Comments on: Peak Oil… Meet Public Media: Virtualizing the Workplace

By: jmproffitt

jmproffitt — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:28:10 +0000

To my knowledge it hasn’t been published at all. The stations I’m talking about aren’t “mine” so I can’t speak for them. If someone wanted to inquire about this (from Current or otherwise), I’d start with the GM of KSKO in McGrath, Alaska. They’ve been hit really hard and are trying to survive, but the future is murky at best.

The only thing that’s official and public is that the Alaska legislature passed a one-time $400,000 payment to the statewide public radio system to help with rising fuel and healthcare costs this year. No commitments into future years.

Stations in Alaska — like much of the rest of the country, I suppose — don’t like to talk doom-and-gloom in public, for fear of scaring away supporters.

By: toddmundt

toddmundt — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:13:25 +0000

Yes, Iowa Public Radio’s news department has functioned well, spread out over 4 locations, with a daily conference call, emailing of scripts, an ftp site and heavy use of Google Talk. Thanks for the comments!

By: toddmundt

toddmundt — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:12:08 +0000

I’m really sorry to hear that it’s come to this. These public radio stations are the only local radio in many Alaskan communities. John – I’m not as connected to Current as I should be. Has this story been widely published?

By: jmproffitt

jmproffitt — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:46:23 +0000

Separately, I totally agree that reporters should be “virtual” employees. Even when our folks are working in the same physical space, they’re still exchanging files and info via e-mail (and lately, chat) and even use a blog for some coverage planning.

Why they have to be in our office is unclear to me, except for a couple times a week to “touch base” with the whole crew. My understanding is that the always-out-of-the-office mode is typical for newer services like Pegasus News in the Dallas, TX area. It’s the smart way to go, even without a fuel crisis or a peak oil situation.

By: jmproffitt

jmproffitt — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:43:44 +0000

Here’s an interesting angle on the cost of energy. There are several public radio stations in rural Alaska that actually buy their own diesel fuel supplies in order to power their generators that power their transmitters.

Those stations are dying, and fast. They’re appealing to the state for more money, and they’re getting a little bit now, but in the end, they’re likely to be killed off. One station has already dropped its membership in the statewide network because they can’t afford the fees anymore. This is a once-proud station that had 5 reporters on staff but now has 1.5 people on staff total.

This is, of course, a rare example. But it’s quite real for the folks in rural parts of Alaska that in time will lose their public radio service entirely — in towns where public radio is the only broadcast service of any kind.

By: toddmundt

toddmundt — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:57:41 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Rob! You’re one of the best examples of successful telecommuting: on-site when you need to be, at home in paradise on PEI the rest of the time – but always connected.

By: Rob Paterson

Rob Paterson — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:38:50 +0000

So right Todd - a huge amount of costs are involved "going to work" the commute time, the car, the gas, the parking - lunch for the staff. Worse for families - daycare etc - time away from our partners the financial and economic costs are big

The office, the kit, the taxes, the heat and cooling the taxes etc for the employer.

All because we need face time. All because we don't manage by outcomes.

Social media gives us the social part of work - I hardly ever see my co workers or clients - when I do we tend to party and work very hard. This is much better.

Isn't most of your work on the PC anyway?

Come in for the odd meeting - but don't spend all your money on "going to work"

If we telecommute many parts of our lives get better