Public health considerations and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to be at the forefront of daily life. Among those effects, the last few weeks have been incredibly tough for journalists and nonprofits alike, 漏 2024 外网天堂 included.
The station is dealing with the difficulties of being dependent on members, even as they face serious anxiety as well as real or potential losses in income. 漏 2024 外网天堂 continues to cover the news while minimizing in-person contact. That is not easy.
On Friday鈥檚 St. Louis on the Air, Sarah Fenske spoke with 漏 2024 外网天堂 General Manager Tim Eby. They talked about precautions the station is taking the decision to cancel the annual Talk Toast Taste fundraiser gala () and why the station鈥檚 spring member campaign was canceled.
Eby said interrupting programs with extended pledge drive breaks didn鈥檛 feel right at this time, especially when people 鈥渁re seeking information about all that鈥檚 going on in the world, from the health care issues of the virus to the economic impact of all this.鈥�
鈥淪o, we are doing some short messaging, reminding people about the importance of supporting 漏 2024 外网天堂, and folks will be hearing those throughout the course of the next week or so,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e feel like it鈥檚 important to remind people how important member support is to keep this station going, but beyond that, we won鈥檛 be interrupting the programs as we normally do with our pledge drives.鈥�
Eby said the decision to not conduct a traditional pledge drive will be a hit to the station鈥檚 budget, as support from individuals and foundations is upwards of 60% to 65% of the total budget.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge chunk. Then you add in the corporate sponsorship 鈥� the underwriting messages that people hear 鈥� that鈥檚 another 25% to 30%, and we鈥檙e taking a hit there, too,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 large part of those businesses 鈥� many of them nonprofits that support us 鈥� they promote their events on our air using the underwriting announcements. And events are not happening.鈥�
While the loss in underwriting revenue is also a hit, Eby said the station is understanding.
鈥淲e are not alone. Everyone is taking a hit,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all in this together.鈥�
In the midst of all the challenges and interruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, Eby said the newsroom鈥檚 work on the station鈥檚 blog, , was a point of pride.
鈥淭he live blog that we have on our website has been something that people have turned to,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have had more people visit our website in just the first 20 days of March, so to speak, than we鈥檝e ever had in our history. People are responding because they are hungry for information, and particularly information they can trust.鈥�
He adds, 鈥淲e just created a that people can go to and talk about ideas about how they are managing this situation with their kids 鈥� and have that communication because part of this whole issue with staying at home, for everyone, is that we don鈥檛 have that communication back and forth. We鈥檙e trying to be that convener in a virtual way, so people can have those conversations to help one another through this ordeal."
Hear Sarah Fenske鈥檚 interview with Tim Eby:
Eby encourages people to visit to stay informed and to of any amount to power 漏 2024 外网天堂鈥檚 service at this critical time.
鈥�鈥� brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by and produced by , , , and Joshua Phelps. The engineer is , and production assistance is provided by Charlie McDonald.
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