If you find yourself avoiding the news, you’re not alone. But what’s turning you off is likely not the news itself—it’s the noise surrounding it. News Over Noise explores the challenge of separating spin and click-bait from good journalism and why it matters. This podcast empowers our citizenry by giving listeners the tools they need to balance staying informed while protecting their well-being and the public good. The 10-part series is produced by the Penn State, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and WPSU. The program has been funded by the office of the Executive Vice President and Provost of Penn State and is part of the Penn State News Literacy Initiative. Matt Jordan and Leah Dajches are the hosts. The podcast is available here. WPSU radio will be broadcasting the series in the near future.
From The GM's Desk
It’s been a busy month! As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it is wonderful to reflect on all of the things I am thankful for: Thank you to our radio team for the excellent coverage of our midterm election, to our operations teams for keeping us on-air and online, to our education and engagement team for continuing our mission work, to our production teams for continuing to provide excellent programs to our internal and external clients and to our finance team for keeping us on track and in compliance. Everyone plays an important role in making WPSU a great place. Thank you!! I hope everyone has a great holiday with family and friends.
All my best ...
Birthdays
Adam Wittenrich – 11/15
Kristian Berg – 11/23
WPSU Radio Highlights
In Case You Missed It . . .
Democracy Works: Celebrating Democracy's Small Victories
Amid election deniers and political polarization, it's easy to overlook the times when democracy is actually working. We do that this week in a hopeful conversation about resident-centered government. Elected officials and administrative staff like city planners often have the best intentions when it comes to development and redevelopment, but political and professional incentives push them to pursue projects that lure in outsiders rather than serving people who live in their communities. The guest this week is Michelle Wilde Anderson, a professor of property, local government, and environmental justice at Stanford Law School and the author of "The Fight to Save the Town: Reimagining Discarded America.” Listen here.
U.S. Supreme Court Declines To Hear Challenge To Pennsylvania's Legislative Redistricting
WPSU’s Anne Danahy reported on The U.S. Supreme Court's declining to hear a case challenging the validity of Pennsylvania's state legislative districts and how they were drawn. Legislative maps are redrawn every 10 years, after the U.S. Census. In February 2022, Pennsylvania’s Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 to approve the new maps, with House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff casting the lone no vote. More here.
WPSU Television Highlights
NOVA “Zero to Infinity” - Wednesday, November 16 at 9:00 pm
The concepts of zero and infinity didn't always exist. They've been invented and re-invented by different cultures over thousands of years. Discover the surprising story of these key concepts that revolutionized mathematics.
Conversations Live! “Ask a Veterinarian” - Thursday, November 17 at 8:00 pm
We'll be joined by local veterinarians who will answer your pet-related questions such as proper diet and exercise, and more!
Next at Kennedy Center “A Joni Mitchell Songbook” - Friday, November 18 at 9:00 pm
The indomitable influence of Joni Mitchell is celebrated with an all-star lineup at the Kennedy Center, led by multi-Grammy Award winner Vince Mendoza and accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra.
American Masters “Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On” - Tuesday, November 22 at 9:00 pm
Experience the story of the Oscar-winning Indigenous artist from her rise to prominence in New York's Greenwich Village folk music scene through her six-decade groundbreaking career as a singer-songwriter, social activist, educator and artist.
Tutankhamun: Allies & Enemies - Wednesday, November 23 at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of King Tut’s tomb by exploring the mysteries of his life and burial in this two-part series.
Great Performances “Josh Groban’s Great Big Radio City Show” - Friday, November 25 at 9:00 pm
Experience the world-renowned baritone performing songs from many musical genres alongside several special guest stars including Cyndi Lauper, Denee Benton, New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck and more.
The Herriot Way - Wednesday, November 30 at 8:00 pm
Some of the best scenery in the Yorkshire Dales can be found on a 52-mile, 4- day circular walk that begins and ends in Aysgarth. Explore the beautiful valleys, high open fells and heather- clad moorland, associated with the world-famous vet and author known to his fans as James Herriot.
Governmental Relations
STATE
Mid-term election results show Governor-elect Josh Shapiro favorable with public media. New leadership in both House and Senate may change dynamics in our favor for future funding. Congratulatory letters are going out on behalf of the PA PBS (7 Public media stations in PA) to the Governor- elect along with US Senator elect John Fetterman this week. More to come on lobbying efforts for state funding in the next NOOZ.
FEDERAL
As we hear hourly, the dynamics of the outcome for the makeup of the 118th Congress hangs in balance. Regardless of which party controls each chamber, the large number of incoming Freshmen means significant education efforts will be needed to ensure that all Members of Congress understand the important public services that local public television stations provide in communities nationwide.
APTS issued the following takeaways from the election so far:
• With 1 race yet to be called in the Senate, there are already at least 8 new Senators.
• With 44 races yet to be called in the House, 60 new House Members have been elected and many of the outstanding races are for open seats and will result in new Members regardless of who wins.
• Retirements and term limits mean there will be several changes to key committee leadership including:
• The top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), are retiring at the end of this Congress.
• The top Senate Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee Republican, Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), who has been a steadfast champion of public broadcasting, is retiring as well.
Our best collective voice to all elected officials is to join the Protect My Public Media grassroots effort.
Industry News
Consumer Streaming Spending Grows By 17%
Subscription video-on-demand services made up 84% of consumer home entertainment spending between June and September, DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group reports. In 2022, SVOD spending has risen 17.5%, compared to 19.5% a year ago. Full story.
Firesign Theater’s Phil Proctor Returns To Radio On Pacifica’s KPFK
On the night that the four members of what would become the Firesign Theater comedy group first appeared on the air together on KPFK, Pacifica Radio’s Los Angeles station, they pretended to be panelists at a fictional film festival. When the faux panel convinced listeners that a porn film titled The Nun and Blondie Pays the Rent made by the faux director Jack Love could not be screened at the festival, KPFK listeners flooded the station’s switchboard with calls to protest what they deemed to be censorship.
“That’s when we knew that we were really onto something, that we could take people on a ride as far out as we wanted to and they would go along with us,” Phil Proctor, one of the two surviving members of Firesign, told Current.
“If we were convincing enough or silly enough or crazy enough, people would believe it,” remarked David Ossman, the other surviving Fireside member. “It was the power of radio.”
Now, 56 years after Firesign’s radio debut, Proctor is returning to KPFK to co-host a live weekly radio show, joined by Ted Bonnitt, another Pacifica veteran. Their hourlong Phil & Ted’s Sexy Boomer Show will air Tuesday afternoons.
Guess I Should Have Saved Those Crocs
Los Angeles -- The California house where Steve Jobs co-founded Apple is a historical site, and now the sandals he wore while pacing its floors have been sold for nearly $220,000, according to an auction house. The “well used” brown suede Birkenstocks dating to the mid-1970s set a record for the highest price ever paid for a pair of sandals, Julien’s Auctions said Sunday. “The cork and jute footbed retains the imprint of Steve Jobs’ feet, which had been shaped after years of use,” the auction house said in the listing on its website. The sandals were expected to bring $60,000, but the final sale price with an accompanying NFT was $218,750, Julien’s said. The buyer was not named. [AP - 11/14/22]
To The Hunt!
“Last Thanksgiving, I shot my own turkey. It was fun. That shotgun going, blam! Everybody at the supermarket just staring. Why track them when I know where they are?” —Kenny Rogerson
Resources and Tips
Subscribe to WPSU Connect, our outbound communication emails to members and fans, and stay up to date with the latest news, programming, and events from WPSU-TV and WPSU-FM.
