(Photo by Steven Dewall, Seattle Weekly)
"Scher and his producer [Katy Sewall] never seemed to care or consider the listeners." Thus spake Cliff Mass, insuring that he'll never appear on KUOW again.
(Unless host Steve Scher keels over or something. Frankly, he looks pretty healthy).
Mass got all pissy in a piece in... of all places, The Stranger!
Not that we don't love The Stranger and all it stands for, it's just that airing KUOW's dirty drawers there, of all places, is a little untoward for public radio- the last place KUOW would want this all to be kicked around.
But untoward, we guess, was the idea. (and, we guess, neither Crosscut nor The Times would take it).
Real radio people just fade off when they're fired to reappear when they find another job... but not our Cliff!
He be cuttin' off his nose and pissing where he eats and being all right and rights-demanding and everything like you'd do if you were a freshman with a microphone.
Mass writes:
It appears to many that when a KUOW host has control of a public radio show for decades, he comes to feel that the program is his to do with what he likes, rather than the public's. It is his show, not theirs.
KUOW and Weekday with Steve Scher (m-f 9a-12p) don't like anyone getting too big for their britches in their environs. And they sure as shit don't have to put up with a contributor who won't talk about the subject he's there for. And they coulda fucking paid him, for god's sake! Especially if they wanted real editorial control.
But they were right- Cliff Mass should have been fired. It is their show, not his.
Having said that, we had plenty to agree with in his conclusion, which had little to do with him being fired for being ornerily off topic. He writes that the listeners "clearly care about public radio and its role as a 'community center' for discussing the major issues facing our region and nation."
(photo: Steve Scher, Facebook)
But, he writes, "beyond my situation, all the comments and e-mails [he received] suggest an unhappiness with many aspects of KUOW's offerings and a feeling that this public radio station no longer reflects the public's interests or cares about their needs."
We agree with that. KUOW dayparts have featured the same white males of the same (middle) age for the last decade and a half.
One example of how out of touch the management is, is their stodgy, 1990's-style website with little or no interactivity, and content that's little more than programming schedules and synopses of programs past. It's a brochure; the podcasts don't work. And, unlike the help, it's brown.
Mass puts it this way:
Increasingly, local public radio has become isolated, rigid, and unresponsive to those it serves, even as it requests increasing public support. The rise of social media has shown that other modes of creating an intellectual commons are possible, and the contrast with an aging and inflexible local public radio enterprise has become stark and obvious.
We've heard from listeners and written ad nauseum, the same things about KUOW which has been stuck in the stodge for years. Nothing's been ventured, little has changed for the well-off station but for a shrinkage of homemade product, and further entrenchment of the old white guys.
Maybe it's the niceness of Seattle; the peace-loving souls who listen to public radio around here don't speak up. Theoretically at least, the public can change public radio more easily than it can commercial radio. (If we were KUOW we'd be taking very seriously those long columns of comments on BlatherWatch, Mass's Facebook, and The Stranger).
Maybe the Mass kerfuffle will dislodge some of the bigger pieces- but seriously... we wouldn't make book on it.
Well, no, actually, Scher answers to a program director. And it doesn't take decades - from day one of any show, the content is controlled by the station and the PD, not by the public.
Even if there were any evidence that the public wants to hear Mass's off-topic rants (and there's not), the final say, always, is with the station.
There's plenty to criticize KUOW for; I find most of their programming unlistenably stodgy. But it obviously works for them and their many listeners. That's their decision - not his. If he's so enamored with all that new-fangled social media stuff, he should use it, and leave KUOW alone.
Posted by: Pete | May 25, 2011 at 01:34 PM
So every Friday as Mass drove to the KUOW studios, he ruminated on how unresponsive to the public this radio station had become, that he was about to be heard on? Those remarks are in poor taste any way you look at it. When you take benefit from an activity, you lose the right to denounce it later.
And he's just plain wrong. KUOW gets funding from listeners, and if they played heavy metal music all day, surely all the old ladies who donate their SS checks would be driven away. The misnomer is in calling it "public" radio, because it must cater to pledgers, not the public at large. Sure, the pledgers are members of the public, but not all of the public are pledgers.
That's why I'm upset that NPR is one the road to losing govt. funding, because I want them to answer to the broad public, not the demographic that's most likely to pledge. Shortsighted people like Luke Burbank who say "NPR doesn't need govt. money anyway" so see the big picture. Money in the pot isn't just money in the pot; it came from someone, and that someone expects to get something in return.
Posted by: Andrew | May 25, 2011 at 02:35 PM
I agree that KUOW's daytime offerings are boring and not worth listening to. It would be nice if they did more, interesting local stuff, but I would take more national stuff over what they do put on.
That being said, KUOW programs what, I assume gets them pledges. I might not like it, but the ratings would say that many people do. More than Rush or most anyone else around. Personally, if I want something in the background, I'll go with KPLU and jazz, but I assume KUOW puts on what gets them ears and dollars.
Still, Mass has no right to complaint. He was brought on to do one thing, he wanted to do another, and the editor/program director/host didn't like it. That's called life. I'm pretty sure any one I've written for would be pissed if I just went off on my own and didn't do what I was asked. Stop complaining. You didn't fit, you are out. Ask Christopher Walken how he liked playing Hans Solo.
The sad thing is just a decade ago, KVI or KTTH would have picked up for something. Hell, in the 90's, he probably have the old Bryan Suits slot. And be more interesting. If Conservatives want to complain about a lack of voices, start with your own house, which has almost entirely killed off local talk.
Posted by: JDB | May 25, 2011 at 03:11 PM
Cliff has no intention of going away quietly, Bla'M. On his blog he says:
"PS: My next blog will include some observations about the nature of local public radio and its relationship with its listeners. I will suggest that there are serious issues well beyond my situation and that the large response reflects some deep-seated concerns of KUOW listeners.
PSS: Some station management of KUOW have started a misinformation campaign, putting information on Facebook and other web sites that are demonstrably false. I will describe this in my next blog. Coverups and misinformation campaigns frequently get people and organizations into worse trouble than the initial mistake. I find it extraordinary that a professional communications organization is doing such a bad job in handling this situation. "
When you see "PSS" you know it is SERIOUS.
Posted by: sparky | May 25, 2011 at 04:23 PM
And this kids is why we don't make a public spectacle out of firing on air talent.
I agree that KUOW seems sloppy in their PR efforts despite being in the business of public communications. Commercial stations have made a high art of controversial changes such as firing on air personalities, reformatting a station and down playing on air gaffes.
KIRO can replace Frank Shiers with John Curley, who has a show named for himself, and then only show up maybe two or three nights a week, and everyone acts like everything is happy and wonderful to the benefit of all.
Then you have KUOW tripping over itself, letting this guy rant for three years before deciding to let him go, and making a public spectacle out of the whole thing, seemingly embarrassing Cliff Mass and causing him to go this nutball rampage.
I've always felt that NPR stations are amature compared to commercial stations because they aren't under the same kind of pressure to perform and improve, and as a result they're all around much less sophisticated, and I think this is a perfect example of that. On the one hand you have Dori driving people too see a cat play a keyboard on his MyNorthwest blog, and then you have KUOW with a stale website that serves as little more than a door stop.
Posted by: Andrew | May 25, 2011 at 05:06 PM
Now he's a public radio programmer.
Quincy started sloughing-off on autopsies to go on crusades. Maybe he has a Dr Astin who will yell at him to get back to work.
Posted by: Coiler | May 25, 2011 at 05:16 PM
Mr. Blather,
Please! Lets keep to the facts. First, I was invited by the Stranger to write that piece..didn't shop it around as you suggest. And your comment "And they sure as shit don't have to put up with a contributor who won't talk about the subject he's there for." is just wrong. I reached an agreement with Steve not to talk about education issues three years ago and NEVER did. I mean never. These segments were all ONLY weather. Don't believe it? The archive segments are there. Calling names like egomaniac, etc, is really pretty rude. But I am glad you agree with my conclusions about KUOW--that station needs some freshening. Perhaps that is one good thing that will come out of this completely silly and unnecessary situation, one in which the listeners are the victims...please, no name calling in your response!...cliff
Posted by: Cliff Mass | May 25, 2011 at 07:12 PM
You want to rant about non weather, Mr. Mass? Then get a blog. Otherwise by next week no one who listens to KUOW will give a shit anymore. You'll be forgotten.
Posted by: paul | May 25, 2011 at 07:24 PM
Education issues can also be regarded as support for more out of state tuition students. C'mon Massy, it's their station, not yours. I like your weather analysis but your ego doesn't know when to stop. Dori and you can have a field day on UW's time.
Posted by: Coiler | May 25, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Oh yeah. Get a decent haircut. You look like a hornets nest.
Posted by: Paul | May 25, 2011 at 08:32 PM
Hey Sparky, I watched Ed apologize over and over and over and I thought maybe he had run over someone with his car like Laura Bush did. And it turned out to be nothing as exciting as that!
And SoundMan, you show as much class as that Ingraham woman. Thats what ya get hanging out with the Fox types.
Posted by: jovita knows who won American Idol! | May 25, 2011 at 08:59 PM
OK I found a podcast of Cliff going waaaay off topic, apparently without prior approval, and Steve Scher even mentioning that it's not a welcome interjection on his part:
http://www.kuow.org/mp3high/mp3/WeekdayB/WeekdayB20110422.mp3
Fireable offense? Most certainly. Did KUOW have to make it an open letter firing? Fuck no.
Posted by: Andrew | May 25, 2011 at 10:43 PM
He speaks the truth - a rare commodity these days with the emotionally charged media. For those who are interested in a different perspective - see Sound Politics.
Posted by: KS | May 25, 2011 at 10:47 PM
Is this "Sound Politics" the blog run by that guy with a lawyer wife who allegedly tips poorly?
Posted by: Andrew | May 25, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Why don't you stay at Sound Politics, KS? You fit in over there. You're outclassed here.
Taking Mass at his word . . . I don't know. I never heard him. But I don't like his activism in the area of math and education. He wants old math back and old math doesn't work for a lot of kids.
Jovita! What did Ed apologize for? I really, really want to know. Por favor . . .
KUOW - best thing on it is syndicated: Tavis Smiley. Love that guy's show. Bet none of you have even heard it.
Posted by: joanie | May 25, 2011 at 11:13 PM
Tavis Smiley, yes, count me as a listener.
Posted by: Zim | May 25, 2011 at 11:18 PM
Where have have you been, Zim? We've needed some good lefties on this blog.
Posted by: joanie | May 25, 2011 at 11:22 PM
Work!!!
Posted by: Zim | May 25, 2011 at 11:27 PM
Joanie, I’ve noticed many likeminded humans at this blog lately. Many, smarter than the average lefty. Very fine indeed.
Posted by: Zim | May 25, 2011 at 11:33 PM
Yes, reading the blog lately has been a pleasure. Finally.
BTW, Zim, you ever listen to Sirota?
Posted by: joanie | May 25, 2011 at 11:39 PM
haYes, poding. I started by your suggestion here.
To bed, rising early…
Posted by: Zim | May 25, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Tavis is a fairly desperate attempt to darken up the lineup. I love that KUOW bumps their beloved BBC on Fridays for Smiley. But objectively, he's unlistenable. Which reminds me Michael :"further entrenchment of the old white guys."
! Really! Who do you THINK listens to NPR? The US Census just reconfirmed what we all know: Seattle is one of the whitest towns in America. Why deny it? KUOW's management and lineup reflects it's community.
And all this kvetching about the weather guy? Seriously, anything about Ed Schulz and his civility?
Posted by: Darksecretplace | May 26, 2011 at 06:24 AM
Seattle is definately not the whitest city in the US. In fact, if you want to find any "white cities" anywhere in the US, you'll have to look out in the sticks. Places like Sammamish.
Tavis sounds pretty black as black programming goes, but I don't for a second believe that actual black people go out of their way to tune into his show which is completely surrounded by very not-black programming.
What I don't like about his show is what I don't like about BET, that it's more about blackness than it is "content of character". Sure, his guests have content to their characters, but it just so happens that 95% of his guests, give or take, are black, or half black, or somehow black. Are we to believe they're there strictly based on their content value?
It is reverse racism. What such a mostly-black show implies is that black people need dedicated venues because traditional venues aren't giving black people equal time. I see no evidence that this is true, and it's most likely a perceived disparity. Tavis has apparently set up a medium in which whites don't get equal time. It's an unproven assertion of unfairness.
What I think is funny is that NPR's white listenership probably puts up with the whole hour of Tavis' black interest programming due to "white guilt", and think they're eating their metaphorical vegetables by hearing him out.
Posted by: Andrew | May 26, 2011 at 06:53 AM
KUOW's not the one who made it an "open firing". Mr. Mass broke the news on his blog.
And what's up with him above saying he NEVER talked about education on his weather feature? His own statements contradict that, as does the sound clip Andrew provided. Does he need a medical checkup?
Posted by: Joe | May 26, 2011 at 08:34 AM
Nahhh, he's a weather guy...
Posted by: Zim | May 26, 2011 at 09:07 AM
KS: By different perspective, you mean lies and propaganda? Heck, people over there still claim that their was election tampering by Democrats in King County, even though that was disproved in court over six years ago.
Posted by: JDB | May 26, 2011 at 02:08 PM
KS: By different perspective, you mean lies and propaganda? Heck, people over there still claim that their was election tampering by Democrats in King County, even though that was disproved in court over six years ago.
Posted by: JDB | May 26, 2011
Yeah, you have been on SP enough to see you've been ridiculed exactly as you project your adversaries to be by Pudge, et.al. A predictable trick of the lib progs - you project well. It's easier to bullshit people over here than at SP.
It is a known fact in the alternative media and even written the Seattle Times that ACORN tampered with the voter registrations in previous elections in King County, even if it wasn't proven by the inept Repuglicans - that info came out later. Why was King County rated one of the 5 most corrupt counties for elections in 2005 ? It wasn't the Diebold machines or the Republicans that elevated them - it was your party, the Dems. So why don't you and the rank and file wear it proud - that you and your union cohorts were successful in swaying the close elections in King County instead of denying it ? The party leaders know it in the bowels of the State DC, but the owness is for the accusers to prove it and it will likely rear its head again. Rules for Radicals by Alinsky can't be wrong.
This is stale stuff, but it won't go away either, even by attempts to rewrite history.
Posted by: KS | May 26, 2011 at 06:47 PM
"Why don't you stay at Sound Politics, KS? You fit in over there. You're outclassed here.'
Posted by: joanie
I have the freedom to blog where I want. I happen to find the stuff on this blog interesting and know that I am being a thorn in your side. You are sitting on your class, Joanie.
Why don't you try Sound Politics once in a while instead of making up stuff about being there or just admit you are akin to their views ? Your actions speak louder than your comments.
Posted by: KS | May 26, 2011 at 07:12 PM
You still believe the made up story about Acorn? Really? Even after Lil' James admitted to heavy editing?
wow!
Posted by: sparky | May 26, 2011 at 07:28 PM
No made up story - sparkles. Nice try - Keep trotting out that obfuscation about O'Keefe from the propagandists at Media matters - it has nothing to do with what happened here in the past long before the ACORN sting - they have been convicted in local courts for illegal voter registration here, so you are making up stuff.
You really should get your head out of the leftist media comfort zone and read the truth for a change.
Posted by: KS | May 26, 2011 at 09:00 PM
if the story was made up, why'd the Democratic controlled congress essentially defund Acorn?
Posted by: Puget Sound Blathers | May 26, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Why don't you try Sound Politics once in a while instead of making up stuff about being there or just admit you are akin to their views ? Your actions speak louder than your comments.
Posted by: KS | May 26, 2011 at 07:12 PM
hey KS
last time Joanie ventured over to SP, Pudge deconstructed her arguments and she had to pull the Seattle Scamper.
Duff had quite a laugh over it.
better for her to stay in the warm shallow waters of Blather. the current at SP is a little too swift for her.
Posted by: Puget Sound Blathers | May 26, 2011 at 09:19 PM
“King County rated one of the 5 most corrupt counties for elections in 2005 ?”
Posted by: KS | May 26, 2011 at 06:47 PMKS, where did you come about this salacious information? What publication is it listed? Or is this a lie?
Posted by: Zim | May 26, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Google it - 2005 either in the Seattle Times or another on-line publication, instead of being an ignorant doofus who doesn't know what they are talking about.
Posted by: KS | May 26, 2011 at 10:20 PM
Rated by whom? Juggs Magazine? The Rossi/Eyeman Center for Politics? The Diebold Foundation?
Posted by: Coiler | May 26, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Anyone have the guts to check out google for voter fraud corruption in King County ? zzzzzzzz- thought so...
Posted by: KS | May 27, 2011 at 07:43 PM
I clicked on the google link and it showed a 2000 picture of John Roberts and John Bolton yelling at Florida election workers trying to count ballots.
Posted by: Coiler | May 27, 2011 at 07:57 PM
yeah, right - tell us another tall tale.
Posted by: KS | May 27, 2011 at 08:07 PM