In presenting a change to the public, it's important to couch it in positive terms only, pubcasters say. The adoption of a 4 p.m. start for ATC last week, for example, will mean an hour less of music per day at some stations, says Giovannoni. We think it will add to the service of our station. Howard has a lot more listeners than Bob Edwards does. But that's not what public radio is about.
Public radio has a mission, a set of values.
When people are sore over the loss of a favorite program or host, they'd rather write a nasty letter than have a rational argument, Mitchell says. They don't want to have it explained to them. They just want you to admit you're a jerk and get on with it. No amount of explaining makes a difference. You just have to apologize and thank them for their opinions.