As of 3:18 pm on Tuesday: we’ve received $16,181 from an even 300 of you.
Thank you! Join the club here.
Sunday February 12 2012
© 2012 Radio Open Source | licensed for free distribution under Creative Commons
This site is based on a design by Orman Clark
Keep this updated and up front so’s we know how we’re doin’. I noticed that Josh Marshall mentioned the SOS in his TPM on Friday (I believe).
I’m about to send you a payment. All I can do right now is $50. But I’d be happy to pledge $20 per month. Can we start a pledge drive? Could you guys manage it?
I chipped in $20.00 — I think there’s an opportunity being missed to expand this wonderful program. I notice that Chris doesn’t interact much online on the blog. Looks like his last comment was about a month ago, and I’m betting that many of his frontpage stories are often posted by staff. Just a guess, I have no idea really.
I can’t help but think that this program would explode if the community could count on Chris mixing it up, each and every program, with the listeners on the blog. The Connection at its best was a holy trinity of interactivity between Chris, fascinating guests and extraordinary callers. Besides doing great radio, Chris is gifted, passionate writer. He has the blogger’s gift, too — but he doesn’t use it enough.
Maybe take it even one step further: what if Chris and guests mixed it up on the blog after air in the spirit of keeping the conversation going? More and more, bloggers hang around after a post to exchange with their readers — and discussion is generated because readers know the poster will write back.
Make that $20.02
Just logged on for the first time in three weeks due to an emergency with my 94 year old mother in another city. When I get back to Seattle on June 7th I’ll send a check for $50 and another July 7th.
Many many people, both distant family and perfect strangers have helped me hugely in this time and I will contribute to ROS to thank all of them, especially the Urchin Man, whom I’m bringing back to Seattle with me to take care of and love.
I am in independent podcasting journalist on the verge of financial ruin. Hence my donation to you is some of my time, energy, and knowhow to help find guests, suggest topics, and maybe fix technical issues.
what would be great is if someone created a little “save open source” widget that we could post to our blogs. the only reason i even knew there was a pledge drive going on was because my RSS reader’s been acting up and i visited the site to see if i had missed any shows.
i wonder if there are more people who would give but aren’t aware because they subscribe to open source as a podcast.
You will be receiving my donation via the mail sometime this week, no doubt.
However, I would have expected, as others have suggested, seeing a fundraising goal posted on the site. It IS a common practice in public radio fundraising. Even an enterprising bum will ask for enough change to “buy a bus ticket to get home.” How much do you need to get home? What does it cost to produce the program? I might be more generous if I knew what it would take to make ends meet.
Before handing over my cash, I would like to know some basic information: What is the annual budget for this exercise and what are the salaries of the employees? Is this a full-time venture for those involved? Is there access to historic spending for radio opensource? How much has Mr. Lydon kicked in? Given the claim that he is the party responsible for the evolution of podcasts, perhaps Mr. Lydon could ask Mr. Jobs for a buck or two . . . Too bad this couldn’t be funded by inflated ego . . .
Yowch JJ!
The wife and I are buying a new home this month and need to show the bank a big fat positive balance in our accounts. I’m shopping at Haymarket and really trying to cut costs this month. Once we have our commitment letter, I’ll be free to send some cash your way. I PROMISE.
Couple other things…
1) I’ll donate $100 if you do a show with Chris Hitchens and Niall Ferguson slugging it out on the pros and cons of empire. (Of course, I want a ticket to the post-show beer blast.)
2) I’ve been in fundraising for eight years now. I’m happy to drop by some evening and talk with you. I don’t know if I can add anything to the knowledge you already have, but I thought I’d offer.
Good article in the Boston Globe today about OSM’s SOS: http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/05/30/open_source_host_lydon_asks_listeners_to_assist_show_financially/
I’m mailing a check for $500.
Thanks MMelford. The article has this beginning May 2006 – I believe it was more like 2005.
Also, I am reminded that WGBH is not funding this and they should. I think I am going to not give extra to them this year for the show as I did last year. I’ll divert that money here….
OTOH contributing to WGBH encourages them to continue carrying the show— a separate issue.