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Texas Public Radio welcomes your comments. You may reach us by e-mail at , or by regular mail at Letters, Texas Public Radio, 8401 Datapoint Drive, Suite 800, San Antonio, TX 78229. We reserve the right to edit your comments for brevity. If you prefer to remain anonymous, please indicate this in your letter. (Note: TPR comments appear in Bold Italic). Do the ends justify any means to attain them? I am accustomed to hearing a diverse range of viewpoints expressed on your programs, and this is often why I like to listen, especially when the issues are controversial. However, on Sunday morning, 22 August 2010, I heard a story on Latino USA* that went beyond a reasonable limit. The story opened with a description of three people walking into a building in Washington DC in 1954, unfurling a Puerto Rican Flag, and opening fire on the occupants, resulting in eight people being wounded. Rather than condemning this reprehensible criminal act, it was glorified by the commentator as implicitly acceptable in the quest for Puerto Rican independence. The story went on to emphasize the demand by one of the perpetrators for dignity. Well, what kind of dignity can be expected by someone who has shown so little respect for other human beings? In failing to acknowledge the egregious nature of the crusaders’ greedy demand for immediate recognition, the commentator clearly communicated the idea that it was all right to violate other peoples’ rights in order to advance you own agenda. This kind of “reporting” is inexcusable, and the credibility of this commentator is now nil, if not negative. I’m very disappointed that NPR would be a party to the propagation of such jingo journalism, and it will be very difficult for me to justify providing any further support to an organization which condones this kind of broadcast. Jerry O’Connor [*The story referenced aired on NPR's All Things Considered on August 22, 2010.] Weather Announcements KSTX 89.1 I am writing with great appreciation for the tone and simplicity of the weather announcements. Almost every word appears to be said with a smile. How refreshing! Thank you, KPAC Announcing Style Hello, A very minor point, but I am wondering when it was decided to drop the terms 'major' and 'minor' when announcing the key signature as part of a work title. Within the last 24 hours I have heard three works described as follows:
Please drop this affectation and announce key signatures accurately. R E Oppenheim Dear Mr. Oppenheim, I agree, the "minor" is a small, yet important part of identifying music on-air and in print. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, and we'll remember to include said information when appropriate. Best wishes, Broadcast Conflicts I live in Kingsville, TX and work in Corpus Christi. Although we have a public radio station here (KEDT), they have typically about 6 or more hours of prime time a day of News and other talk radio. Often I listen to them, but sometimes I prefer to listen to classical music during the hours they broadcast news or other programs, so I have frequently tuned to 88.3FM and can hear you about 1/3 to 1/4 of the time. I found a coverage map for you on the web, and it says you should be heard only til Pleasanton! Since I travel from Corpus to San Antonio frequently, I can tell you that I have received your station reliably on my car radio til somewhere between George West and Mathis. I hope you will ask whoever makes these maps to update your actual coverage, so another conflict will not happen. Two weeks ago, the FTC gave a license to KIFR to broadcast in Alice, TX, and their signal is completely overriding yours!! I'm rather unhappy. It couldn't be in a worse location for me. Their coverage map says downtown Corpus should be a fringe area, but it sounds very loud and local to me. As soon as I find out where to send it, I intend to write a letter asking the FTC to move KIFR another frequency at the earliest possible time. You really have provided a service that is not otherwise available in South Texas. Jeri Morey Dear Jeri, Texas Music The all Texas Music Radio this Sunday was magnificent! It featured music you don’t hear anywhere else! Terry Allen, music about levelland, and all the rest I really enjoyed it so much. Please do it again!!! Joy Chittim Tonight's News Bumpers "Time for five o'clock news!" I said with a smile. Not expecting much cheer, I gave a small sigh. Punching the button a little too late, Then out of my speakers came a great shock! Were my wandering ears being truly faulted? Has TPR been sold to some top forty station? Is this the forerunner of things to come? Tonight's sleep will be broken as I try to ponder - What's lies ahead in the wild blue yonder? Much of your support base you've chosen to vex. Joseph Brook Mr. Obama vs. President Obama I listen to TPR every day. My 11-year-old son also likes to listen to TPR as I drive him to school in the morning. I can't think of a better compliment to the quality of your programming than to illuminate the fact that an 11-year-old kid constantly and voluntarily turns the radio dial from his favorite rock music station to TPR. I wish I could capture his attention like that when it's time for him to do his chores. There is one thing I'd like to mention about your programming. During Governor Bill Clinton's initial presidential campaign, he constantly referred to then President George Bush as "Mr. Bush." During one of his campaign stops, someone from the audience asked him why he did not give the President the common courtesy of referring to him as "President Bush." Time and time again, I've heard reporters and hosts on TPR refer to President Obama as "Mr. Obama." If someone has earned a title such as Doctor, Captain, or even Congressman, that title is endeared into their formal name. I myself am constantly introduced as Major Solis more times than just Mr. Solis. Our President deserves the respect due for attaining the highest, most difficult, and most challenging post in the world. I humbly request that TPR refer to our honored President as "President Obama" in all your programming vehicles. It's quite simply the proper journalistic protocol. My eleven year old son is an Air Force Brat and very patriotic. He was the one that first brought it up to me and I have been sensitive to it ever since. An avid listener... Martin Solis Dear Major Solis, Thank you for writing, and good for you that you and your son enjoy public radio together! We are very happy to hear that. It is quite common in the New York Times, and on NPR, for the first reference to the President in a news story to be "President Obama" with each subsequent reference listed as "Mr. Obama." The AP Stylebook advises news media to use "President [_______]" with the first reference, and only the last name on subsequent references. For a full explanation of NPR/TPR's policy, which has been in place since the 1970s, please see this column from NPR's Ombudsman page: http://www.npr.org/ombudsman/2009/12/why_do_you_call_him_mr_obama.html Best wishes, Not Happy About On-Air Acknowledgement Dear TPR, Dear Mr. Barner, Thanks for writing to us with your concern. I brought your letter to the attention of our underwriting department, and also to our General Manager, Dan Skinner. I also thought for a long time about this myself, since I’m a parent, too. You are correct that business support is an essential part of the fundraising model, not only for Texas Public Radio, but for public radio stations across the nation. Gabriel’s Liquor is a legitimate business, and one that fits in with the NPR audience profile, as listeners to public radio are more likely than the general populace to make wine or beer purchases. We do not feel there is anything morally offensive about that line of business, which is why you may also hear underwriting messages from wineries or other businesses related to alcohol from time to time. Along those lines, you need not worry about adult video, or strip clubs, etc. on Texas Public Radio. We choose not to solicit support from them for professional reasons, and I suspect we’ve had no inquiries from them because they feel the NPR audience is not within their target demographic. Fair enough. But as a parent, I can understand your concern about exposing your children to beer, wine, or liquor. I myself have had conversations with my young children about this subject. Most recently, seeing people drinking beer at Fiesta—even family-friendly events—brought up the question again. Rather than dismissing the drinkers or trying to change the subject, I explained (in kid terms) the effects alcohol has on people, and what happens when you drink too much. I’ll start there, and I’m sure it will be a continuous learning process for them (and me) over our lives. Yours truly, Monsanto I have heard a lot this past week about your fund drive. I have also heard Monsanto as contributor to Market Place. I would be a 180 member but I refuse to fund a corporation with business with them. Two of my collegues in the same group are 180 members. If Market Place is on your airwaves, I will not support you. Eric Hendrick MD Dear Mr. Hendrick, Most news organiztions, including Marketplace, have a strict "no communication" firewall between the newsroom and the underwriting department. I believe Marketplace's journalistic ethics to be sound. However, we are sensitive to the concerns of listeners. Marketplace is actively seeking feedback about the issue you have raised. Please follow this link for more information: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/04/16/comment-underwriter-acknowledgment/ I apologize for the brevity of this response, as I am writing on my mobile device, but I felt it important to respond to you promptly. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Mr Cone, 1. I am very impressed that this message made it to you, as I hear you almost every day. 2. I am more impressed that you responded so promptly. Thank you for your concerns of your listeners! Eric Hendrick MD Whole Foods giving 5% of Day's Sales to Texas Public Radio To Pledge Drive Staff, It was disappointing that I did not hear one shout out for Whole Foods during your Pledge Drive on Wed. 14, the one day benefit for TPR. As a member of TPR I read about it in Keynotes. Went there and did a good amount of shopping including wines as an additional way of helping TPR as well as getting some unique shopping for natural foods. When I came home I called TPR, asked if I was talking to a person involved in the Pledge Drive, and suggested to her that it would be a good idea to mention this during your pledge drive. I gave several reasons, saying it would be an additional way to help TPR to get money after listeners had pledged and it would make a business sponsor such as Whole Foods feel good about TPR as increased sales would be attributed to TPR listeners. It might even encourage other businesses to pledge Business Memberships with TPR, knowing that they would get timely mention of their participation. I never heard one word about the Whole Foods benefit for Texas Public Radio. I find that very narrow vision, because I doubt very many listeners knew about this one day event. Sincerely, Dear Ms. Hawkinson, Uncessary Comments Your continued and completely unnecessary derogatory comments about commercial radio stations during your pledge drives is not only demeaning, but should be beneath your integrity as a meaningful member of our community. Yesterday (Friday) for example, I heard one of your announcers state in no uncertain terms that commercial radio stations' content is influenced by advertisers. In another case, an announcer stated flatly that in-depth stories heard on Texas Public Radio would never be heard on commercial radio stations. There was not a single word of empirical or anecdotal evidence to back up these specious claims. Just because these announcers make such statements does not necessarily make them true. It is quite proper and necessary for your station to make an appeal for financial assistance from listeners; it is quite another story to try to demean legitimate competitors with such potentially untrue statements. It is not sufficient for your announcers to very infrequently make some bland statement such as, "We don't have any complaints against commercial radio stations", etc. Please stick to fund-raising and steer clear of such self-serving, and in the case of the two above examples, unprovable statements. Lynn Dear Lynn, Eagle Release - Please Credit the Rehabilitation Organization! This morning I heard a story about the eagle release that was taken nearly verbatim from a portion of a story in the SA Express News. You did not even mention the organization that rehabilitated and released the eagle, and that's shameful. It was not an anonymous organization that provided veterinary care, food, housing, flight retraining, etc. for that eagle over a period of months. Please put Last Chance Forever back into that story when you run it next this morning. I'm frankly shocked. I don't think NPR or any affiliate would ever drop the ACLU from a story about how Constance McMillan won the right to go to her prom with her lesbian partner. Why would you feel free to erase LCF from the story of this eagle? Sincerely, I was listening to the morning news and I was pleased to hear you covering the eagle release story. However, your only mention of the San Antonio connection was "a bird conservancy in San Antonio." Having read the Express News story version I know that that organization was Last Chance Forever, the Bird of Prey Conservancy. I also know that Last Chance Forever has been doing this work in San Antonio for the last 30 years. Right now, all non-profits are hurting but non-profits which take care of animals and wildlife, as a group, only get a tiny fraction of the overall charitable dollar in a good year. Giving them the mention they are due could have helped bring them the resources they need to rehabilitate and release the next eagle they receive. I would like to hear TPR do a story on Last Chance Forever as one of those organizations in San Antonio that is doing good work and has been quietly doing good work for 3 decades. Robert Schmid Dear Ms. Orrell and Mr. Schmid, Our source for the story in question was an Associated Press wire story, which did not name Last Chance Forever as the bird conservancy in question. However, that is no excuse for not going the extra length to search the Internet for that information, especially since it was identified as a San Antonio-based organization in the story. We could have then cited the Internet source after finding said identification. Our apologies for the oversight. Nathan Cone The Moth Radio Hour I accidentally heard on 89.1 in San Antonio, last night 25 Mar at around 7:30 p.m. this Moth broadcast.I absolutely LOVED it!!! Please tell me when the next broadcast sessions are scheduled to air. Thank you, Dear Ms. Gamez, Thanks for responding so quickly......is there a way to listen to the shows that have already aired? Thank you, You bet. Here's a link to their podcast page: Nathan Jobless Rate Story Dear TPR, I listened to your announcer David Martin Davies' story Friday morning about the jobless rate in Texas and was amazed that there was no mention of the situation in San Antonio. His announcement reported on the jobless rate in Amarillo and McAllen (who cares?) but didn't say a word about San Antonio. No problem though; I got that information from two other radio stations and the San Antonio Express News, so I guess it was available to everyone. Lynn in San Antonio Dear Lynn, Stay at Home Dads Thank you, TPR, for the story about stay at home dads! Nothing warms my heart like a dedicated father, and I felt myself melting hearing these men interact with their children. My fiancé and I are considering the future and he has been out of work for a while. I will recommend he listen to this story because it is the most compelling argument that stay at home dads are a stigma no more. Thank you thank you thank you for this great story! Janee’ News segment on Debra Medina I would like to express my extreme discontent with your coverage of the latest news blitz on Debra Medina regarding her Glenn Beck interview. Two days ago during the NPR news, the local news commentary said that Debra Medina had basically taken herself out of the governor's race with her comments during the Beck interview. I am sorely disappointed with your biased comments on this story. Ending the segment were comments by the governor and Hutchinson condemning Medina's statements. You might as well as run this whole new story as a campaign ad for the two of them. I will be getting my news from now on from the internet, which seems to be the only source of truth in today's media. NPR and TPR have just joined the ranks of the corrupt media in my mind and I will not be renewing my membership next year with your station. Angela Malek Dear Ms. Malek, Thanks from Sheffield,England Greetings, Sincerely, Texas Matters Comment I look forward to and enjoy Texas Matters on Saturday mornings. I always find it to be insightful and informative.But, I was disappointed enough with today's program to send this email. Barbara Ann Radnofsky was referrred to the "Democrat candidate Barbara Ann Radnofsky" instead of the correct adjective form "Democratic" candidate. I am disappointed with NPR using this GOP code word to show disrespect to any candidate. Thanks, Dear Mr. Vollmer, Greetings to John Kilgarriff from Ireland Hi, Can you please pass on our regards and love to John Kilgarriff our brother from his family in Ireland. We love and miss you lots. Keep up The show is great and we are very proud listening in live right now so play us a little request and we'll talk to you later on. Love you loads and miss you even more. Happy New Year to you and all at the station and to all your listeners. Love, TPR Going Into "Faith Based" on Sunday Morning Greetings Good TPR Folks, I have been a long time supporter of TPR, McClain Circle. However, this year I 've decided to give to individual shows because I am sincerely disgusted by the Sunday morning "faith" show. Trust me, up and down the dial I can find plenty of that garbage if I wanted to hear it. I don't. The last place I expected to hear a program on faith was TPR. I just can't get my mind wrapped around the fact that some one in your programming department thought that was a good idea. Yuck! Sincerely, Dear Ms. Glynn, Hi Nathan, I appreciate your response. I would argue that many Americans would say that faith is believing what you know isn't true. I am one of those people. I guess I can appreciate what you all are trying to do, but it doesn't do anything for those of us who are not the least bit interested in any kind of faith. There, in that word alone, is my biggest problem. I don't care if "Speaking of Faith" has what you call thinkers or believers in other than Judeo-Chrisitan faith. It is my opinion that religions of every kind have darkened our morals and ethics throughout history, and the last thing I wanted to hear when I turned on TPR was someone espousing how faith does such great things for humanity. I don't believe it, and I am saddened that the program is on my favorite radio station in all of the U.S. I am sure there are many other positive shows that could take the place of "Speaking of Faith" that speak to humanity and our human dilemmas. That being said, I again want to thank you for your response. Sincerely, Charity Navigator Score I have been a supporter for many years. I have recently started
using Charity Navigator to decide where I will send my yearly donations.
I want to be a member of TPR and have sent a check to you in the mail. I
would, however, like to see my public radio station have high standards
and be considered as worthy of the 4 stars as the Chicago Public Radio.
Can you please explain why your rating is low? I also notice the CEO
salary is 3.94% of expenses and that is high compared to all the other
charities that I donate to. Thanks. Thank you for being such a long-time supporter of Texas Public Radio. Charity Navigator uses a formula for its "stars" that heavily advantages larger organizations and those that are "growing." They use two primary ratings -- Organizational Efficiency, and Organizational Capacity. We rank very high on Organizational Efficiency; in fact, higher than most other public radio stations. They calculate Organizational Capacity based on whether or not the organization has grown in revenue or expense, regardless of whether or not the expense has outstripped the revenue growth. So, you could be ranked highly and be in the red. Even in the face of the country's recent economic challenges, Texas Public Radio continues its record of operating in the black and did not have to lay off staff, unlike Chicago Public Radio, NPR, and other larger market radio stations. We are very frugal in our operations, including purchasing items used on eBay, as well as using bulk mail and email effectively to communicate and save costs on postage. As an organization, we work to operate within our means and have not chosen to expand during the past few years, instead focusing on organizational efficiency. As a result, we are ranked low on Organizational Capacity simply because we haven't grown substantially. In regards to the compensation of our Executive Director -- this is also due in large part to the smaller size of Texas Public Radio's budget. If we compensated our ED the same percentage as Chicago Public Radio, he would receive $25,677 per year. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you might have. Thanks again for your support, Laverne Pitts Director of Development Texas Public Radio Public Radio on the Border Hi, I am a member of TPR and have really enjoyed the programming I received in San Antonio on FM 89.1, but, I have moved to McAllen and can't seem to find any TPR, NPR or anything on Public Radio. I have a Dear Mr. Davies, Object to Unethical Treatment of Member Records Early in the week, I pulled off the road on my way to work so that I could call in my pledge. One of the commentators was telling listeners how secure their membership information was, "We do not sell lists, etc." On Friday, I pulled off the road to call in a concern about two comments regarding member records that I had just heard on KTXI. One was a marketing piece by Mr. Ira Glass whose commentary on membership had been amusing and clever throughout the week-long drive. However, on Friday he made jest of looking up someone's giving record, obviously an easy thing to do according to his scenario he was presenting. I might have dismissed his funny commentary, except the local commentator followed it with her own take on the situation. She said that she could look up her friend's giving info...and so folks she knew should beware. Actually, neither of these comments was appropriate. If we are to see Texas Public Radio as a trustworthy source of news and an equally trustworthy source of information about our individual and personal giving, then this kind of joke is no laughing matter. As a professional Development Director who regards donors pledges as confidential, I am distressed at TPR's casual attitude. You owe your listeners an explanation, an apology, and an assurance that neither staff nor anyone else accesses members giving records "to check up" on whether or not they support the station. If you want to find humor in giving, don't make fun of unethical breaches of confidentiality. For shame! Kate Roos Dear Ms. Roos, I agree with you, it was inappropriate for the person you heard on air to suggest that she would snoop on her friends by looking up their giving information in our member database. Mr. Glass’s pledge skits are put together with the participant’s permission; in our case, that was not made clear. Texas Public Radio makes every effort to protect its donor information. Only the TPR membership department and senior management staff (of which the on-air voice you heard was one) have access to member records, and personal information such as credit card numbers are password-protected so that only those in our membership department entering said data have access to it. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.\ Sincerely, STOP KSTX LIES! It makes me crazy with anger as I listen to your fund-raisers say "we do not have commercials," or "we can give you sixty minutes of programming per hour because we are non-profit." Nonsense! Dear Mr. Meshanko, Your concern is something that I am particularly sensitive to, as I agree that aside from the programming itself, one of the important ways public radio distinguishes itself from commercial stations is the way we identify program sponsors. Commercials have a distinctive sound, featuring inducements to "come on down," extravagant claims, or promises of the lowest prices in town. Public radio stations are allowed by the Federal Communications Commission to identify corporate or business sponsors on air through underwriting announcements, so long as those announcements do not include pricing information, calls to action, inducements to buy or sell, or comparative or qualitative language. Here at Texas Public Radio, we carefully monitor the copy that runs on our stations to ensure that it not only fits within these guidelines, but that it also plain sounds good. We're more conservative in our use of underwriting language than many other stations in the public radio system, and we've actually shortened the length of most of our underwriting messages, too. Furthermore, we are actively seeking out more sponsorships from fellow non-profit organizations to further their exposure to the public. I recognize that these sponsorship messages may be non-essential programming, but hearing them on the air also means there is strong support for the programming you enjoy on KSTX. The more diversified our support base, the better. Thank you for your support of KSTX. Best wishes, Green Water Bottle To someone that can help me, I received the wonderful green water bottle for my membership contribution. I love that water bottle. Just the other day I was volunteering at an event to help raise money for a local charter school (Kipp Aspire Academy) and somewhere I lost my wonderful green water bottle or someone has stolen it, because of how fantastic this green water bottle truly is. I am lost without my precious green water bottle. I am so very sad and missing it desperately and I don’t know what I will do if I cannot get another glorious green water bottle to fill with cold ice water every day!!
Dehydrated and thirsty, Dear Ms. Janson, Need Help for Program Information Hi, Dear Nancy, Feedback on Story Regarding "Tejano" Settlers in Texas To Whom It May Concern: Dear Mr. Tatsch, Health Care Reform KSTX 89.1 FM / KPAC 88.3 FM / KTXI 90.1 FM (Texas Public Radio) (NPR): The President today is meeting with the "select few" physicians as part of his push for socialized medicine. Reform, not revolution, in health care is needed. Mandates, rationing, the public option, and profound tax increases will not suffice. Patient oriented reform is a necessity. Government oriented reform is a disaster. Sincerely, AccessAbility Fest As a blind member of the community, I am uncomfortable every time I hear announcements about "Accessibility Fest." The word "Fest" suggests a festival; something to celebrate. For people with disabilities, equal access to places, information, and services is a right, not something we should be expected to celebrate or show gratitude for. Liz, In response to your discomfort with the word "Fest", let me explain the rationale behind creating the event and choosing the name. "AccessAbility Fest" is designed to create a free, festive, family event that offers an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to learn more about the organizations that provide services. In this environment, we have pulled together a number of activities that can keep family members entertained while vital service information is being collected. By gathering this all together in one very accessible place, we hope to provide an unfulfilled service to the community. If we have offended you, I am sorry.
Ritmos del Mundo Saludos, I live in Philadelphia and my public radio station is WHYY. Can you give me an idea of how it might be possible to listen to the show Ritmos del Mundo from here, on my computer, or whatever idea you may have short of moving to Texas :-). Muchísimas gracias, M. Jager Dear Ms. Jager, Playlist Query I was listening to 90.1 FM on my car radio at 7 PM on Friday 28 August 2009. Exploring Music with Bill McLaughlin. Please tell me the title and composer of the first selection played that evening. My recollection is that it was a “sonatina” by an Italian composer, somebody Clementi. This was music for young adults and the selection I’m interested in was played by a Korean pianist. Please tell me the name of the selection, Name of composer I’d like to buy this CD, but I need your help. Thanks very much for the music you play, and for the NPR talk shows. Beverly Smith Dear Ms. Smith, Texas Matters Segment 3 of this weeks program by Jessica Gonzalez was wrong and misleading. She had a PUC guest explaining that private utilities had lowered rates since last year while municipal utilities had raised rates.
Sincerely, Signal Change? I have been a contributor for years and a happy listener. But the listening is getting more and more difficult. I live between Floresville and Pleasanton and the signal has been good for most of the time. Sometimes early in the morning static would take over, but that lasted for minutes only. But now for more than a month I have problems receiving 89.1 in 3 locations in my house. I had to move the antennae around (it is on the floor) in order to receive a signal in the 4th room. How come 88.3 comes in? The station that interferes seems to be a religious station and the interference is not the same static as before. This one is even more annoying, almost painful to hear. I have not changed location of radios so what has happened to the signal that used to come in without any problems. Can you help? Silke Kretzschmar Dear Silke, Hello Ms. Kretzschmar, Wellpoint's Discussion on Profits Dear TPR, Jesse Owens & Luz Long This morning you had commentary from a gentleman who claimed that the Owens/Long story was fictional because he supposedly obtained the answer from Mr. Owens himself. How could you even air such a ridiculous claim with no evidence what so ever to substantiate it? Jesse Owens has reportedly never said such a thing and there is no evidence to the contrary. Jesse had family then and has family still around to day if you wanted to inquire whether he has ever told them the story wasn’t true. Without even querying the family, you allow this first class jerk to spout his ridiculous nonsense on your airwaves. TPR you now need to follow-up and allow Jesse’s family the same amount of time to comment on this!!! Cedrick Dear Cedrick, Survey I just completed the survey that TPR emailed. I want to call attention to the question that asked about mp3 players. I think the question stopped short of what you may have wanted to ask. While I don't listen to much music on the mp3 player (the survey question addressed the percentage of music listened to on the radio vs mp3 player), I DO listen to podcasts which include radio shows that are available for download on Itunes . In fact, I use my mp3 player almost exclusively for podcasts which I listen to when I drive or exercise. The availability of quality programs for the mp3 player is very important to me. Thank you for the good work you do. Nancy Nowak Post Office Closings KSTX did its listeners an inexcusable disservice Tuesday when it broadcasted a story by your announcer David Martin Davies concerning the possible closing of ten San Antonio Post Office branches, but failed to list a single one that might be shuttered. Not only did your story not list the ten stations in question, it also failed to even refer listeners to a web site where the information could be obtained. And you broadcasted the story ad nauseam without the most important information. Several radio and TV stations in San Antonio either listed the names and locations of the stations in questions or referred their listeners or viewers to a location on the Internet where the list could be retrieved. You would have been better off not broadcasting the story at all since the most important part of the story was omitted. Stevie Merritt Dear Mr. Merritt, Although there was a list of potential San Antonio post office closings, our source on that story, Mr. Sam Bolen of the USPS, would not confirm which stations would be closed. We felt it best to report what we knew rather than broadcast information that could not be confirmed. Mr. Bolen did say the USPS is planning a public process that will include neighborhood meetings to help them determine which if any locations will be closed in San Antonio. We'll follow up on this story as events progress. Thank you for your feedback. Sincerely, Had you taken the trouble, as other legitimate journalists did, you would have simply gone to the Postal Regulatory Commission (www.prc.gov), the agency that released the information about potential closings and posted every potential closing in the United States, and your broadcaster (let's not call him a journalist) would have quickly confirmed what your Mr. Bolen either did not or could not. Apparently, Mr. Bolen is not exactly one of the taller limbs on the USPS or PRC tree. And notice my correspondence to you in no way referred to Post Offices that WILL be closed. I was very careful to use the words "possible" and "might be". So to use the phrase "would be closed" and say that you could not confirm the potential closings is simply incorrect and your lame attempt to justify the unjustifiable is sadly lacking. No problem however; the overwhelming majority of other news outlets in San Antonio provided all of us with the information we needed. Stevie Dear Mr. Merritt, Related Links: Reception Yesterday I listened to KSTX yesterday during the last half-hour of "The World" and the first half-hour of "ATC."
Nothing unusual about that, right? D. Matthews Weather Reports Dear TPR: Evenings I listen to KSTX until 10 or 11 pm. Periodically throughout the evening canned weather reports are played that are usually hours and hours and hours old. They aren't useful or helpful, and are most often not accurate, and therefore annoying. Would you consider revising your ideas about weather forecasts and just look out the window and get an outside thermometer, then report on the reading from that? Best regards, Dear Ms. Hager, Thanks for writing with your concern, and for bringing this to my attention. We will strive to keep our recorded weather announcements as accurate as possible. Currently, they are voiced by KPAC staff members in the evening, but I have a lead on a unique radio service that may be able to provide even more up-to-the-minute information on KSTX. Best wishes, Too Much Singing In considering the additional contribution you request, I want to express my displeasure with your programming instead. I normally start to listen to your station after 8:00 p.m. week days. Each time I turn it on I make a bet that instead of a symphonic selection I will get choral or operatic music. Last evening (June 18) that is what I found at 8:30, I turned it off, I turned it back on around 9:45 p.m. and it was the same. I would make a guess that it is that way about 50% of the time. That is way too much! Since you are the only classical station I think I have the right to complain. Otherwise I would listen to a different station than yours. Maynard Burstein Service Reception I live in Gonzales, love Public radio but get variable quality of reception. This morning (as all mornings) I can listen to Morning Edition but the sound keeps fading. My radio is fine, I have an inside antenna so why does the sound keep coming and going. I have driven along I10 and can occasionally get KSTX as far away as Schulenburg. Am I at the edges of your listening area, is there anything I can do to get consistent service? Love KSTX and miss it a great deal since moving from San Antonio. Thank you. Carol Bond Dear Carol, Our signal pattern covers all of Bexar County and most of the immediate surrounding counties. Gonzales is on the fringes of our listening area, though in my car, I too can receive KSTX as far as Schulenburg on a good day as I drive east on I-10. Most of the time the signal breaks up between Luling and Flatonia. Because KSTX is at its maximum allowable signal power, the only other suggestion I have at this time for receiving our signal would be to tune in on your computer at home: http://www.tpr.org/audio/listen.html. Sincerely, Internment of Germans and Italians in the Western Hemisphere The entire American public and the world must know and should know that the first ten amendments are not an absolute guarantee and most likely never were intended to be. As I remember correctly, the Federalists only agreed to place the Bill of Rights into the constitution in order to placate the Anti-federalists with the motive of ratifying that document. Please, please, please tell your story now. Millions will listen, learn, and understand completely what really went on for the 'domestic front' during WWII as well as know that the Monroe Doctrine was still being used as late as that time to take away the properties and livelihoods of citizens not only here in American but also abroad. My eyes are really opened now. Thank you. Gina Kessee TPR's David Martin Davies produced a feature on the subject in January 2009. Click here to view. Schedule of TPR "Projects" As a member of TPR, I helped out at a lot of community projects and saw a lot of kids helping also. I'm looking for something for my son and I to volunteer/assist/work- at in the community. Do you have any projects coming up that a mom & her 6 y/o can help? Thanks, Sandy, Thank you for both your help in our past community projects and your willingness to assist again. The only volunteer project that we have slated so far this year is our annual local city park xeriscape initiative that will take place on National Public Lands Day, September 26th. The specific park has not yet been selected but should be confirmed by mid June at the latest. We'll run on-air promotional announcements beginning on September 7 to recruit volunteers, so if you'd like to participate, just call in and sign up. I do have another thought. Our long-time Volunteer Coordinator, Toni Murgo, is retiring at the end of May. Her replacement, Elisa Gonzales, will be actively recruiting new volunteers starting in June. I'm not quite sure what projects would be appropriate for a 6-year-old but Elisa may have some ideas. With your permission, I'll forward your e-mail address to her so she can contact you. We had an eight year old ask his mom if he could be a member of TPR, too, this pledge drive. So, it's never too early to introduce them to the benefits of being involved with their public radio station! Regards, Janet Grojean This American Life I was listening to the San Antonio station 89.1 on my way home (to the nearly NPR-less) Rio Grande Valley last night (May 6 Wednesday) and heard your broadcast of This American Life which I thoroughly enjoyed. Is there a way I can listen to it again, i.e., on the web? Our local mom and pop and diocese NPR station (KMBH) would never play anything like that. I missed part of the program; it faded as I traveled southward. Thanks. Bill Rubink Dear Mr. Rubnik, First of all, thanks for listening to us here in San Antonio! You can hear that episode of "This American Life" again online at the "This American Life" website, and you can even download it for free. It's episode #379, "Return to the Scene of the Crime." I should also note that you can access us online at www.tpr.org, and through the public radio iPhone application, for those that have such a device. Best wishes, Nathan Cone Daily Program Schedule I can not find the usual daily programs of music. I would appreciate any help you can give me as to where I might find this information. Thank you, Dear Mr. Blackwell, We had to remove our advance program listings for KPAC from the website due to new regulations from the Copyright Royalty Board. In short, if a station is streaming its signal on the Internet, then it is not allowed to publish advance listings of what's being played. We're working on a way to publish listings after the fact. And in the future, we hope to publish listings for selections as they are being heard, i.e. "What's Playing Now." Thanks for writing, and thank you for listening to KPAC. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Texas Matters Program #442 Having listened to program 442 concerning the border, I now feel that it did not present a balanced picture. The most recent issue of the Texas Observer has an ariticle about the border situation. Having just read it, my advice is that you do a follow-up program on the border situation, and that you interview some of the people who are quoted in the Texas Observer article. Thank you. Radio Broadcast of Pre-Tea Party in SA I have supported NPR and local stations in the past. I considered financial local support for KSTX but after yesterdays local San Antonio reporters "report" of the upcoming San Antonio Tea Party I will not support KSTX or NPR. Labeling popular Fox TV host Glenn Beck, who was to have a live show from the Alamo Plaza, as a provatour was too much. Then he capped off with a interview with the George Soros supported Media Mattters spokesman spewing some BS was icing on the cake. I can't stomach this one-sided liberal pap you are airing. I can certainly not financially support it. Bob Wickley Dear Mr. Wickley, Thank you for writing us about our recent coverage on the Tax Day Tea Party held in Alamo Plaza. We took care in our story to represent both sides of the debate over the Tea Party organizers' intentions. Media Matters president Eric Burns made his claims about Republican involvement, but as we pointed out in the story, the San Antonio Tea Party organizers said their event was non-partisan, and that politicians that asked to speak were turned away from the event. You can find a transcript of our story here: http://www.tpr.org/news/2009/04/news0904151.html Thanks for listening to KSTX 89.1 FM. Sincerely, Nathan Cone Germans Interned in Texas during WWII article It was a very informative article. Many people and uaware of this sad chapter in US history. Hopefully the Wartime Treatment Study Act will become law and a apology will be issued to those Germans interned and their families I'm personally involved in this issue being that I've emailed both my senators and congressperson demanding that this bill become law! Thanks once again for an enlightening article.:-) Sincerley, Fred Martinez Exploring Music What has happened to this program? Will it no longer be part of your programming? Michael Bradley Dear Mr. Bradley, Thank you for your response, which sounds like a typical corporate answer. I'm guessing you had to drop Exploring Music because of budget concerns. I can understand that. Just don't tell me it was because it did not fit with your midday mix, which to me has no real rhyme or reason. Which to me is a good thing, because I want to be surprised by not knowing what is coming next. However, if you drop opera on Saturday you will drop me. Michael Bradley "Exploring Music" continues to air at 7 p.m. weeknights on KTXI 90.1 FM in the Hill Country. Family Listening in Ireland to Eamonn Grant - KPAC Classical Oasis Eilish, Gary and Siobhan listening in Ireland – remembering the good times on Eamonn’s last trip home to Ireland! Gary Mills Advertising Dear KPAC Management, My husband and I moved to San Antonio in 1990 and have been steady supporters of KPAC throughout the past 19 years as McClain Circle members almost the entire time. We have noticed a very distasteful and disingenuous trend in the acknowledgement of donors to the station. I don’t see any difference between several of the acknowledgements of corporate donors that I’ve heard and actual advertisements. We find them annoying and not in keeping with what KPAC states their policy to be. We think if this trend continues you will lose the trust and the patience of those of us who enjoy the absence of advertising that has been a claim and a trademark of KPAC and Texas Public Radio. We suggest that someone monitor the length and content of every one of the corporate donor acknowledgements very carefully. Sincerely, Robert & Bettie Sue Masters Dear Dr. Masters, Texas Matters #446 Dear Texas Matters, Thank you for taking the idea of secession and the issue of current violations to the 10th ammendment to the US Constitution seriously by including Larry Kilgore on your show. This homeschooling, Baylor University educated, Volvo driving Mom was encouraged to hear this topic on NPR. With listening ears, Kari Vanhoozer Texas Public Radio's weekly news magazine, "Texas Matters," aired a story on March 13, 2009 about Larry Kilgore seeking the Republican nomination for the Governor of Texas. His main issue is seeking the complete independence of Texas and the establishment of Biblical law in the newly re-minted Republic of Texas. Listen to the interview conducted by Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies. Future Rail Saturday, February 21, 2009 This country could have, and should have developed dependable rail decades ago. The government focused its attention on oil, gas, and highways. Now all we have is over crowded airports and highways. San Antonio's transit system is the same way, inefficient and out of touch with the people who depend on this system as their main, and many times only source of transportation. VIA is run by people who have two things in mind, egos and profit. J. McGillivary Texas Public Radio's weekly news magazine, "Texas Matters," aired a story on February 20, 2009 about a high speed rail project in Texas that is expected to take some existing farm land. David Martin Davies interviewed Richard Cortese, a farmer and a Bell County commissioner. Listen to the interview. Traffic Reports Tuesday, February 17, 2009 I have always been underwhelmed by your traffic reports – they were always a bit too ‘chatty’ for me, but the 5:20 PM report on Feb 17th was so abysmal, that it has convinced me to stop supporting local public radio. In response to the closure of 1604 due to a truck/bridge collision, the report consisted of “Traffic is bad. Drive safely.” No other information was provided, despite the road having been closed at approximately 4 PM. I spent two hours on my normal 45-50 minute commute. I had options to avoid the congestion if I knew what the problem was, how far it extended, and where to exit 1604 and seek an alternate route. You’ve just lost a three-year supporter. If you want to improve traffic reports, I recommend the following: Be more clear and follow a standard reporting format. For example, state generic location (Northside, Westside, etc) state which road has the problem and in which direction (1604 westbound or I-10 inbound) state where the problem is (between Babcock and I-10) then state the problem and its effect. Ad libbing, or changing the order of the report may sound appealing to the news reader but it doesn’t help your listeners. Be predictable in the reporting sequence, for example, in Germany, the traffic reports follow a specific numbering scheme based upon the number of the Autobahn. You could go clockwise and end in the city center: NE, SE, SW, NW, center. Also, include ALL the traffic problems even if this increases your report incrementally, not just the top two or three. I have sat in stalled traffic for 30 minutes and only heard about problems in other areas. I was left wondering, “Is there an accident? How far does the congestion extend? Should I exit the highway? Is the accident on the right side or the left side? Is this just a longer than normal slowdown and I just need to be patient?” Your current traffic reporting is NOT serving your listeners. If you’re not going to do it right, then eliminate it altogether. Joe Yakubik Dear Mr. Yakubik, Thank You For Lincoln's Portrait Friday, February 6, 2009 Dear KPAC: I listened to Aaron Copland's Lincoln's Portrait and was gushing with feeling and inspiration. Thank you so much. Gordon Leith Include the Arts in National Economic Recovery Efforts Friday, February 6, 2009 Dear KSTX 89.1 FM / KPAC 88.3 FM / KTXI 90.1 FM (Texas Public Radio) (NPR): A many may know the current recession has had a significant impact on the economy and the Arts Community has by no means been excluded. Monies once available for the purchase and funding of arts has gone the way of many jobs. Artist once able to support themselves through their talent are just as out of work as those who have been laid off. It is unfortunate that many in Congress see art funding as benefiting only the rich and well to do. Their blind eye to the ones actually creating art and their desperate position in the economy can only be regarded as the same ignorance that helped usher in this present state of affairs. If only they spent more time in thinking about their constituents and less time about repositioning themselves for photo ops and their next election and partisan politics, perhaps something might get done to really help the American people. It sad to say that if artist were only bankers perhaps they too would be sitting on top of 350 billion dollars rather than hoping and praying that $50 million for the Arts would not be on the chopping block with so many ready and willing to raise their axe. Sincerely, Plea for Objectivity Wednesday, February 4, 2009 I listened again this morning to the experts chosen by Dianne Rehm to excuse the Obama Administration for attempting to appoint tax evaders to the President's cabinet. I, like millions of other citizens, had high hopes for this administration, but I will not let my naive optimism hide the fact that we are just getting more of the same low class behavior that we came to expect from both the Bush and Clinton regimes. Please give us more objectivity in your programing. The tax payers of this country need it. In my opinion Ms. Rhem has never demonstrated this ability. D. C. Darby Programming Complaint Monday, February 2, 2009 Can you just IMAGINE, the din, the howling, the screaming, the complaining and the protesting if Texas Public Radio decided to take the music (mostly crappy) now being foisted on the listeners to "News and Views" station 89.1 FM, and foist it all instead on the listeners of 88.3 FM? Its all music, right? Would music not more appropriately be featured on a "music" station? Give me a break! I want to hear ideas; news; views. Stick your crappy music "where the sun don't shine." Stop scatteing the 89.1 format all over the immediate universe. Bob Meshanko P.S. And why in hell is nothing happening at Texas Public Radio on an interactive listener call-in show? Question Thursday, January 22, 2009 A few weeks ago, KPAC played a piece titled “Daybreak at Mesa Verde” by the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Is the music available on CD? Thank you. Paul Hill Dear Mr. Hill, The piece you heard was part of the larger "Wilderness Suite" by Broadway composer Richard Adler. As near as I can tell, it's never been issued on compact disc. Our recording was digitized from an old LP. Sometimes folks will be selling an old LP from RCA Records on Amazon.com. You may be able to find it there. I looked on iTunes to see if it was available in digital form, and it's not there. You are not the first person to inquire about this beautiful piece of music. Perhaps someday RCA/Universal Music will re-issue the suite on compact disc, or at least online as a digital download. Sincerely, Internment Camp Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Great story! Good job, Mr. Davies. I teach at Palo Alto College, here in San Antonio. About 10 years ago, a couple of students of mine did a research project on Crystal City. That is how I learned of the internment camp there. Now your story sheds new light on it. VERY interesting story. Good interview! Question: How long will TPR leave the web page on this story active? I want to link your story to the Crystal City web page produced by my two students. Thanks, sir. Good job. Rob Hines Morning Edition piece on the Smithsonian Black History Museum Wednesday, January 14, 2009 This was a well presented piece and the new (soon to be) custodian of that museum was articulate as to the need for the museum. However, my thought, as the piece continued, was, "When is there going to be a Smithsonian Museum of Native American History that presents the history of how the white man treated the Native Americans?" Blacks were chained together and brought to the US and, I have to say, that was an atrocity. I also have to ask, does that really compare to the attempts by white men to exterminate the Native Americans by giving them blankets gathered from small pox and measles patients in hospitals? (And, yes, they did know that the blankets would spread the disease . . . why else would the hospitals have been burning the blankets that weren't given to the Native Americans?) Respectfully, Story on Civilian Internment Camps in Texas Wednesday, January 14, 2009 TPR, Having just returned to Central TX (and home) in starting a new job in San Antonio, I quickly found TPR (KSTX) on my radio at work, as I have always listened to my local NPR station in the morning. As a lifelong military historian, I especially enjoyed the January 14 story by David Martin Davies on civilian internment camps in WWII Texas. I thought I was well-informed about the overall WWII U.S. internment camp system managed and maintained by the U.S. Government, but this story taught me a great deal. Historically speaking, it is fairly well known that many Axis prisoners were interned throughout the U.S. during the war in P.O.W. camps, including many in Texas. And, the tragic plight of the Japanese-Americans being forced into civilian internment camps is also well known in U.S. history. But, as Mr. Davies’ story has illustrated, the Japanese-Americans were by no means alone in their unjust tribulations during the war. I had known that German-Americans were scrutinized by the Government during the War, but I had no knowledge that many were forcibly imprisoned for years, much less in Texas. This story was able to relate a virtually unknown chapter of this terrible travesty of justice (in the U.S. wrongly imprisoning its own citizens) conducted by the U.S. Government during WWII, and is long, long overdue. The story of Mr. Eberhard Fuhr and his family needs to told and heard by all Americans, as this Nation must understand and know its diverse past and history, both glorious and sordid alike. Thank you, and outstanding commendation to Mr. Davies, for revealing this virtually unknown story of WWII history in America, in relating the stories of the other American ethnic groups that were cruelly removed from society and imprisoned for no just or logical reason. Like the sufferings of the American Nisei, and of the European Jews, in WWII, history must also recognize that many other ethnic populations, such as the German-American and Italian-American, also suffered unnecessarily and unjustly. As such, we must ardently remember and preserve this history, in part, to demand that we must never re-visit, nor repeat, this horrific travesty of humanity. With Respect, Pipedreams Saturday, January 10, 2009 KPAC: Pipedreams is expanding this new year to two hours. Which are you doing? (1) Dropping the program. I hope that you carry the entire two hours. Please indicate not just to me, but everyone, your choice. Glenn Pape Dear Mr. Pape, KPAC is electing to broadcast the hour-long version of Pipedreams. Sincerely, iPhone NPR Stream Thursday, January 1, 2009 Just read the Keynotes newsletter and saw that there was a new iPhone application to stream Texas Public Radio. I downloaded it immediately. I've been waiting for something like this to come along. This is great!!!! Allegra Castro  |
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