Home

From the President

  Contact: norms@wxxi.org

 

Twitter's labeling of NPR

By Norm Silverstein ~ Posted Thu, 04/13/2023 - 4:25pm
You couldn’t have listened to the news this week without hearing something about the "War of Words" between John Lansing, president of NPR, and Elon Musk, billionaire, inventor, and owner of the social media site Twitter. Musk has gotten it into his head that because NPR receives a small amount of funding from the federal government, it should be labeled as government-funded, with the implication that NPR is beholden to power brokers.
 
Let me assure you, nothing could be further from the truth.
 
NPR doesn’t pay member stations like WXXI to run their programming. We pay dues to NPR for the right to air their programming, helping to keep our members and our community informed. And where does that support come from? Member support, corporate underwriting, grants, bequests, and the generosity and interest of our listeners.
 
Why do people contribute? Because they know this is the place for fact-based journalism. This is Rochester’s place for news that matters. And, our reporters, announcers and editors are among the best.
 
In the more than 25 years that I’ve been at the helm at WXXI, I have never had a politician or government official call and try to influence me or get me to change a story. You’ve heard our pledge drives and may have made a gift yourself.
 
With your continued support, we’ll keep our community strong with news that matters, not confusing gibberish that seeks to undermine the truth. That’s what people expect from their WXXI… and that’s what we intend to deliver.
Tags:
»

More Recent Messages

WXXI completes acquisition of WJZR-FM radio frequency

By Norm Silverstein ~ Posted Wed, 01/25/2023 - 4:02pm

On Jan. 24, 2023 Lee Rust of North Coast Radio Inc. joined me in signing documents that complete WXXI's acquisition of Rust's now-dormant WJZR signal. Valued at $1.2 million, the purchase agreement for WJZR includes a $525,000 charitable gift donation from Rust. As part of the agreement, WXXI plans to relocate WJZR to its tower.

»

WXXI, the Little Theatre and CITY News are anti-racist organizations

By Norm Silverstein ~ Posted Thu, 12/01/2022 - 12:46pm

WXXI, the Little Theatre, and CITY News are dedicated to the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and we are doing the hard work of looking inside and outside of our organizations to make sure that we are living up to our DEI promise. As part of this work, we have put in place a DEI Council made up of staff, board members and volunteers.

»

We stand in solidarity with the Buffalo community

By Norm Silverstein ~ Posted Mon, 05/16/2022 - 8:56am

Once again, we must bear the shock, hurt and heartache of a racially motivated mass shooting, this time just down the thruway from us in Buffalo. Our hearts go out to the victims, survivors, their families and to all that have been touched by this horrific event.

It’s important that we support each other and that we do our best to help our community cope.

»

Celebrating 25 years

By Norm Silverstein ~ Posted Tue, 08/10/2021 - 10:39am

This year marks my 25th anniversary and I recently sat down with the Rochester Business Journal to talk about the work of WXXI over the last quarter of a century. I thought I'd share the piece with you here. Click the link for a pdf of the profile. 

»
more