Comment from Kate Grannemann
Time: June 1, 2010, 9:31 pm

Pittsburgh is richer than most cities, even larger ones, in having three public radio stations – WQED, WYEP, and WDUQ. Together the three stations cover a wide range of music and informational needs for the people of our community. I say it’s vital for DUQ to remain a public radio station – especially since it’s the one station of the three that includes extensive NPR news coverage – and in fact I favor its current format of news and jazz. Maybe more news and less jazz would work well, but I would want jazz to continue in some form, jazz being so important in our city’s musical history, and a vital form of music today. I don’t have an answer, though, for how to make this all work.

Comment from Stanley Nevola
Time: June 2, 2010, 8:29 am

this is my second response and I am willing to do what is necessary to preserve DUQ but I do nto know what else to do. Please guide thos of us who are willing to help both financially and politically.
thanks
Stan

Comment from Cody Keim
Time: June 2, 2010, 2:23 pm

To whom this may concern: DUQ was one of my favorite parts of living in Pittsburgh. It adds to the wonderful character of the city. The jazz roots are strong there and DUQ helps keep them alive. As an alumni of Duquesne University, GM Scott Hanley provided my college radio practicum. DUQ is an asset not just to students at the University but to the overall cultural well-being and heritage of the greater Pittsburgh area. I urge you to find some alternative to the sale of the station and/or a format change. Thank you, Cody Keim, B.A.
Duquesne University, Class of 2001

Comment from Pamela E. Berger
Time: June 2, 2010, 4:12 pm

I have prepared a lengthy comment, which I will send to the foundations involved by U.S. mail. Briefly, Pittsburgh has a world-class jazz scene, including radio and venues. WDUQ is the unifying force. The combination of NPR and jazz enhances my life in Pittsburgh. Presenting Pittsburgh to the world in the context of its jazz history and jazz scene is a source of richness and prestige. I was truly shocked at both the university’s demand for an unconscionable amount of money to sell the license to PPM and at the foundations’ misguided, destuctive approach to the sale. I can no longer view either the university or the foundations as truly serving the community.

Comment from Rob Jones
Time: June 2, 2010, 7:23 pm

I didn’t own any of WAMO, never sent them a penny, they didn’t ask me for money, so its no surprise that the owners didn’t ask my opinion before they sold it. I respect greatly what the Davenport family accomplished through Sheridan Broadcasting. I respect their right to have sold it, and I’m grateful it was here for nearly my entire life.

On the other hand, I am and have been a DUQ supporter for many years, and I’ve sent them cold cash annually and monthly. But the listenership — the people that supported this “public radio” station — were not being asked what should be done…until this blog.

Seeing a public dialog brewing is gratifying, but hopefully its not already too late to be meaningful.

The cruel irony is that during the DUQ daily fund drives we’ve all heard the pleading mantra, “This is YOUR radio station.” Perhaps DUQ (and all public radio) should alter that a bit for future fund drives, as it apparently is not quite the case that contributing represents possession in any meaningful sense.

One of Pittsburgh’s historic radio stations that featured African American music culture is now gone forever. One down, one to go, it seems. The greatest irony is to have a local landscape sporting a new and shining icon of diversity in the August Wilson Center while at the same time facing the possibility of our local airwaves being almost totally devoid of that same aspect of diversity.

Without our DUQ Jazz Station in Pittsburgh, a broadcasting landmark of historic import, we lose a showcase outlet for many of our community’s musical artists and performers, local and national, past and present. We lose something that many visitors have termed ‘a rare and unique gem of a station.’ We lose something that is irreplaceable…even by satellite.

My bet is that should DUQ be lost to the very public that has supported and maintained its existence through the decades, the loss will strain the credibility of all “public radio” in this region, taint the concept of “listener support” as a driver for programming, and rent the fabric of trust in those who own a frequency and manage “public radio” programming. Those who have loyally supported DUQ precisely because of what it was, because of its unique programming, will no doubt think twice before opening up their wallets to tune of, “This is YOUR radio station.”

It is wonderful that Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Public Radio, and American Public Radio have all concluded that the presence of a news-and-information public station in Pittsburgh would strengthen DUQ. That is great news for the frequency. It is also the case that a predominantly news-and-information format would weaken jazz, and perhaps not just locally. DUQ’s current programming is treasured beyond Pittsburgh, especially in that it eminates from a historic city in the development and global spread of jazz.

Thus it seems there are really two issues, 1) what to do with the station/frequency, and 2) what to do with the current programming. Can they be separated? How can we allow for strengthening the frequency with news-and-information, while also saving the best jazz programming in the nation? Are there any takers for the historic DUQ programming? I, for one, would follow it where ever it landed…and would still send cold cash to support it.

Comment from anonymous
Time: June 3, 2010, 10:49 am

take a cue from wyep and work with local venues and musicians to bring in music that people want to hear — i’m sure there’s a jazz audience out there somewhere. Become more of a social enterprise than relying on foundations for support.

personally, i’d miss the jazz on the station – but i listen to the news the most.

Comment from Charles and Angela Hardwick
Time: June 3, 2010, 11:04 am

Angela and I would like to add our names to the folks who wish to have DUQ remain as it is. The format is excellent now. The loss of the jazz portion would be akin to denying that Pittsburgh ever had the wonderful jazz artists who went on to famous careers and gave this city the great reputation it has. We couldn’t imagine not being able to tune in to Bob in the morning and/or Tony at night for some respite from all the negative news about a very volatile world we live in today. There is plenty of news out there now 24/7.We don’t need any more. Let us know what we can do to help keep this station as it is now!

Comment from Peter King
Time: June 3, 2010, 12:05 pm

Dear Mr.Oliphant,

What seems like “bold, proactive philanthropy” to you and Maxwell King (as he wrote in a PG op-ed)
seems to thousands of fans of WDUQ’s jazz/news mix like over-reaching.
For decades, DUQ’s listeners have voted for the jazz/news mix with their dollars or simply by keeping their radio tuned to 90.5.
We feel a deep bond with the station’s present format. You’ll forgive me if I admit that resentment is the natural reaction to the “transformative” proposals of a few elites who see a need for radical change at the station.
Mr. Oliphant, where is the groundswell for the changes you, Mr. King, Jeannie Pearlman, Charlie Humphrey and others are proposing?
To witness a groundswell, take a look at the record-breaking amount of money DUQ has raised during a year of deep recession.
Your proposal reminds me of urban planners whose vision of the future blinds them to the virtues of the old, established neighborhoods they seek to tear down. They may be well-meaning, but their solutions are often worse than the perceived problem. Here the analogy ends, because there is no real problem with the current DUQ format. (Room for improvement, surely, but nothing fundamentally wrong). The mix of news and jazz informs the community and also reflects the unique cultural character of Pittsburgh, its heritage and its future.
In other words, a few bars of Ahmad Jamal’s “Pittsburgh” can speak louder than a thousand civic-minded words.
One final comment (for now): You said in the Post-Gazette that it was too early in the process to tell if there would be public hearings on this issue. In the interest of fairness, I urge you to agree to well-publicized meetings held comfortably in advance of any done deals.
Thank you for taking the time to read and think about this e-mail.

Sincerely,
Peter King

Comment from ErinK
Time: June 3, 2010, 1:27 pm

Frankly, I hate WDUQ’s jazz programming. It all sounds like elevator music to me.

It’s not that I hate jazz, I’ve heard jazz I love, but the stuff that gets played on WDUQ is all so “easy listening” oriented it’s nauseating.

I do support DUQ, but I would be a more enthusiastic DUQ supporter if they had better music programming. There have been times when I wanted to respond to a pledge drive but didn’t get to it until after 9 a.m. and decided not to pledge during the jazz hours. For years I didn’t pledge just because I disliked 80% of their programming (which is to say, all the jazz).

I love the news programming and couldn’t live without it. I even like Music From India!

I always figured they were just filling in with jazz because it was less expensive than buying more news programs. So, I’m okay with that.

I understand the arguments from fans for keeping the jazz format – and I certainly would not want to do away with something that’s apparently a rare font of African American culture – but can’t we get some better jazz too?

Comment from James Zalenka
Time: June 3, 2010, 2:19 pm

When I first moved to Pittsburgh in 1986, I searched the dial for a jazz radio station. I found 90.5 and have been an avid listener and supporter ever since. Pittsburgh has auch a great history of jazz music from Billy Strayhorn, Billy Eckstine, Errol Garner, Art Blakey, Stanley Turrentine and Lena Horne, to name a few. All of these people, including the current crop of musicians that play locally, inspire a spirit and vibe that would be lacking in our city without WDUQ. It even inspired me to become a jazz singer at age 50! The jazz/NPR format is a great asset to the Pittsburgh community and we all hope and pray you can find a way to continue this great station and tradition.

Comment from The Pittsburgh Foundation
Time: June 3, 2010, 2:50 pm

It is worth remembering that, when the foundations stepped in with funds to keep DUQ from being sold for 60 days, it was after the group representing the station’s current management, Pittsburgh Public Media, had already submitted two bids for the station, both of which had been rejected without discussion. Duquesne University officials apparently found neither offer to be sufficient or credible, or one assumes they would have entered into negotiations with PPM. The real danger at the time of our action was that the station might be sold to a sectarian broadcaster before the community had the chance to put a viable offer on the table — and, quite frankly, that is still the danger today. Trying to turn the foundations into the enemy here is more than a little bizarre. Yes, if we are being asked to put money into saving DUQ, we’re entitled to a point of view as to why we might do that, and we would be fools not to consider alternative models from around the country. Those models very clearly suggest that public stations with more NPR programming and more news-and-information content can significantly outperform DUQ ‘s current format in numbers of listeners and financial support. However, it is precisely because of jazz’s special place in Pittsburgh, and the strong support listeners here show for it, that we opened up this question on this blog. Personally, for my part, the more I hear from jazz’s passionate supporters, the more convinced I become that there must be a happy medium here, where DUQ’s national and local news offerings are augmented and its jazz programming is strengthened. But the critical question for all of us is where the financial support for that format—or any other — will come from. Absent a strong community proposal with significant resources behind it, DUQ may very well face one of three undesirable futures: (1) It could be sold to a party with no interest in continuing any aspect of its current public mission; (2) It could be bought by a well-meaning but under-capitalized buyer that incurs more debt and operating liabilities than it can financially sustain; or (3) It could just be allowed to languish in place and suffer from uncertainty for months or years to come, a state that not even its excellent staff could likely tolerate for long. By all means, let’s engage in a robust discussion about what we would like to see in DUQ’s format; but let’s first see if there’s a way for us to come together on saving something even more fundamental: DUQ’s future as a public radio station.

- Grant Oliphant

Comment from Becky Stern
Time: June 3, 2010, 5:38 pm

A move away from the Jazz format would be a step backwards for Pittsburgh. If anything I would support a strengthening of jazz programming. I would love to hear more variety in the jazz programming. More Latin Jazz. Shows that featured discographies of specific artists so we could learn about the progression of their music. More support of live performances in the Pittsburgh area. More world music. There is so much more music to be heard.

Comment from Bob Lee
Time: June 3, 2010, 10:33 pm

DUQ is what introduced me to the Jazz scene in Pittsburgh and I would miss it if we lost it. As a long time contributor to DUQ, I look forward to Tony Mowod and Bob Studebaker as voices that welcome me back home.

The Jazz scene that is supported by DUQ’s format adds a lot to the market in Pittsburgh for those who are looking to raise funds. From Sojourn House, Gilda’s Club, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Big Brothers of America and more that I haven’t attended, Jazz musicians I’ve heard about from DUQ DJ’s contribute more than just heart and soul to the neighborhood.

Generous and connected to those things that touch the soul of Pittsburgh the people of DUQ are what make the format so great.

I have faith that if the public know what it will take to keep it a public radio station and a Jazz beacon to Western PA and Eastern Ohio and they the people of Pittsburgh will deliver.

Comment from Tania Grubbs
Time: June 4, 2010, 7:34 am

Pittsburgh is unique in so many ways. Our rolling hills, rivers, skyline etc…but what makes me most proud about living in the city is the dedication to the arts. Our family relocated here from South Florida a little more than 14 years ago. It was the Symphony who laid the foundation for calling Pittsburgh our new home. We are so honored to be a part of the culture that makes the world take note of our region. One of the first memories that I have when driving into the area was “Jazz” on WDUQ. We were so thrilled and shocked to find a Public radio station that featured Jazz! Each and everyday I listen to WDUQ, Bob in the morning, Tony at night and everything in between. Another unique quality that I have discovered about living in the Pittsburgh region is keeping things true and dedication to it’s history. WDUQ is a major part of Pittsburgh History! It would be sad to see that go away. Both my husband and I are musicians, and WDUQ has helped us in countless way to inform the public about our up coming gigs, we are truly thankful for the support and it is now time for us to give that support back, in anyway that we can help. Let’s save DUQ!

Comment from The Pittsburgh Foundation
Time: June 4, 2010, 8:23 am

Media coverage

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 4, 2010

Sale of WDUQ generates buzz

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10155/1062991-67.stm

Comment from Carla Leininger
Time: June 4, 2010, 10:38 am

I’m writing in support of WDUQ and their NPR and jazz programming.
As a Brazilian Pittsburgh resident and a producer of the Brazilian Radio Hour on WRCT 88.3 FM, I’ve found DUQ to be extremely supportive of Brazilian music through their jazz programming. During the G20, DUQ was the only station to feature the Brazilian events and premier of the song written in honor of the G20 occasion. The station is in tune with the community, and not just the jazz community. The station is among the few to feature songs in different languages and that shows how they embrace the city’s diverse population groups.
On behalf of the Brazilian Community, Arrepia, Brasil!, I stand behind the station and offer my support.

Thank you,

Carla Leininger

Comment from Dwight Bobson
Time: June 4, 2010, 11:58 am

WDUQ is a NCE, i.e. a non-commercial educational license controlled by the federal government (FCC). Community organizations or non-profit educational institutions are allowed to apply for and accept a trustee role over the license with a promise to serve the needs and interests of the community, in this case, Pittsburgh and its environs. The public owns the airwaves. Duquesne U. is the current Trustee. If the license is “sold” to a new trustee, it must remain a NCE license and cannot be operated on a commercial basis. So this community needs to decide if they have or can initiate an organization that would take on the trustee role. Natural interests would likely be found in one or a combination of the existing public media organizations. They have the interests and support of those who hold public media to be an important part of our community media services. They have the management and operational knowledge to maximize the range of public media services that could be available to our region. They also know how to leverage the technological changes that are making the multitude of distribution channels more accessible, affordable and portable, whether those channels be through satellites, multi-channel HD, internet devices, cell phone applications, installation in new cars, etc. If properly (efficiently) managed there can be more services available and more time for each. We need to look at the possibilities, not the limitations of what now exists.

Comment from The Pittsburgh Foundation
Time: June 4, 2010, 2:27 pm

Tim Stevens graciously agreed to let us post his letter to the editor in this space:

Letter to the Editor

“Support for DUQ 90.5 FM”

It has been most troubling to me as an annual contributor, and to the many avid fans of WDUQ Radio (DUQ 90.5 FM), that this great station may be leaving the airways, at least in its present form. I listen to this station literally every morning, and usually at various times throughout the day. The blend of news and jazz has had tremendous appeal to me, and apparently to close to about 270,000 other fans of this media gem. I really can’t imagine not hearing the melodic voices of Tony Mowod and Bob Studebaker, as well the other excellent hosts such as Helen Wigger, bringing this community the sounds of this nation’s original art form, jazz! This station has played more music by Pittsburgh artists than probably all of the other Pittsburgh stations COMBINED , something that I, as Pittsburgh jazz vocalist and writer highly appreciate. Their on-air personalities promote area jazz at a level no other station can claim, including the weekly Pittsburgh Jazz Society performances and those at the Backstage Bar and other venues. This support is extremely important not only to the art form itself, but also to the financial welfare of area clubs and restaurants and to the performing artists, both national and local, as well. DUQ has been our key media sponsor for the Black Political Empowerment Project’s annual major jazz fundraiser, “B-EPEP Jazz”, and is the most listened to radio station within the African American Community in the Tri-State Area. In addition DUQ 90.5 FM is simply a quality station with award winning coverage of local issues and award winning special segments telling the story of Pittsburgh’s amazing jazz legacy, mixed with first rate national tellers of the news through NPR and great shows such as “Car Talk” and “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me”. The full DUQ story is available through http://www.pittsburghpublicmedia.org. Pittsburgh Public Media wants to keep DUQ alive and well as we know it. I only hope that the area foundation community has the wisdom to support that effort with a strong and passionate commitment to the mix of “news, jazz and NPR”!

Tim Stevens, Jazz Vocalist, Pittsburgh Jazz Society Board Member, Chairman of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP)
6393 Stanton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Comment from Mary Barr
Time: June 5, 2010, 11:15 am

I do appreciate the efforts of the foundations to keep WDUQ a public station. Of course the first and most essential thing is to keep the broadcast license from being sold to a commercial or sectarian entity. And I enthusiastically support their idea of enhancing local journalism and providing a forum for discussing vital local issues like education and shale oil drilling.

But, it is really hard to express how much the jazz programming at WDUQ adds to the quality of life of my family. Losing our local jazz station would be a great loss. And this recent discussion has made me more aware of how WDUQ’s support of the local jazz scene acts as a positive force in our community, connecting people in so many ways.

Why can’t the foundations join forces with Pittsburgh Public Media? WDUQ can be improved, but why not allow it to grow and change organically — building on its many strengths and staying responsive to its members and the larger community.

Comment from John Davies
Time: June 5, 2010, 1:34 pm

If WDUQ goes all news, I will unprogram my car radio button. I have no need for news when I am driving. I have the Internet for when I am not driving.

WDUQ used to have an Internet feed of pure blues music with very little interruptions. I kept it playing in my house almost constantly. They changed it to BBC news. Now I listen (and contribute) to WGLT radio in Illinois for their blues feed. I only wish that I could get in in my car.

Comment from Randy Strothman
Time: June 5, 2010, 2:47 pm

While I am a jazz fan as most people here seem to be, I’d like to put the spotlight here on the news asset of the station.

First, NPR offers such quality and diverse programming. Given the questionable quality and often biased nature of cable news and local TV news, I rely heavily on NPR for in depth reporting on world news. Many of these stories are are told in a compelling way and often with a human interest angle. Even on the business program Marketplace. I find NPR news coverage to be the most interesting and thoughtful of all of the conventional media.

Besides news, NPR also offers much programming that I’d call smart entertainment. For example, Car Talk, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me and This American Life. The first two often have me in stitches and repeating the funniest stories to others. I value this aspect very highly too.

Finally, the local news coverage, while short, is also quite good. And often there are in depth stories on a variety of subjects, the most unusual of which is mental health issues in our community. There have also been many in depth investigations of Pittsburgh issues.

The news side of WDUQ is such a breath of fresh, crisp air compared to most television news… and much more portable. Often times I have had what the station calls “driveway moments,” where you stay in your car after arriving home.. until you hear the end of the story.

My comments are not intended to weaken the argument for keeping jazz on the air here, but rather reinforce the need for a station of the format of WDUQ. And lets not forget that the station’s music includes other genres, including Music From India and more.

—long time contributor and member of WDUQ
Randy Strothman

Comment from John Boskovic
Time: June 6, 2010, 7:42 am

Some great comments here. I can say quite simply that my wife and I support PPM in their attempt to purchase the station.

Whether we are happy with the programming or not at times, overall, the voice that WDUQ provides is essential. The news, jazz, big band and other musical genres along with the NPR offerings are vital to the community.

Why? In a world where the media – particularly local TV broadcasting – seem unable to cover local events with any clarity, ‘DUQ provides additional depth at the local level and serious coverage of national and international issues.

This voice needs to survive and as we have in the past we will continue to stand with Pittsburgh Public Media should they be able to succeed in the purchase of WDUQ from the university.

Comment from Gene James
Time: June 7, 2010, 8:24 am

I applaud the collaborative efforts of the several foundations to save WDUQ and hope the effort bears fruit.

While there will be viable alternatives for listeners (I listen to WAMU via my smart-phone on long drives), the loss of WDUQ will be an insult to Pittsburgh’s efforts to reinvent itself as cultured, thinking, and tech-oriented city.

I am mostly disturbed at Duquesne’s effort to exploit their trustee role for profit. I doubt they have $10M invested in WDUQ, so the asset morally belongs to the community.

I don’t know if Duquesne’s position has been fairly represented, but the PR fallout for Duquesne is quite damaging: most of my acquaintances now view Duquesne as shockingly callous and perhaps even vindictive.

Is WDUQ self-sustaining now? I’d sure like to see their financials.
The $5-10M appreciated value of the license should not be on their books, so the trustees shouldn’t have a great problem with a profitless divesture.

If Duquesne is bleeding for WDUQ or is uncomfortable with NPR’s content, they should transfer the license and hard assets at cost to a steward who will respect the intent of the donors who have built and maintain the station.

I’d like to donate to this cause, but fear I may only enrich the coffers of the University.

Comment from Jamie
Time: June 7, 2010, 6:15 pm

I appreciate public radio and WQED. I also contribute to the radio station and think it would be a shame to lose this valuable station.

Comment from Melanie Drake
Time: June 7, 2010, 8:09 pm

I am a graduate of Duquesne University. The only pride I had in my alma mater stemmed from its loose affiliation with WDUQ. It’s puzzling to me why public opinion is being sought, since the public speaks each and every pledge drive. Each pledge is a vote in favor of the current programming and staff at DUQ. Peter King raises an excellent point of the record-breaking money raised by DUQ…and during a recession, no less.

Please retain the current staff and programming at DUQ, because it’s obviously a very successful formula. Don’t mess with a good thing!

Comment from pearl esterhazy
Time: June 8, 2010, 9:15 am

In response to Gene James:
1. If WDUQ is a non profit organization, their financials should be available to the public for the asking. As I understand it, Duquesne University gives them “in-kind” support to the tune of somewhere in the neighborhood of $250-400K per year, depending on who’s audit you believe. The rest of their $3.5 million dollar budget is supported by members, sponsors, grants from Corporation for Public Broadcasting, sale of donated vehicles and some other assorted sources.
2. If you are interested in supporting 90.5 FM as an independent station, Pittsburgh Public Media is asking for pledges on their website that will only be used should they successfully enter into an agreement with Duquesne University to purchase the license. That sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

Comment from Peter King
Time: June 8, 2010, 1:10 pm

I have already weighed in with my two notes’ worth of opinion, so I will make this short. I am writing to ask readers of this blog to check out two recent articles. Today, columnist Tony Norman has written a spot-on piece in support of the present news/jazz mix on WDUQ.
You can read it at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10159/1063875-153.stm.
A few days ago, the New Pittsburgh Courier featured a news story sympathetic to the past and future of jazz in Pittsburgh, and DUQ’s role in keeping jazz strong.
You can read it at http://www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2232:wduq-sale-on-hold-foundations-pay-for-time-to-preserve-station&catid=38:metro&Itemid=27.

And by the way, I appreciate the Pittsburgh Foundation’s openness in letting jazz lovers speak out in this blog.

Thank you,
Peter King

Comment from Rosalie Iannone
Time: June 10, 2010, 10:32 pm

Despite everything I have read about the sale of WDUQ, I am still in somewhat of a shock as to “why mess with a good thing”? I am an avid WDUQ jazz listener, and have been a contributing member for more than 30 years. I cannot imagine what the day will be like when I cannot tune into Bob Studebaker, Helen Wigger or Tony Mowod to hear fantastic jazz – Latin, progressive, traditional, west-coast, local, etc. I value and appreciate this great variety of jazz that WDUQ provides.

WDUQ has a brilliant variety of other interesting programs as well — Morning Edition, Fresh Air, All Things Considered, Marion McPartland’s Piano Jazz, Sunday’s Living on Earth, The Splendid Table, Car Talk, and many, many more that we have all come to depend upon for education and culture.

I would not want an ‘all news’ station. There are enough of those stations around. The news that WDUQ provides is vibrant and unmatched by any of the other stations.

WDUQ has it ‘all’ – and does it very well. Again — why mess with a good thing?

Duquesne University has produced many splendid musicians. It would seem to me that the University would value the national appeal that WDUQ has earned by providing this unmatched jazz programming. If they truly want to be fair, there should be a more loyal opening of their arms for a “fair” market sale to one of the local Foundations who will respect the votes of the many WDUQ loyal contributors, listeners and workers who have helped keep the jazz music and station alive and well these many years.

Thank you.

Comment from Thomas Ammons
Time: June 13, 2010, 6:54 am

I think the focus should be on saving Jazz programming. Nothing inherently weds it to share time with a news talk format, Oliphant hints at this when he says there ought to be new ways for the existing stations to cooperate. I think we should run with that suggestion. Jazz could find a new home with WQED or WYEP couldn’t it?

Comment from Earl H. McDaniel
Time: June 17, 2010, 2:41 pm

WDUQ without jazz is unimaginable to me, and if that happens I will drop my membership.

While I could live with more jazz and less news, I understand that the news is important to provide light in a medium that provides too much heat. And I think the schedule can be adjusted to provide a special, indepth local news story daily.

Let’s please find common ground and keep a special treasure rather than narrow the offerings and risk losing everything.

Comment from philip salvato
Time: July 6, 2010, 7:58 am

WDUQ is the best radio station in Pittsburgh, it is the only station I listen to, very intersting programing, and the only jazz station in Pittsburgh, it must stay on the air,

Comment from jean aresto
Time: July 22, 2011, 12:19 am

Where is the jazz? My husband is inconsolable! Please put it back.