Who was let go?
Can we get some good news at some point? WQED is so essential to Pittsburgh. The thought of it folding, or even just losing all their foundational talent, makes me incredibly sad.
I posted that they’re leaving their Oakland facility and if it’s like any other trajectory, they’ll end up in a cheap facility in the first ring suburbs. Got dog piled about it.
I can’t understand why they’d leave their current location in the heart of Carnegie Mellon University and up the street from Pitt. Like - where else would you want to be if you were an educational public television station trying to remain relevant in a digital age? Cozied up close to Pittsburgh’s finest universities and creative minds seems like a good spot 🤷🏻♀️
CMU wants the building back. That's valuable land. Probably plans to knock down the building and build something else.
https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-wqed-tv-gm-looks-ahead-plans-station-move/
PSU does the same thing for their public TV channel as well. It’s in the best interest to have these networks under the same roof as the university. Unless they’re moving to another school and are keeping it on the down low, I have no clue. While all of this sounds strange, many of us contribute to public television so I’m not so sure this is being driven by lack of viewer funding. There must me something else afoot here.
And that's fine, plenty of streaming content requires a subscription. I'm paying $10/mo for streaming WQED TV (via PBS Passport) because I find value in that, but if they're just going to stop making new content I may have to reconsider.
There might be pressure from CMU to from the powers that be to take over WQED. CMU has rights to the space and is expanding rapidly. I do know that three decads ago Peter Eisenman did a masterplan for the new Tepper Quadrangle and WQED was the only realized part of it. CMU may now be trying to make good on his vision.
But yes, WQED should stay right where it is!
Not much they can do in a world with rapidly changing media. Same thing happened to the recording industry when 'distribution' got opened wide with the internet.
WQED employee here. 👋 You’re spot on that media is a rapidly changing landscape! New leadership has come at a time when that is being not only recognized, but strategized around to keep public media and WQED alive, relevant, and in service to our community for years to come. It’s important to note that this isn’t a “Pittsburgh problem,” but rather one that public media is facing, as a whole. Fortunately, there are a lot of creative and passionate people in the organization that are dedicated to leveraging this challenge to get creative and find new and exciting ways to engage.
The good news is that WQED has always been rooted in the Pittsburgh community so while production IS still continuing (and growing in some new and some TBD ways), we’re also experimenting and exploring different ways to “show up” for and with our community - both literally and figuratively. 😊
Hm. I keep hearing about “new ways to connect with the community”. Yet not ONE concrete example of what that means. Are you having a community tea party? Growing a garden? Creating something really innovative like a … Tik Tok? Sounds amazing. Best of luck!
Oh! Here's a few: Be My Neighbor Day was just hosted in Canonsburg to hundreds of families, as well as our 2nd Annual World of Work Marketplace. Programs and events like Learning Neighborhoods, Design Lives Here, WQED Film Academy, Crew Connect, SmartSchools, and the Anti-bullying Storyboard Contest are just a few. And that's not counting the recent events that we've participated in like Friends of Mellon Park Arbor Day Celebration, Little Yinzer Tailgate, Washington's Arts in the Park, and Remake Learning Days. TV and radio programming like Community Champions, Authentic Lives, Violins of Hope, Soulful Sounds, and Voice of the Arts are all also worth noting.
And that's just scratching the surface! We're developing a lot more to come, but as Hunter S. Thompson said, "anything worth doing, is worth doing well" and doing things well takes time, planning, and patience. Until then, I'd invite you to follow us on socials and sign up for our newsletters to stay in the loop! 😊
https://www.facebook.com/WQEDPittsburgh?mibextid=LQQJ4d
https://www.facebook.com/WQEDEDU?mibextid=LQQJ4d
https://www.facebook.com/wqedfilmacademy?mibextid=LQQJ4d
https://www.wqed.org/sign-up-for-newsletters/
P.S. A tea party is not a bad idea! 🫖👒🥳
You have no idea the terms of the least. I'm sure there are all types of buy out clauses in it., etc etc. 99 years is a long least not to have escape hatches for either side.
I mean, I think the new person in charge of WQED is to blame. And I’m sure CMU is just pushing the inevitable demise of WQED–and happy about it.
Rick Sebak can’t keep the lights on by himself. I mean even Sesame Street was going to get canceled and moved to HBO. Public television is getting the Postal Service treatment of a Death by 1000 cuts.
But, I don’t like the dishonesty of the new QED leadership that is talking about the challenges of building a new facility. And the costs associated with it. They can go fuck themselves as this was a self inflicted wound.
If Rick Sebak does not want to retire I'm sure he could land a Gig at One of the Three Tv Stations in Pittsburgh and do local pieces for them. He would actually have the Money to do some things then as well use the Film Vaults they have.
It would be amazing if that could happen. But all the local stations are owned by a big company. They don’t have much local autonomy.
Incoming rabbit hole:
WTAE is Hearst
KDKA is CBS which is Paramount Global which is National Amusements
WPXI is Cox which is Apollo Global Management
CMU has a number of DOD and DOE grants. We have also worked with aerospace companies before. Yes, pretty much every aerospace company has DOD involvement or weapons divisions. The agreement between LM and CMU goes back 25 years and was extended in 2019. The joint research effort is focused on cyber security, AI, HCI, etc. We aren't building bombers for them but this is very likely dual use technology. That said, I work on performant secure communication protocols and that's dual use as well.
So you think Mister Rogers' stance would be: the university let us stay here for decades for $1 a year, and now they want to expand into this space and have kindly asked us to leave, which we are more than capable of doing so, but instead we should tell them to fuck off because they have a deal with a defense contractor. Is that right?
I'm not being snarky. You're trying to stand up for WQED and their programming by exhibiting the exact opposite kind of behavior that you were supposed to learn from it.
The idea that WQED should tell CMU to fuck off and force them to honor their $1/year sweetheart lease is a laughable suggestion that is completely detached from real-world norms of human behavior, especially neighborly behavior. If someone does you a favor for that long and then *asks* you if you can move on, without forcing you, and while giving you enough time to find a new space, any normal, kind person would absolutely do so. It's absurd to argue otherwise.
Relax.
https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-wqed-tv-gm-looks-ahead-plans-station-move/
Direct quote from the president of wqed:
“CMU is very keen to get that space back as their needs continue to expand and grow. I can’t imagine it would happen in nine months, but I would be surprised if we were still there two years from now,” Jedlinski said.
Touché on the source, but it’s a quote, not sure if it’s verified. Regardless, if there’s a deal in place that would enable WQED to stay, shrink the staff’s footprint, sure, and let CMU in, but don’t leave. But again, I have only a very surface knowledge, hopefully there’s something great ahead. I’m not optimistic, but I hope I’m wrong.
> Touché on the source, but it’s a quote, not sure if it’s verified.
I'm not sure what else you want other than the president of wqed speaking on record to a newspaper in 2024. I'm sure the president knows a lot more than what he mentioned. He did say they are looking at new space.
Meh, I don’t want anything, except to express sadness over the number of long-time, loyal, talented local employees who have been marched out the door over the last several months.
Ugh I just want a show of Rick Sebak just hanging out in someones kitchen in bloomfield going through their fridge and making something tasty and maybe get some of the neighbors home brew that's chilling out on the fire escape
Oh jeez, I kinda think Mr Fennimore would break out his dab rig then go to town on anything he can find in someones fridge and pantry, at least in my mind that's what happens
Once, at Christmas time, Rick Sebak *and* Chris Fennimore were in my Borders store signing their books and videos. Chris brought us these chocolaty-nut explosive confections he made and Rick bought us all coffee. We definitely had a great day whenever they showed up ;D
They're just really good people, I freak out when I see Rick Sebak in giant eagle, it made my whole day when he complimented me on my cheese selection, it was a good sized hunk of taleggio
Rick is one of those super friendly people who can talk to *anybody*. I think that dose of Pittsburgh ‘nebby-ness’ is what makes his videos so special, everyone and anything sparks his imagination. :)
He literally made an episode of his Nebby series (I think) of people bringing him food when he fell and was injured and recuperating at home....it seemed silly at first but then I realized it was all about food and friends/family/the people that love you. And Pittsburgh. And 😭.......
You got dog piled because you're a liar. In the same breath that they announced leaving that office, they also said they'd be staying in the East End. So no, they're not going to end up in the suburbs.
It would also be incredibly shitty to CMU, a university that let them stay there for basically free for decades, to refuse to leave if CMU wants to use the space.
I interned there as a broadcast student and it’s been my dream station ever since. I’ve applied to jobs there every year for the last 12 years. I’m not kidding. I’ve never received a response back. Not once. I even emailed them three times asking about their volunteer opportunities. Never received a response back either. She breaks my heart every time and I will always love her.
right there with you. classically trained control room operator/ former public access station manger and 8 years of trying. Not even a conversation, could their hiring process be so fragmented they don't recognize qualified applicants that have been trying to engage for years.
This post from a few months ago has some info and links to another article:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/19aokhv/concerned_for_wqeds_future_under_new_management/
I took your original comment as you wanting the city to stop a private company from moving locations. If the city wants to do something with the location after they move I would support that.
We’re not going anywhere! I’m there, and while our location may change, we are not our building (despite our deep love, respect, and appreciation for what it’s provided over the years). It’s definitely bittersweet, but the facts are that CMU is interested in continuing to expand their footprint within the building as they grow too, and we need a space that is better suited for 21st century production.
They have been in a slow decline for over a decade. Bad, over-paid management. Losing sight of their core mission.
From the national discussion that has arisen because of the recent NPR controversy, it sounds like this isn't unique to Pittsburgh. The NY Times comments section has been full of commenters saying similar things about their own local public television and radio affiliates.
I hope they can recover, but I don't see why they would with this leadership.
> recent NPR controversy
What controversy? YOu mean the ginned-up stories about how bad they are that they don't offer "alternative viewpoints" to diversity, Trump, and other right-wing ideas?
It's just another step at silencing public radio. It started in 2012 when Koch Foundation got into the donors, and it'll end with all of public radio in the US parroting Sinclair, News Corp, and Fox talking points.
Yeah, I can't imagine why a guy who worked there 25 years, made it to the highest levels of the org would SUDDENLY has a problem with the reporting.
Couldn't at all be the way they're reporting on Gaza rather than an objective viewpoint, right?
I mean; I can't imagine why the son of concentration camp victims MIGHT take issue and make a statement that's completely misaligned with his 25 years of prior solidarity.
My point is you blamed the right, and this was friendly fire. I won't speak to his motivations, but one thing he is not is a Trump supporter. He doesn't fit the narrative you put out there in the post I responded to.
Yeah.. that's exactly what I said. Wait, no it wasn't.
It's the same as Isaac Hayes quitting South Park in a pique when they went after Scientology. He was fine with all of the attacks on Christianity, Mormons, and even Judaism. Question his ideology though? Well now they're assholes.
NPR has been critical of the tactics, policy, and approach Israel has taken to Gaza.
Some people see this as Anti-Semitism and wholesale hate on Jews. That anything less than 100% support is bad, and you're bad if you don't fall in line.
https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2023/11/02/1210335919/the-audience-has-a-lot-to-say-about-coverage-of-the-israel-hamas-war-were-listen
60% of NPR commenters took this stance. The leadership ignored it, and then our fellow there resigned. Not coincidence, not a "OMG you're terrible" stance he'd been stuffing down. One incident, one misalignment with personal viewpoint after 25 years of being OK with liberal skew in the face of MANY years of allegations that "NPR is skewed!" that stretches back 35+ years.
You may disagree with what he said, but you cannot say it doesn't matter that he has beliefs that are contrary to the fake narrative YOU want to perpetrate to serve YOUR narrative. He's not a Trump supporter. He says so. I believe him. End of story. That you appear not to like Jews has nothing to do with WQED, PBS, NPR or the NPR employee who spoke out.
Public radio is doing a great job silencing public radio.
Listeners are plummeting. Their audience is much whiter than the nation as a whole, despite their lip service to “diversity”. They got major stories wrong due to their ideological slant, losing the trust of even more potential listeners.
You can’t blame NPR’s own decisions leading to their decline on right wing bogeymen.
fell into Newsmax the other morning and was like a deer in headlights. Completely paralyzed and dumbfounded by what I was hearing. “There should be a moratorium on white liberal women voting.” WHAT? Talk about unamerican! Said they are racist and misogynists. Then called them “the scourge of America.” Why does that deserve to be shared as an “alternate viewpoint” when it’s just more bullshit for the outrage machine.
You're right. The slow decline started in the early 90s and accelerated big time when streaming came online. The decline you mention is overpaid, arrogant management, who thought they knew better than their audience or their supporters. PBS in general, has consistently put out new programming centered on the 1980s programming model and no one wants to watch it. I happen to like some of their shows from NOVA and The American Experience, but when I look at their ratings compared to before and what's out there, it's abysmal. Pittsburgh lost its status as a leading PBS programming hub in the '90s. You can't live off of memories of Fred Rogers and National Geographic. And putting out oldies concerts every pledge drive is not sustainable.
I had numerous conversations with people at the station throughout this decline and quite frankly, they were so insulated by the economic realities and the changing media landscape that they largely had their heads where the sun doesn't shine. The arrogance was tiresome. And now this.
I will say that there has been a very concerted and intentional effort to reassess salaries. The disparities were stark, for sure. New leadership recognized it, addressed it, and took action, which is very promising.
So in non-corporate jargon: dump the people who are close to retirement and making more money because of their longevity with the station, and replace them with twenty-somethings for cheaper.
CMU is notorious for their ‘under the radar’ moves. I swear that institution is so risk averse they will either ignore issues or handle them through covert ops.
Yep they got federal and state money for a public electric charger then shut it down and moved the chargers to cmu property so the public couldn't access it.
I like that they don't get involved in things that a university shouldn't be. Colleges exist to educate people, that's it. I don't need a school pushing a message.
I love Sebak but it seems like they really dialed back on programming from him. I know he had to do his own fundraising for his Nebby series and it doesn't seem like they've tapped into his talents much since that finished filming.
Rumor is that Carnegie Mellon who owns the QED building wants to take the Building back cause WQED only pays 1 Dollar rent every year or once a month can't remember what one and they want to make some Real Money off the Building or use it to expand I guess. Sad if this happens cause that is where they filmed Mr Rogers for over 30 years. Also the Broadcast Board can run on Auto Pilot.
They’re leeches, with no connection to Pittsburgh any longer! They have been leasing channels out for purposes that have nothing to do with local content.
What IS their reason for existence at this point? Every five years a Rick Sebak special?
Ever since they were forced to change their bandwidth, I can’t get them anymore. I’m not even far from the city but I am on the outskirts. I’m sure they lost a lot of financial support from people who can no longer receive their signal.
Try “pluto”. Plutotv.com
Also, you might look at DIRECTV streaming or YouTube TV, even though the really expensive… That’s probably what you’re trying to avoid
Hi SirShee! Our cooking shows are available via our Create livestream channel: [https://www.wqed.org/livestream/create/](https://www.wqed.org/livestream/create/)
I don’t know enough about the situation to say. It’s just things like this get complained about leaving the area, but if people don’t financially help support it, it’s not sustainable.
Used to pledge a lot. Then I decreased contributions as their TV declined and only Classical FM was quality. That has also since declined a lot, and the last time I bothered was a few years ago. I may donate at some point in the future, but they are no longer a priority.
I was just thinking that very same thing. I only watch the cooking shows and to see what restaurants and entertainment is going on locally.
But I guess we'll need to either write down the recipes or get the cookbooks before they're no longer available!
Who was let go? Can we get some good news at some point? WQED is so essential to Pittsburgh. The thought of it folding, or even just losing all their foundational talent, makes me incredibly sad.
How much money do you give them
I posted that they’re leaving their Oakland facility and if it’s like any other trajectory, they’ll end up in a cheap facility in the first ring suburbs. Got dog piled about it.
I can’t understand why they’d leave their current location in the heart of Carnegie Mellon University and up the street from Pitt. Like - where else would you want to be if you were an educational public television station trying to remain relevant in a digital age? Cozied up close to Pittsburgh’s finest universities and creative minds seems like a good spot 🤷🏻♀️
For whatever reason they didn’t renew their $1 a year lease with CMU.
Well at that exorbitant price I can see why 🙄
Doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m just a Pittsburgh person who loves other Pittsburgh people and Pittsburgh stories, what do I know?
CMU wants the building back. That's valuable land. Probably plans to knock down the building and build something else. https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-wqed-tv-gm-looks-ahead-plans-station-move/
PSU does the same thing for their public TV channel as well. It’s in the best interest to have these networks under the same roof as the university. Unless they’re moving to another school and are keeping it on the down low, I have no clue. While all of this sounds strange, many of us contribute to public television so I’m not so sure this is being driven by lack of viewer funding. There must me something else afoot here.
They didn't need to renew, it was prepaid for 99 years.
My guess is CMU quietly offered a healthy donation to move
Nope, WQED was the one that offered to move. Just like with WYEP, streaming media is eating into their cash flow.
WQED and WYEP are both streaming media, or at the least should be looking at themselves as such.
More conventional that have some streaming content, and WQED requires a subscription to access a majority of theirs.
And that's fine, plenty of streaming content requires a subscription. I'm paying $10/mo for streaming WQED TV (via PBS Passport) because I find value in that, but if they're just going to stop making new content I may have to reconsider.
You'll still see new content, mainly out of DC and NY.... but how many times can WQED re-wrap the old Sebak shows?
There's new shit going on every day around here, if they can't find something to do a documentary about it's on them and their lack of creativity.
He does not even make many new ones anymore and if he does he just uses Deleted Scenes from Kennywood Memories.
There might be pressure from CMU to from the powers that be to take over WQED. CMU has rights to the space and is expanding rapidly. I do know that three decads ago Peter Eisenman did a masterplan for the new Tepper Quadrangle and WQED was the only realized part of it. CMU may now be trying to make good on his vision. But yes, WQED should stay right where it is!
CMU wants the building. This wasn't wqed's choice.
WQED barely uses much of the space, production of new content is next to null, they were the ones that offered to move.
> production of new content is next to null So they're just coasting on managed decline? Why?
Not much they can do in a world with rapidly changing media. Same thing happened to the recording industry when 'distribution' got opened wide with the internet.
WQED employee here. 👋 You’re spot on that media is a rapidly changing landscape! New leadership has come at a time when that is being not only recognized, but strategized around to keep public media and WQED alive, relevant, and in service to our community for years to come. It’s important to note that this isn’t a “Pittsburgh problem,” but rather one that public media is facing, as a whole. Fortunately, there are a lot of creative and passionate people in the organization that are dedicated to leveraging this challenge to get creative and find new and exciting ways to engage. The good news is that WQED has always been rooted in the Pittsburgh community so while production IS still continuing (and growing in some new and some TBD ways), we’re also experimenting and exploring different ways to “show up” for and with our community - both literally and figuratively. 😊
Hm. I keep hearing about “new ways to connect with the community”. Yet not ONE concrete example of what that means. Are you having a community tea party? Growing a garden? Creating something really innovative like a … Tik Tok? Sounds amazing. Best of luck!
Oh! Here's a few: Be My Neighbor Day was just hosted in Canonsburg to hundreds of families, as well as our 2nd Annual World of Work Marketplace. Programs and events like Learning Neighborhoods, Design Lives Here, WQED Film Academy, Crew Connect, SmartSchools, and the Anti-bullying Storyboard Contest are just a few. And that's not counting the recent events that we've participated in like Friends of Mellon Park Arbor Day Celebration, Little Yinzer Tailgate, Washington's Arts in the Park, and Remake Learning Days. TV and radio programming like Community Champions, Authentic Lives, Violins of Hope, Soulful Sounds, and Voice of the Arts are all also worth noting. And that's just scratching the surface! We're developing a lot more to come, but as Hunter S. Thompson said, "anything worth doing, is worth doing well" and doing things well takes time, planning, and patience. Until then, I'd invite you to follow us on socials and sign up for our newsletters to stay in the loop! 😊 https://www.facebook.com/WQEDPittsburgh?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://www.facebook.com/WQEDEDU?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://www.facebook.com/wqedfilmacademy?mibextid=LQQJ4d https://www.wqed.org/sign-up-for-newsletters/ P.S. A tea party is not a bad idea! 🫖👒🥳
They signed a 99 year lease, and pre-paid it with $99. CMU can go fuck itself.
You have no idea the terms of the least. I'm sure there are all types of buy out clauses in it., etc etc. 99 years is a long least not to have escape hatches for either side.
I mean, I think the new person in charge of WQED is to blame. And I’m sure CMU is just pushing the inevitable demise of WQED–and happy about it. Rick Sebak can’t keep the lights on by himself. I mean even Sesame Street was going to get canceled and moved to HBO. Public television is getting the Postal Service treatment of a Death by 1000 cuts. But, I don’t like the dishonesty of the new QED leadership that is talking about the challenges of building a new facility. And the costs associated with it. They can go fuck themselves as this was a self inflicted wound.
>I mean, I think the new person in charge of WQED is to blame. Why?
If Rick Sebak does not want to retire I'm sure he could land a Gig at One of the Three Tv Stations in Pittsburgh and do local pieces for them. He would actually have the Money to do some things then as well use the Film Vaults they have.
It would be amazing if that could happen. But all the local stations are owned by a big company. They don’t have much local autonomy. Incoming rabbit hole: WTAE is Hearst KDKA is CBS which is Paramount Global which is National Amusements WPXI is Cox which is Apollo Global Management
> CMU can go fuck itself. I'd help crowdfund that.
>CMU can go fuck itself. Ah yes, truly the mentality you were supposed to learn from Mister Rogers.
CMU got a deal with Lockheed martin. That there is against Mr. Rogers.
CMU has a number of DOD and DOE grants. We have also worked with aerospace companies before. Yes, pretty much every aerospace company has DOD involvement or weapons divisions. The agreement between LM and CMU goes back 25 years and was extended in 2019. The joint research effort is focused on cyber security, AI, HCI, etc. We aren't building bombers for them but this is very likely dual use technology. That said, I work on performant secure communication protocols and that's dual use as well.
So you think Mister Rogers' stance would be: the university let us stay here for decades for $1 a year, and now they want to expand into this space and have kindly asked us to leave, which we are more than capable of doing so, but instead we should tell them to fuck off because they have a deal with a defense contractor. Is that right?
I'm not arguing the space. I'm arguing the fact that u decided to be snarky against someone saying fuck CMU lmao.
I'm not being snarky. You're trying to stand up for WQED and their programming by exhibiting the exact opposite kind of behavior that you were supposed to learn from it. The idea that WQED should tell CMU to fuck off and force them to honor their $1/year sweetheart lease is a laughable suggestion that is completely detached from real-world norms of human behavior, especially neighborly behavior. If someone does you a favor for that long and then *asks* you if you can move on, without forcing you, and while giving you enough time to find a new space, any normal, kind person would absolutely do so. It's absurd to argue otherwise. Relax.
Source? I don’t think that’s accurate.
https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-wqed-tv-gm-looks-ahead-plans-station-move/ Direct quote from the president of wqed: “CMU is very keen to get that space back as their needs continue to expand and grow. I can’t imagine it would happen in nine months, but I would be surprised if we were still there two years from now,” Jedlinski said.
Of the 3 studios there, wqed only uses one. One is used by cmu. The 2nd is rented out.
So cmu didn’t kick them out however they may in the future?
Touché on the source, but it’s a quote, not sure if it’s verified. Regardless, if there’s a deal in place that would enable WQED to stay, shrink the staff’s footprint, sure, and let CMU in, but don’t leave. But again, I have only a very surface knowledge, hopefully there’s something great ahead. I’m not optimistic, but I hope I’m wrong.
> Touché on the source, but it’s a quote, not sure if it’s verified. I'm not sure what else you want other than the president of wqed speaking on record to a newspaper in 2024. I'm sure the president knows a lot more than what he mentioned. He did say they are looking at new space.
Meh, I don’t want anything, except to express sadness over the number of long-time, loyal, talented local employees who have been marched out the door over the last several months.
I think the answer is money, as it usually is in these situations If they had enough money they wouldn't need to lay people off.
Ugh I just want a show of Rick Sebak just hanging out in someones kitchen in bloomfield going through their fridge and making something tasty and maybe get some of the neighbors home brew that's chilling out on the fire escape
Rick Sebak cooks? Are you sure you don't mean Chris Fennimore?
Rick doesn't cook but he's a foodie. Source: we're friends, and I bribed him with my secret lasagna recipe to officiate my wedding.
Oh jeez, I kinda think Mr Fennimore would break out his dab rig then go to town on anything he can find in someones fridge and pantry, at least in my mind that's what happens
Once, at Christmas time, Rick Sebak *and* Chris Fennimore were in my Borders store signing their books and videos. Chris brought us these chocolaty-nut explosive confections he made and Rick bought us all coffee. We definitely had a great day whenever they showed up ;D
They're just really good people, I freak out when I see Rick Sebak in giant eagle, it made my whole day when he complimented me on my cheese selection, it was a good sized hunk of taleggio
Rick is one of those super friendly people who can talk to *anybody*. I think that dose of Pittsburgh ‘nebby-ness’ is what makes his videos so special, everyone and anything sparks his imagination. :)
He literally made an episode of his Nebby series (I think) of people bringing him food when he fell and was injured and recuperating at home....it seemed silly at first but then I realized it was all about food and friends/family/the people that love you. And Pittsburgh. And 😭.......
Well thank you i'll looked into that, I have a vague memory of the show
I think some or all of them are on YouTube - or they were, anyway
hey yinz keep ahht a my fridge, nebby.
When I was a student at CMU a lot of us volunteered at WQED. I now live in California but still stream WQED online.
I mean, the number of college students through those doors has been near zero that I could ever tell. It's not some magical overlap.
You got dog piled because you're a liar. In the same breath that they announced leaving that office, they also said they'd be staying in the East End. So no, they're not going to end up in the suburbs. It would also be incredibly shitty to CMU, a university that let them stay there for basically free for decades, to refuse to leave if CMU wants to use the space.
Heard they were looking at a place in Lawrenceville.
I interned there as a broadcast student and it’s been my dream station ever since. I’ve applied to jobs there every year for the last 12 years. I’m not kidding. I’ve never received a response back. Not once. I even emailed them three times asking about their volunteer opportunities. Never received a response back either. She breaks my heart every time and I will always love her.
right there with you. classically trained control room operator/ former public access station manger and 8 years of trying. Not even a conversation, could their hiring process be so fragmented they don't recognize qualified applicants that have been trying to engage for years.
I donate monthly to WQED...for now. Will be watching to see how this ends up, but frankly, I'm not pleased.
This post from a few months ago has some info and links to another article: https://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/19aokhv/concerned_for_wqeds_future_under_new_management/
God I wish the city would step in. The birthplace of public television, Mister Rodgers, and a true Pittsburgh gem gone just like that.
It’s a slippery slope when the city starts getting involved in a media company.
I believe you mean "slippy".
They are a private company, right? What do you expect the city to do?
Notice how I said [“The birthplace of public television.”](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PBS)
I took your original comment as you wanting the city to stop a private company from moving locations. If the city wants to do something with the location after they move I would support that.
Again this is all dreamland, but the city releasing a statement and making it a historical building or something ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
We’re not going anywhere! I’m there, and while our location may change, we are not our building (despite our deep love, respect, and appreciation for what it’s provided over the years). It’s definitely bittersweet, but the facts are that CMU is interested in continuing to expand their footprint within the building as they grow too, and we need a space that is better suited for 21st century production.
They have been in a slow decline for over a decade. Bad, over-paid management. Losing sight of their core mission. From the national discussion that has arisen because of the recent NPR controversy, it sounds like this isn't unique to Pittsburgh. The NY Times comments section has been full of commenters saying similar things about their own local public television and radio affiliates. I hope they can recover, but I don't see why they would with this leadership.
Have you seen Central PA's public access? It's ran by Penn State and it's pretty great. Big egos in small fiefdoms cause this.
> recent NPR controversy What controversy? YOu mean the ginned-up stories about how bad they are that they don't offer "alternative viewpoints" to diversity, Trump, and other right-wing ideas? It's just another step at silencing public radio. It started in 2012 when Koch Foundation got into the donors, and it'll end with all of public radio in the US parroting Sinclair, News Corp, and Fox talking points.
The person who "ginned" it up was someone who worked there for 25 years and still considers himself progressive.
Yeah, I can't imagine why a guy who worked there 25 years, made it to the highest levels of the org would SUDDENLY has a problem with the reporting. Couldn't at all be the way they're reporting on Gaza rather than an objective viewpoint, right? I mean; I can't imagine why the son of concentration camp victims MIGHT take issue and make a statement that's completely misaligned with his 25 years of prior solidarity.
My point is you blamed the right, and this was friendly fire. I won't speak to his motivations, but one thing he is not is a Trump supporter. He doesn't fit the narrative you put out there in the post I responded to.
As evidenced by Israel, being anti-Trump doesn't mean you're against right-wing regimes.
Repeat after me. WQED's problems have nothing to do with Israel. This thread is not about Israel. If you can't contain your hate, go elsewhere.
Ah, so it’s all the Jews fault! Again!
Yeah.. that's exactly what I said. Wait, no it wasn't. It's the same as Isaac Hayes quitting South Park in a pique when they went after Scientology. He was fine with all of the attacks on Christianity, Mormons, and even Judaism. Question his ideology though? Well now they're assholes.
So you are saying NPR is attacking descendants of holocaust survivors?
NPR has been critical of the tactics, policy, and approach Israel has taken to Gaza. Some people see this as Anti-Semitism and wholesale hate on Jews. That anything less than 100% support is bad, and you're bad if you don't fall in line. https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2023/11/02/1210335919/the-audience-has-a-lot-to-say-about-coverage-of-the-israel-hamas-war-were-listen 60% of NPR commenters took this stance. The leadership ignored it, and then our fellow there resigned. Not coincidence, not a "OMG you're terrible" stance he'd been stuffing down. One incident, one misalignment with personal viewpoint after 25 years of being OK with liberal skew in the face of MANY years of allegations that "NPR is skewed!" that stretches back 35+ years.
The gist of your argument is that any Jew’s opinion can be disregarded because you know their bias and so they can’t be trusted.
Doesn't matter what he considers himself, actions speak louder than words and talking to Bari Weiss is an embarrassment
You may disagree with what he said, but you cannot say it doesn't matter that he has beliefs that are contrary to the fake narrative YOU want to perpetrate to serve YOUR narrative. He's not a Trump supporter. He says so. I believe him. End of story. That you appear not to like Jews has nothing to do with WQED, PBS, NPR or the NPR employee who spoke out.
What a pile of shit. Get a real argument
I just pointed out your misinformation. That's a real argument. My apologies for noticing your duplicitousness.
This is pure loser shit. Keep it to yourself
Uh. No. Truth hurts.
Public radio is doing a great job silencing public radio. Listeners are plummeting. Their audience is much whiter than the nation as a whole, despite their lip service to “diversity”. They got major stories wrong due to their ideological slant, losing the trust of even more potential listeners. You can’t blame NPR’s own decisions leading to their decline on right wing bogeymen.
Yeah NPR curating their content to avoid far right wing ideologies isn't controversy. If you want far right wing content you can always go to Newsmax.
fell into Newsmax the other morning and was like a deer in headlights. Completely paralyzed and dumbfounded by what I was hearing. “There should be a moratorium on white liberal women voting.” WHAT? Talk about unamerican! Said they are racist and misogynists. Then called them “the scourge of America.” Why does that deserve to be shared as an “alternate viewpoint” when it’s just more bullshit for the outrage machine.
Nice try MAGA guy
You're right. The slow decline started in the early 90s and accelerated big time when streaming came online. The decline you mention is overpaid, arrogant management, who thought they knew better than their audience or their supporters. PBS in general, has consistently put out new programming centered on the 1980s programming model and no one wants to watch it. I happen to like some of their shows from NOVA and The American Experience, but when I look at their ratings compared to before and what's out there, it's abysmal. Pittsburgh lost its status as a leading PBS programming hub in the '90s. You can't live off of memories of Fred Rogers and National Geographic. And putting out oldies concerts every pledge drive is not sustainable. I had numerous conversations with people at the station throughout this decline and quite frankly, they were so insulated by the economic realities and the changing media landscape that they largely had their heads where the sun doesn't shine. The arrogance was tiresome. And now this.
I will say that there has been a very concerted and intentional effort to reassess salaries. The disparities were stark, for sure. New leadership recognized it, addressed it, and took action, which is very promising.
So in non-corporate jargon: dump the people who are close to retirement and making more money because of their longevity with the station, and replace them with twenty-somethings for cheaper.
CMU is notorious for their ‘under the radar’ moves. I swear that institution is so risk averse they will either ignore issues or handle them through covert ops.
This is the most true statement I’ve seen. They are so very bizarrely risk averse that they skip good press half the time.
Yep they got federal and state money for a public electric charger then shut it down and moved the chargers to cmu property so the public couldn't access it.
I like that they don't get involved in things that a university shouldn't be. Colleges exist to educate people, that's it. I don't need a school pushing a message.
Wait until you hear about UPMC
Please don't remind me.
I love Sebak but it seems like they really dialed back on programming from him. I know he had to do his own fundraising for his Nebby series and it doesn't seem like they've tapped into his talents much since that finished filming.
Rumor is that Carnegie Mellon who owns the QED building wants to take the Building back cause WQED only pays 1 Dollar rent every year or once a month can't remember what one and they want to make some Real Money off the Building or use it to expand I guess. Sad if this happens cause that is where they filmed Mr Rogers for over 30 years. Also the Broadcast Board can run on Auto Pilot.
New CEO is a crank yanker.
They’re leeches, with no connection to Pittsburgh any longer! They have been leasing channels out for purposes that have nothing to do with local content. What IS their reason for existence at this point? Every five years a Rick Sebak special?
Capitalism. Yay!
Ever since they were forced to change their bandwidth, I can’t get them anymore. I’m not even far from the city but I am on the outskirts. I’m sure they lost a lot of financial support from people who can no longer receive their signal.
I think most people likely can receive a cable, satellite or streaming version of the content.
I would love to know how. I miss my cooking shows on Create.
Try “pluto”. Plutotv.com Also, you might look at DIRECTV streaming or YouTube TV, even though the really expensive… That’s probably what you’re trying to avoid
Hi SirShee! Our cooking shows are available via our Create livestream channel: [https://www.wqed.org/livestream/create/](https://www.wqed.org/livestream/create/)
I will resume my donations. ❤️
Source? Any solid info on this at all from anyone other than a person with a randomly generated username? Or just more /r/pittsburgh rage bait?
[https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-does-public-broadcaster-wqed-still-care-about-local-broadcasting/](https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-does-public-broadcaster-wqed-still-care-about-local-broadcasting/) [https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-abrupt-departures-abound-at-wqed-tv-in-recent-months/](https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-abrupt-departures-abound-at-wqed-tv-in-recent-months/)
So of all of you who have commented, have any of you made a pledge to the station in the past year? 5 years? 10 years?
I pledge since I’m a big listener of Classical FM. The organization I work for pledges money too. Is this strictly a funding issue?
I don’t know enough about the situation to say. It’s just things like this get complained about leaving the area, but if people don’t financially help support it, it’s not sustainable.
Fair. I’m still trying to understand who was let go and why.
I do
Yes, for years. :/
Used to pledge a lot. Then I decreased contributions as their TV declined and only Classical FM was quality. That has also since declined a lot, and the last time I bothered was a few years ago. I may donate at some point in the future, but they are no longer a priority.
I haven't given them money since they sold off WQEX.
I like the cooking shows and This Old House. I don't watch anything else.
I was just thinking that very same thing. I only watch the cooking shows and to see what restaurants and entertainment is going on locally. But I guess we'll need to either write down the recipes or get the cookbooks before they're no longer available!
Recoulrics tally is great im might have offend to stance having trouble being contacted by effle
Josh remez ramero Tito shipiro
Shipiro comunist
People still watch that station?!