Model the CBC After NPR

Jeffery Dvorkin in the Globe and Mail has a proposal for CBC, that makes the most sense. (read)

U.S. public broadcasting still receives some congressional funding, but at a much lower rate than the CBC gets. U.S. federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting averages less than 11 per cent of a public radio station's operating budget and just 30 per cent for television stations. More than half of the money comes from listeners and viewers, and the rest from donations from foundations and philanthropic organizations.

NPR listeners feel they have a direct stake in the operation precisely because their donations are so important. They are active participants and engaged in how the stations should run and what should be on the air.

The power of U.S. public broadcasting is based in its local context and connection to their communities. Canadians may mock the pledge drives, but they are an accurate, effective and vital contact between the stations and the communities that support them. A few years ago, NPR, working with member stations, decided that the pledge drives needed to be more like the most interesting programs. Redesigned and reinvigorated, the drives have become "must-listen" parts of the public radio offering.

Absolutely. In my opinion, NPR's product is far superior to CBC. I do 99% of my radio listening from online podcasts. I can't find anything on the CBC website, whereas NPR have a variety sites and plenty of programs, with interesting guests.

Let them do pledge drives. If people like the product, they will survive.

No End in Sight for Afghanistan

Today NPR's Fresh Air program interviewed New York Times foreign correspondent Dexter Filkins, on the endless conflict in Afghanistan. (audio here)

Once again, NPR ask well researched questions and respectfully give enough time for the guest to give a concise and lengthy answer. Nothing comes close to this on television.

Dexter Filkins has been on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has written the book: The Forever War

Highlights of the interview include:

- The farce that Pakistan are fighting insurgents inside their own borders. Despite Pakistan being paid $2 billion a year to do this, they do not lift a finger. His own personal observations of this
- Ugly details about how the peace in Iraq was achieved by paying off the insurgents
- That Afghanistan is unwinnable
- That Pakistan is on the verge of being a failed state... with nukes.

Right now, we are living in the moment. These are crazy times. It makes me yearn for the boring old 90's.

No End in Sight in the Iraq War

Yesterday on NPR's Fresh Air program, they interviewed Washington Post special military correspondent Thomas E. Ricks, who has been on the ground in Iraq, almost from the start.

It's a sobering analysis of the situation in Iraq that most people consider stabilized and "won." Far from it. Two main points that raised my eyebrows:

1. He talked about the "surge" and what was behind the success. I thought I'd heard it all but the real reason behind the success was directly paying off Sunni insurgents to join their side. The same guys who were planting roadside bombs and killing US troops were now on the payroll. In a chilling account, he talks of a US marine who asks an ex-insurgent, who was manning a check point, if he'd like to kill him, an American soldier. The Iraqi replies: "Yes, but not right now." I'm shocked that they think bribery is a long term solution. When the money runs out they will turn.

2. There's no way in the world US troops will be able to leave by 2011. No way. Ricks explains that all the problems are merely on hold. If the US makes a move to leave, the bad guys will start up. On top of that he believes the US are obligated to stay, in order to prevent a genocide. If they want to exit, it is going to be extremely ugly.

If you have half an hour, click here to listen.

Quagmire Watch

Originally a NPR reporter, and now a nation builder in Afghanistan, Sarah Chayes gives her assessment of the situation there in this interview for (NPR's) Fresh Air:

Click here to access the half hour broadcast.

She is a well intentioned person and certainly has credibility for being over there in a tough situation. She believes passionately that if only we can pour money in, rebuild and temper the corrupt Karzai government, we can salvage the country. Unfortunately, listening to her makes me think how impossible it is.

Along the way she acknowledges the patience of the Taliban. They tend to withdraw when things get hot, and wait a long time for things to calm down and when people are complacent before striking. She also acknowledges compliance/direction of the Pakistani Intelligence (ISI), and hence military in aiding the Taliban.

Sorry babe, but you didn't sell me on nation building.

NOTE: For radio, you can't beat NPR, even if they are leftist sympathizers. I can see their bias but they do operate subtly, and they have respectful, introspective interviews. So much more appealing than a daily three hour monologue/harangue from Rush Limbaugh, a guy who doesn't even have guests on.