An explanation of WPLN’s underwriting policy by Rob Gordon in today’s ‘PLN Post:

I think our listeners distinguish between what is said in an underwriting announcement and what runs during All Things Considered. What would upset me would be bias or misinformation labeled as news.

Our journalists should be the ones to highlight or question business practices through careful reporting, not those who solicit corporate support. The firewall that exists between programming and fundraising departments has to operate in both directions.

And the places for committed, passionate public radio listeners to take action against corporations they think are bad are the media, the courts and the marketplace. While I understand some listeners may be so upset they may want to drop their WPLN membership, if enough people take that step we will have less money to support critical news gathering and reporting on range of subjects, including corporate abuses.