No one minds a leader dialed in to the future so long as that person also shares a wavelength with the here and now. At Chicago Public Radio there are staffers who feel they speak on one frequency and president Torey Malatia responds on another.
Having observed that the word journalism appears nowhere in the strategic plan, the staff immediately insisted on its primacy. What they called the “near-collapse of traditional media outlets in Chicago” gave WBEZ a “unique opportunity,” they argued: “to be the source for credible, innovative journalism in our region—one that reflects diversity of opinion and thought and provides depth and context, allowing and empowering our users to respond and act.” This wasn’t a new observation; public affairs staffers past and present have been telling me for a year and a half that a golden opportunity was slipping through their fingers.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
“There is no budget for training, outside workshops, or conferences that could help make connections and push forward innovation. The impetus and will to change the way programming on 91.5FM is presented and delivered does not seem to have institutional support.
“Those of you who know me well, know that I’m a devoted fan of high purpose tenets; it grabs the idealist inside me instantly. But speaking professionally I insist that we develop and employ a working view of journalism.”
“Journalism is in the truth business.
And instead preached the following:
