WBCR-LP 97.7FM, Great Barrington Community Radio

Programming Committee Minutes - March 18, 2008

Programming Committee Meeting

March 18, 2008

In attendance: Nick Ring, Dan White, Frank Tolopko, Ananda Timpane, Judy Rosley

Public: Larry Bronstein, Maggie Welch

Agenda:

1.  House-keeping, 10 min.

  Minutes

3/4/08 Approved with one correction: Item 7, strike tech committee is responsible to clear programmers.쓔 Should read, Ben, Ananda and Nick are currently the only people approved to clear programmers for board operation.

  Agenda

  Tasks:

q   New Listener Comment Line Mailbox (BS) 켖 no update

q   DN! Apology Recording (AMT)  not done

q   Day Captain Meeting (DA) ֖ scheduled 3/25 8pm

q   New Applicant Liaison Job Description (Committee Task) - done

q   Revise Evaluation Form (AMT) - done

q   Revise Guest On Air Orientation Sheet (DA)

q   Press Release Blog email to Programmers (AMT) - done

q   Email requesting feedback from programmers on absentee policy (NR)  not done

2.  Programs/Programmers, 15 min.

ּ  Simons Rock Middle East Forum: Larry will make a intro/outro and Frank will assist him to edit visual reference sections

Ҽ  3/9/08 9:45 S**t: committees initial review found nothing.  AMT will listen to in its entirety before next meeting to confirm these results.  Programmer will be notified.

3.  Music Director Update 5 min.

Coming up: email to programmers announcing role of music director and letting programmers know that there will be a new music section and tracking system soon which will allow us to solicit more music from labels.

Dan has arranged for shelf space for new arrivals with Jeanne and is pursuing TimҒs offer of assistance/advice.

4.  New Programmer Training Update 5 min.

Ananda is communicating with Bob to set up a regular reporting to the committee on training status. 

5.  New Applicant Liaison Update 10 min.

Dan put forth a motion to approve the following New Applicant Liaison Job description.

Seconded by Judy.

  receive all new program applications

׷  respond promptly to each applicant to acknowledge receipt and give a rough timeline of our process

  forward applications promptly to the programming committee and the training coordinator and maintain contact with new applicants along the process

In favor: AMT, DW, NR, JR

Abstain: FT

Approved.

Ananda will meet with Judy to supervise implementation before next meeting.

6.  Program Director Update 5 min.

The Programming Committee page of the website now has a description of דhow we work covering, membership, meeting frequency, and including contact information for our new Music Direction.

Christy will be making the new program application submitable through the website in the next day or so.

Board has developed an incident report form that is now available in the station.  Program Director was asked to communicate with programmers about it existence and purpose and has.

Program Director will be requesting a volunteer hours progress report from volunteer coordinator for April 1st meeting. (Mid point of spring term.)

7.  Peer Review/Self-Evaluation, 30 min. (8/21/07)

NickԒs Review of Fiendish Shallow Brained Rubbish not done

Dan֒s Review of Everything is Everything: feedback: program content/reviewer compatibility should be attended to in matching peer reviewers and programs.

Judys Review of Food for Thought Җ not done

Deborahs Review of Healers Connect Җ not in attendance

Goal is to have a final draft of the self-evaluation by April 1 for inclusion in reapplication form.  Suggested changes:

Add a statement at the beginning explaining how form might be different for music and talk show producers.

Change yes/no to offer a third option.

Review language for talk show/music show relevance In the transition section add: at segment to segment.

Under relevance: address the concern: will peer reviewers know what program goals are?

Under Presentation of Information: delete ֓entertaining to a wide range of listeners redundant and conflicting. Delete ֓fill ins

Add: opinion, disclaimers, contact resource info, evaluation of on air recovery from mistakes, production achievement.

8.  Schedule Update 10 min.

Hear Here is now playing at itԒs new time on Wednesday.

Nick will check that War News Radio is playing on Fridays and look into This Way Out issues.

Across the Borderline is now airing biweekly.

Healthy Connections has started airing.  Nick will check with programmers re: prerecording needs.

9.  Programmer Absentee Policy 10 min.

Discussion about differences between repeated shows and absences.  We are looking for a commitment to program continuity and audience.  Repeating shows can be part of this or detract from this. Decided to collect data on how often programmers repeat shows and why rather than request feedback at this point. There are concerns about repeat absences. In the past we have used the phrase reasonable expectationӔ and our expectation that programmers provide continuity in programming for their audience. Frequent or long term absences with out special arrangement and consideration by the programming committee detract from the quality of our programming and break trust with the listener. AMT will draft motion for new absentee policy and committee discussion at the 4/1 meeting.

10.  BCRA Price Policy Review 20 min.

Recap: It may be in the best interest of the audience to allow price on the air waves and our current policy might not be FCC required.

Discussed need for more info resources than National Federation of Community Broadcasters Legal Handbook.  People will do homework and read handbook in preparation for next meeting.

COMING UP (or perpetually tabled)

11.  Listener Comment Line, (7/17/07)

12.  Review Guest Cheat Sheet Draft, 10 min. (12/18/07)

13.  PSA Rationale, (10/10/07)

14.  Introductory Programmer֒s Guide, (11/29/07)

15.  Israel-Palestine Forum, (7/17/07)

16.  Give-Away Guidance, (12/04/07)

17.  Move: On Air Schedule, 15 min. (12/04/07)

18.  Orientation Plan/Move Week Outline, (1/8/08)

19.  Review BCRA policy on non-profits/guest self-promotion, (1/8/08)

20.  Review policy on programmer responsibility for guest on air conduct, (1/22/08)

→ Posted by LauraD on 03/18/2008 at 07:04 PM. Filed under "minutes".