Society depends on the media, and especially public radio stations, to provide objective, non-partisan, unbiased information.
Unfortunately, a local public radio station, KNKX, decided to become a base for a political opinion and a particular taste of political activism. As a result, the station’s listenership declined, its ability to raise money was impaired, residents of the Puget Sound region were left uninformed, and perhaps most importantly, the station delivered a discriminatory message. racism, division.
To illustrate the situation, check out their website and compare it to another public radio station in the area, KUOW. Here are some of the front pages of websites during the Seattle teachers’ strike, an important issue for Seattle parents.
KUOW leads with strike information:
KNKX skips it to make a story about Manny Ellis’s sister (a minority killed during a police stoppage).
KUOW tells a story about contract voting in Seattle Schools.
More on Manny Ellis of KNKX.
KUOW is about Diaz being chosen as the sheriff of Seattle.
KNKX makes a story about the gay community preparing to fight agaitns Roe v. Wade
I could provide hundreds of other examples. The front page of KNKX is mainly about social justice stories while KUOW tries to cover many of the key issues facing local residents.
As KNKX increasingly becomes a social justice station, it is reducing listenership and ensuring fewer searches on social media. For example, here are the number of GHG questions found using the Google Trends website. Way down.
Over the past three months, GHG has lost about a third of its market share in the region:
And there are management issues also at the GHG.
Be respected Website Navigating Charity gave KNKX (aka Pacific Public Media) an unacceptable score financially, with only 58% contributing to content production while 21% going to fundraising and a similar amount for management.
But the troubles at GNKX are not limited to one-way reporting, politicization, poor use of listener contributions, and reduced online viewership and readership.
Disturbingly, the station was launched based on a racially charged political ideology whose identity is quite disturbing, if not illegal.
It said the station was “is white-centered and serves mostly white audiences, staff, and sponsors”
They are committed to having their audience, sponsors, and staff match the demographics of the 2020 census.
According to the 2020 census, the Puget Sound area is about 73% white, 12% Asian, 6% black, and 7% Asian. So, according to KNKX, they will have to keep their employees about 3/4 empty regardless of the candidate’s interests and talents!
This is racist, and it is wrong. The worst of identity politics. Each person should be judged on their own merits and not on their skin color, ethnicity or other background.
GHG management is stuck in a racist perspective that is more reminiscent of the early 20th century than 2022. That hurts and is wrong. Contrary to the essential principles of our democracy.
KNKX also needs to be open to a diversity of ideas, rather than promoting a monochromatic, “progressive” agenda.
As I know, KNKX management doesn’t tolerate diversity of opinion (like my blog protesting against political smearing got me kicked out of the station). And their partisan coverage often demotes a certain political party (examples below) and their senior news staff tweets are highly partisan.
KNKX is experiencing serious problems and poorly serving the Puget Sound community. Our district does not need a partisan public radio station promoting a certain political opinion, but one that provides multiple views and an electronic public square where every idea is heard. review and discuss.
KNKX has been saving for 5 years to promote diversity of ideas in our region. The station can take on that task again and thrive, or continue down the path of decline as it is today.
