Readers write
At WHQR-FM in Wilmington, N.C., the board of directors and General Manager John Milligan did not see eye to eye, and Milligan lost his job, as Current reported Dec. 14, 2009 ("Disconnect 'twixt board and manager").
Milligan asked them: Are board members 'prepared to throw in their support?'
To the editors:
With reference to your article on WHQR there are a few points that I sincerely feel need to be corrected or clarified.
You report quite in-depth the thoughts of Ann Howard. This is interesting since — as Ann Berry — she resigned of her own free will only three months into my tenure.
Further, the reappointment of the News Director position as well as the appointment of a second full-time reporter was made before I took over the reins of the station. During the reorganization in December 2008, Catherine Welch's position as News Director was also cut. However Welch later convinced the "coup" leaders to let the second reporter and the Morning Edition host (who left in February 2009) go in return for saving her own position.
Finally, you report that "Not quite 100,000 people live in the coastal town of Wilmington, making it the state’s ninth-largest city and somewhat less than a major public radio market." WHQR in fact broadcasts at 100Kw from a 1400-foot stick to an audience reach of 685,000, making it around [Market No.] 160 in the Arbitron ratings. Coverage extends from Jacksonville (and Camp LeJeurne) in the north; I-95 in the west; and Myrtle Beach (on a good day) to the south.
Despite this coverage and after consultation with some highly respected pub radio peers, I wrote to the Board earlier in 2008 and to the membership:
“So the question has to be asked: Can WHQR remain economically viable in this market? Are the communities, including the business community, prepared to support it? Does the current Board appreciate the economic challenges that the station faces, and are they prepared to throw in their support? The answers to these questions are complicated yet essential.”
Maybe this was just one of the “crazy things” I did, which along with an AQH of 6.0 and a cume rating of 11.7%, prompted Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo to say at a public forum, “Since John arrived WHQR has never sounded as good or accomplished so much in the city — we need WHQR!”
Sincerely,
John Milligan
Current's editor replies: We stand by Mike Janssen's story, which is consistent with what you're saying: You saw the opportunity for growth at WHQR and at least a few key people inside the station didn't, including two development officers who left, plus the board, which remained after you left. In both the text and the chart, we tried to make it clear the deficits had begun before you arrived.
— Steve Behrens
Posted Jan. 11, 2010
Current LLC
Takoma Park, MD