Vermont Public Radio, the local version of National Public Radio and most widely listened to radio station in the state, recently changed its format. They took all of the classical music which consumed the majority of their daytime programming and moved it to another frequency down the dial. The old 107.4 (In my area) added a variety of talk format programs that seems hardly an improvement. For instance, they’ve expanded their BBC news programming to take up most of the morning except for Morning Edition , a show that is apparently produced by NPR. Where is the LOCAL programming? While there is some quality local programming being broadcast, it seems that the station leans too heavily on BBC produced material. While I enjoy hearing the perspective on US and world events from a point of view other than our own, enough is enough.
Local shows by Steve Delaney ad Bob Kinsel do a great job but one would think that a station that calls itself VERMONT public radio would actually have a few reporters out on the street reporting from Vermont. While VPR is still the best listening option available if you want something other than the commercial corporate crap infesting most of the airwaves, it seems their new improved version falls short by not having enough truly local programming.
Filed under: Local media, VPR
