Alive and Kicking in 2009

Some thoughts about the coming year.

In 2009, radio will be declared dead again, but it's not.

2009 will be tough but don't buy into the fear mongering around public radio. People who believe public radio is dying don't really understand the medium. It is changing, but it's not dying.

The economy goes up and down. Markets and Missions change. Institutions and organizations adapt. It's always been that way, even for public radio.

Interactive is overrated but that's where foundation and federal grants are going, so public radio will follow the money even if it's not the most prudent use of time and resources... and even if it hurts the core radio service.

The push to interactive media ignores radio's greatest benefit... that you can listen while doing other things.

That's why the majority of listeners won't use interactive offerings from their public media entity. They want to push a button and be informed or entertained while doing other things. That will not change in 2009 and it won't be any different in 2019.