[Imc] WILL, IMC, $, Jason. etc.

[Kranich, Kimberlie]

Paul Riismandel wrote:

>Is there a reason why Jason wouldn't want or be able to do some interviews 
>at the open house?

I know the answer to this:  Jason almost always contributes story material
to Sidetrack in addition to being the show's producer.   The fewer
volunteers he has, the more stories he ends up producing himself.  He has an
hour to fill every month whether he has volunteer contributors or not. I
know he's doing several stories already for the February edition.

 
Paul Kotheimer writes:

>one note:  about a year ago, i spoke with Jason Croft--individually,
>before our IMC got up and at 'em--about providing content to "Sidetrack".  
>he said WILL had no funding to reimburse content providers.  At that time,
>I told him thanks but no thanks,--I would need a wage to make it happen.

>Obviously, the IMC as a group is in a different position now than I was as
>a "solo artist" a year ago, and my experience might not apply at all...

>Point simply being, has anyone asked about the money?  I think we should
>be paid AFTRA union scale for our work,...eventually.  someday.  don't you
>all?

The point about money is a good one.  WILL uses a lot of volunteers from the
community.  I am not aware that any of them are paid.  Hosts of other
locally-produced programs such as "Keepin' the Faith" with Steve Schumacher
on AM-580, "Black Perspectives" on WILL-TV with Gladys Hunt, "Critics
Choice" on WILL-TV with Jeff Nelson, Syd Slobodnick, and Pat Matdorf are NOT
paid. From my view, this will be a hard precedent to break.  I think these
hosts are seen as contributors whose reward is the privilege of being on the
air.  I disagree with this thinking, but I think that's how they are seen
here and in other markets.  I know money is tight.  Some of our full time
radio reporters are still making less than $25,000 a year.  To start to
correct this and bring other employees' salaries up to a decent level, all
travel and conference budgets have been frozen for this year.  On the
positive side, I know that WILL is more open to projects suggested by
community members than many other public TV and radio stations.  We are more
accessible and try to hold ourselves more accountable than most.  There is
big room for growth, however, from my perspective.  I am a member of he IMC,
WILL, and WEFT and hope to use my multiple affiliations to help in this
regard where I can.  I see these conversations with Jason Croft and Jay
Pearce as only the beginning.  

Kimberlie Kranich