THE EFFECTS OF SEQUESTRATION & THE SPRING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
posted by Laura McKee
Sequestration – an unfortunate word that we all have gotten to know intimately in the past year, and a looming reality that will affect the fiscal health of all public media outlets across the nation, including Arizona Public Media. In fiscal year 2012, AZPM received 12% of its funding in the form of a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Now it is almost certain that an across-the-board cut will reduce AZPM’s CPB grant. Due to the unclear nature of the actual amount that will be cut from the overall budget (projections range from 5.1% to 8.2%), CPB plans on issuing checks in March based on the final reduction.
What does this all mean to our services? It means we need your support this month during AZPM’s Spring Membership Pledge Drive as AZPM works to raise more dollars locally to support program services. March highlights include the premiere of a new My Music program, “A 60’s Pop Flashback: Hullabaloo” on Saturday, March 2nd at 9 p.m., Great Performances: “Andrea Bocelli: Live in Portofino” on Sunday, March 3rd at 8 p.m., “Chris Mann in Concert: A Man for All Seasons,” on Sunday, March 10th at 6:30 p.m., “Aaron Neville: Doo Wop: My True Story” on Tuesday, March 12th at 8 p.m., and “Joe Bonamassa: An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House” on Saturday, March 16th at 8 p.m. AZPM is very fortunate to be one of the few stations in the country to offer the chance to win a Joe Bonamassa autographed Les Paul Special II electric guitar. Tune-in and watch this special on Friday, March 8th at 9 p.m. or Saturday, March 16th at 8 p.m. for your chance to win. “Blenko Glass: Behind the Scenes,” a brand new program airing on March 4th at 8 p.m., takes viewers into the heat and heart of the Blenko glassworks, a renowned family owned and operated artisan glassware company since 1893. Each weeknight don’t forget to watch the new AZ Illustrated news-magazine program at 6:30 p.m. followed by PBS NewsHour at 7 p.m., and on Thursdays we continue to air the popular Doc Martin series at 9 p.m. Tune in and support AZPM so that we may continue to bring you more original, entertaining, and inspirational programs across all our services.
Spring also brings ‘daylight savings time’ for most of the country on March 10th. So that we can continue to provide you with up to date news from Talk of the Nation, please make note that the time change will shift a few of your favorite NPR 89.1FM radio programs. Starting on Monday, March 11th, Talk of the Nation will begin at 11 a.m. and Fresh Air with host Terry Gross will move to 1 p.m. Additionally, the Market Place morning reports will shift from 5:50 and 7:50 a.m. to 6:50 and 8:50 a.m. On Classical 90.5, select Metropolitan Opera Series programs will start an hour earlier. Be sure to check our website for broadcast start times at azpm.org/classical.
On March 31st at Noon, Classical 90.5 will broadcast the From the Top with Christopher O’Riley concert that was taped live here in Tucson in February. It features two local young performers, Augustus Woodrow-Tomizuka and Cameron Williams. Visit here for the full story.
The Tucson Festival of Books comes to the University of Arizona on March 9th and 10th. AZPM is proud to be a part of this event with our focus on popular PBS Kids characters; Buddy from Dinosaur Train, Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog. All three PBS Kids characters will be featured at the 2013 Storybook Character Breakfast and Parade on Saturday starting at 8 a.m. Kids can meet Buddy and Curious George in person at the Science City Bookstore tent, and participate in interactive crafts. Visit here for appearance details.
On behalf of all of us at AZPM, thank you for your viewership, listenership, and continued support.
Jack Gibson
