Public radio sets fundraiser at Coffee Care

KRNM, a public, non-commercial radio station located at the Northern Marianas College, will hold a fundraising event at Coffee Care tomorrow, Saturday, as part of efforts to keep its programming alive.

Station general manager Carl Pogue said the event would take place from 6pm until the café’s closing time.

With a minimum tax-deductible donation of $30, participants will get to enjoy throughout the evening the island’s finest wines and appetizers, provided by the Wine Cellar and Coffee Care.

There will also be several imported beers and gourmet cheeses from around the world, courtesy of Pogue.

“Those who contributed during the Spring Pledge Drive during the first two weeks of May will not be charged,” he said.

“Proceeds from the evening will assist KRNM in paying their programming dues to National Public Radio and Public Radio International, the two distributors responsible for the bulk of the shows heard on the station–news broadcasts including BBC, Morning Edition, and All Things Considered; jazz, classical, and alternative music programs; as well as weekly shows like Car Talk, Justice Talking, and Le Show,” Pogue added.

KRNM is the only non-profit jazz and classical radio station in the CNMI.

Pogue said that, if the station’s financial goals are not met, possible scheduling adjustments could follow and some shows from the existing line-up may have to be trimmed.

Pogue said they could be forced to switch to an all-news format, with feeds from the British Broadcasting Corp. or Radio Australia.

For more information about Public Radio for the Northern Marianas, call 234-5766 or log onto www.krnm.org for program schedules and descriptions.

Last year, KRNM also sought its listeners’ support to avoid losing some of the programs that it is currently airing.

Most of KRNM’s broadcast day consists of a wide variety of programs sent to them via satellite from National Public Radio and Public Radio International for an annual fee. Other independent syndicated sources pitch in six to eight weekly programs at no charge.

“The balance of the station’s lineup is composed of 10 weekly shows that are locally produced and hosted. The most popular shows—Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Car Talk, Fresh Air, World Café, and 12 others—cost the station between $40,000 to $45,000 each year in programming fees and satellite dues,” said Pogue.

The station manager said they obtain help in generating revenue each year through grants, business contributions, underwriting contracts—a form of sponsorship—and tax-deductible donations from listeners during fundraising events and on-air pledge drives.

The station broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at two different frequencies on the FM radio dial-88.1 from the transmitter and tower located at NMC, and 89.1 from the translator located on the government tower on Mt. Tapochao, through an arrangement with the Emergency Management Office.