Society relies on the media, and notably public radio stations, to offer goal, non-partisan, unbiased data.
Sadly, an area public radio station, KNKX, has determined to change into an outlet for one political viewpoint and a specific taste of political activism. Because of this, its listenership has declined, its capability to boost cash weakened, the residents of the Puget Sound area have been poorly knowledgeable, and maybe most severe of all, a racialist, divisive message has been pushed by the station.
As an instance the scenario, take a look at their web site and evaluate it to a different public radio station within the area, KUOW. Under are a couple of entrance pages of the web sites throughout the Seattle instructor’s strike, a vital difficulty for Seattle mother and father
KUOW leads with strike data:
KNKX ignores it to do a narrative concerning the sister of Manny Ellis (a minority particular person killed throughout a police cease).
KUOW does a narrative concerning the contract vote in Seattle Colleges.
Extra on Manny Ellis by KNKX.
KUOW does a narrative about Diaz picked as Seattle’s police chief.
KNKX does a narrative concerning the homosexual group making ready to combat agaitns Roe v. Wade
I might present 100 different examples. The KNKX entrance web page is dominated by social justice tales whereas KUOW tries to cowl lots of the key points dealing with native residents.
As KNKX turns into more and more a social justice advocacy station, it’s shedding listeners and securing far fewer searches on social media. For instance, right here is the variety of inquiries about KNKX discovered by utilizing the Google Traits web site. Approach down.
Over the past three months, KNKX has misplaced a few third of its regional market share:
And there are administration points as effectively at KNKX.
The well-respected Charity Navigator web site has given KNKX (a.ok.a Pacific Public Media) an unacceptable rating for funds, with solely 58% of contributions going to provide content material whereas 21% heads to fundraising and the same quantity to administration.
However the troubles at KNKX do not finish with one-sided, politicized reporting, poor use of listeners’ contributions, and declining viewership and on-line readership.
Disturbingly, the station is taken on a racialized, identification political ideology that’s fairly disturbing, if not unlawful.
It states the station has been “white-centered and have catered to principally white audiences, workers, and donors”
They decide to having their viewers, donors, and workers match the demographics of the 2020 census.
Based on the 2020 census, the Puget Sound area is roughly 73% white, 12% Asian, 6% black, and seven% Asian. So based on KNKX, they should preserve their workers about 3/4 white regardless of the pursuits and abilities of their candidates!
That is racism, and it’s fallacious. The worst of identification politics. Every particular person must be judged on their very own deserves and never the colour of their pores and skin or their ethnic or different background.
KNKX administration is caught in a racialist view that’s extra harking back to the early twentieth century than 2022. It’s hurtful and fallacious. Contradictory to the important ideas of our democracy.
KNKX additionally must be open to a range of concepts, relatively than selling a monochromatic, “progressive” agenda.
As I realized, KNKX administration is illiberal of range of viewpoint (like my weblog that opposed defunding politics that acquired me kicked off the station). And their partisan protection typically downgrades a sure political occasion (instance under) and the tweets of their senior information workers are extremely partisan.
KNKX is in deep trouble and poorly serving the Puget Sound group. Our area doesn’t want a partisan public radio station that promotes a sure political viewpoint, however a station that gives all kinds of viewpoints and an digital public sq. the place all concepts are thought of and mentioned.
KNKX was saved 5 years to advertise range of concepts in our area. The station might tackle that process once more and flourish, or proceed the trail of decline it’s on right this moment.
