KFUO-AM, the AM radio station of the LCMS, has announced the
layoff of 5 staffers. This comes after the huge flap over the firings of staff and the cancellation of Issues, Etc. a few years ago and the hasty decision to sell the FM station with little money up front and the hopes of a balloon payment (with us holding the note). On the one hand, it indicates that our Church does not have a real plan on how to use these assets and so we end up acting hastily and, often, foolishly. On the other hand, I can only hope that this is not the case of punishing the voice of some (Issues, Etc.) or of chasing an illusive $ sign (KFUO-FM) but the deliberate and thoughtful change in our use of this asset and resource. So far I do not have a clue about the reason for these firings but I can only hope that we will wake up to the many resources in our church body and of the need to use them more wisely than we have in the past...
FWIW, As a new LCMS Lutheran, I feel like Issues Etc. had something to do with bring me into the denom. I much prefer the format/content of Issues Etc. and Pirate Christian Radio. I've never really cared for KFUO radio except for Sunday morning sermons/services.
ReplyDeleteOne of the people fired was the station manager who has been with KFUO for 36 years. From the press release it sounds like they're re-structuring after the sale of KFUO-FM and are looking at (unspecified) format changes. I think the loss of Issues etc. put a lot of Lutherans off of KFUO, which left KFUO AM sounding increasingly like any other Evangelical Christian radio station you could find on the dial. Not bad, but not particularly distinctive either.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of surprised, Larry, that you would assume that laying off staff that is no needed at KFUO-AM some how means that the leadership of our Synod doesn't have a plan on what they are going to do with KFUO AM.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I take it to mean exactly the opposite.
They have a plan and are executing it.
As a resident of this area, I actually can listen to KFUO-AM and it has been appallingly and only increasingly bad.
It is time for us to bring in people who have a passion and know-how for a unique Lutheran internet radio presence. That's the future for KFUO-AM.
Oh, by the way, I inquired about the "fired over the phone" thing. Come to find out that the station manager had asked David Strand NOT to call him into the office or have any sort of special meeting if he ever was going to let him go. Instead...yup, he asked Strand to call him on the phone and tell him.
ReplyDeletePaul, I thought I made it clear that it was the sale of the FM signal and the Issues, Etc. debacle that were the mark of no plan and that I hoped that this change was, indeed, a sign that the church had a plan...
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