Who killed Black Broadcasting News
Staff Writer
2007-09-04
.bugnews.bloggieblog.com .
As we listen to the radio or tv on a day to day , we noticed next to nothing information being provide about community events or announcement of the various ethnic populations. For example, if we look at the city of District of Columbia, you will noticed the major black owned radio station only has 1 news person on staff for local news and events such as Radio One. If we look at two others radio stations in that area, WHUR only has 3 and WPGC only has 1. Whur is run by Howard University and WPGC is run by CBS.
While WPGC has 1 on staff news reporter as well as Radio One list of stations, WHUR is only doing a little better with 3 on staff persons. If we turn back the clock, you recall in the District of Columbia there may have been as many as 23 news person spread between the local black stations at that time and most of those stations were not own by African American owners. This information is based of a recent article in blackcommentator.com.
If this is the case about the numbers on staff and ownership, it is safe to say ownership has nothing to do with one looking out for all interest of a particular community. The only thing that matters is the bottom line. As some of the stations conducted research, their findings say listeners don’t want news. Although the research data has not presented the age group, the data presented information that listeners were only interested in parties and club events.
In conclusion , although the largest African American owned radio outlet is valued at 2 billion, a news department for most local stations with a good staff would only cost 200k a year. It appears the only news black people want is played on most am talk stations , public radio, and slated in at odd hours doing the day or weekends when it comes to FM station. One major element has been forgot as broadcasters say no news is good news. The community news helps keep people informed of various events that help aid a community at large.