeners to participate in a way that's not top-down. (Not to mention such bastions of modernity and hiptitude as The Seattle Times, the P-I, and KVI who have many blogs).

NPR is diving right into the new media and using internet interactivity in the hopes of getting as much public feedback and as possible. With their new media news shows, Bryant Park Project and Tell Me More they started blogs with comments before the shows went on the air... They recently put up Inside NPR, a blog just for discussing NPR, and its new programming.

PRI has all manner of blogs, sports and news and celebrate comments from reader/listeners. 

So why can't KUOW, the Seattle explaining industry leader let staff exposit, and listeners comment, and get some ownership in the station they don't have to write a check for? (We bet on-line check-writing would be enhanced as well with just a little promotion in this democratic way).

Many stations have General Manager blogs or Program Director blogs. Such things at KUOW.org would be particularly thrilling.

If someone wants to approach KUOW with complaints, suggestions, etc., how does one do it? Pitchforks and torches at a board meeting? Snail mail to the front office? A phone call to the General Manager or the Program director? A courier? good luck.

It's counterintuitive in this day and age that at KUOW, the most common lines of new communications hardly exist. Might account for the stultification of the KUOW sound. The dearth of new programming and formatic ideas this decade.

We know, we know: KUOW does well in the ratings -- don't argue with success, if it ain't broke don't fix it, etc. Their success probably accounts for their recent lack of innovation and risk adversity.

One of these days the Garrison Keillor generation will all be dead or deaf, and all those famously above average kids will be irretrievably at XM on their iPods... (dude! they already are...).

Comments

[DisGrunt]

Stick it to this velvet coffin whenever you can! Dull is the word. Yesterday in the 2 to 3 show, dare I call it that, they just ran golden oldies (evergreen stories) without having the brains to cut off the original dates at the end of each segment. This reminds us, of course, that they don't have the depth to fill in for the summer with fresh features, or more probably, won't pay anybody to sub for vacations, maternity leave, etc.
Dullsville, with amateurs.

[Ben]

Michael, your live & local gripe goes to KUOW, too. They cut the local shows they had evenings and weekends, it's all off the satellite. Nothing new or local on KXOT, either, They're just like the commercial stations- they don't take criticisms or suggestions. KUOW has not chnged weekdays for over a decade, maybe two.

[ratherradio]

On KOMO's website, no blogs, but I found Eric Slocum has a private one at ericslocum.typepad.com

[joanie]

Setting up an interactive web site probably would be a good idea. I don't know.

I go to a site mostly to get answers. Who was that guest I just heard? I forgot the name of the book? What are you going to talk about today?

As good as My Northwest might look - lots of bells and whistles - I don't really use it much except to stream the show. And either I don't know where to look or Dave's site has devolved considerably. Not only do I not know what he's going to talk about, I can't find out the answers to questions about what he did talk about. Unless I relisten to a podcast.

Dori's site is pretty good. His topics are listed and he's got a great blog going. And it comes up as one of the top three or four when you Google my northwest.

Beyond that, I don't go to my northwest to read news or get info on the other stations they own. I just go to find out information about the people to whom I listen and their guests. Unfortunately, for Dave Ross, that's a wasted trip.

As for keeping up with websites in any profession, that's just one more layer of work. If you've got an assistant to do it for you, great! And most private corporations oughta do it.

Sam Seder is the editor of Air America's site. They pay him for it and he's got a title. So, they're trying.

[Suzanne S.]

KUOW is lame on issues I am interested in. I am 26 and I work in political activities. KBCS is better, but its usually national feeds, and you can't hear it in many neighborhoods. Where can you hear local issues discussed without commercials , and is not right wing blather? Nowhere except occasionally by predictable old people on KUOW. D.Parvaz is fine on Fridays on Weekday, but even she is restricted by the fact she works for corporate media. I would love to hear a regular panel of the younger people who actually do the work on the ground in politics and media in Seattle, and not just these old dogs reminiscing. If old media wants to compete with new media, they better start looking at what new media is doing to steal their audiences.

[Sal Comida]

Couldn't agree more. Public radio in Seattle is fat, self-satisfied well-off, and lacks imagination. It mirrors only the liberal establishment in Seattle. A newer order is storming the media castles and KUOW is still eating cake.

[Bernbaum]

Got to stick up for KUOW's news, it is great, some of the best broadcast news in the region. The rest of it is usually tedious. Why would anyone listen to it regularly except for This American Life which embodies everything the rest of public radio is not?

[Gaskil]

"So why can't KUOW, the Seattle explaining industry leader let staff exposit, and listeners comment, and get some ownership in the station they don't have to write a check for? (We bet on-line check-writing would be enhanced as well with just a little promotion in this democratic way)."

This is such a good idea, Michael, it would add more voices and dimension to their appeal, and you're right, expansion on the net would be a fundraising plus too.

It will never happen just because it was you that proposed it!

[Big time KUOW listener]

Hope KUOW isn't taking this tripe to heart. KUOW is doing just fine. Don't change a thing just for change's sake. I've been listening since 1989, and have always depended on the station to let me know what is happening in current events. I remember when there wasn't any public radio.

[sparky]

Off topic, sports fans.

Ok..I have not been paying attention to the Mariners much this year, I cant get KOMO to come in where I live, so I watch NWSports on cable sometimes. What happened to Dave Neihaus, Rick Rizz and Ron Fairly Obvious? Are they radio only now?

[Idaho Radio Buff]

Definitely have to agree about some of the content additions that would be nice. I wish KUOW sounded more like KCPW, Salt Lake City... although their glory days were about 4 years ago now.