# Public radio listeners: Do you pledge? How much?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-radio-listeners-do-you-pledge-how-much/237578
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 31, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-radio-listeners-do-you-pledge-how-much/237578 "2004-03-31T18:30:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [April 4, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-radio-listeners-do-you-pledge-how-much/237578/21 "2004-04-04T01:56:17Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#):
>
> Know why they have limited programs and don’t feature ones you like? Not enough people pledging. This translates to not enough money for the local station to purchase higher-quality programming that would be more in line with what the audience would like.
Nawww, like I said, they cater to the lowest denominator. I bet the shows they watch DO get a very high rating, but that’s not a good thing from my perspective. In addition, when I inquired about their format, they replied and basically said “we don’t have to listen to you,” without inquiring as to my membership status. I see no reason they should listen to me if I do donate.
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### Author:  [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-radio-listeners-do-you-pledge-how-much/237578/22 "2004-04-07T16:39:53Z")
Update: my wife and I ended up pledging $365 and breaking it into 12 monthly payments. We opted not to receive any thank-you gifts, but we are looking forward to our day sponsorship, which allows us to have a short message broadcast several times one day. Perhaps I’ll start a thread soliciting ideas once we have more details.
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### Author:  [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-radio-listeners-do-you-pledge-how-much/237578/23 "2004-04-07T18:09:17Z")
I stopped all my NPR donations (with the exception of [WFUV-FM Fordham University](http://www.wfuv.com/) in The Bronx) several years ago. The reason? Politics. I find some of the content spewed on an NPR Pacifica station (WBAI) offensive.
Surprised no one has rationalized their lack of contributions / support to NPR by stating they’ve spent enough money at McDonalds over the years & the late Krok widow donated for them.
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-radio-listeners-do-you-pledge-how-much/237578/24 "2004-04-07T20:35:05Z")
I tend to donate the minimum amount for a membership that lets you into the free concerts (which I have yet to go to). I could afford more, but there are so \* very many \* organizations that want my money. Two university alumni funds, various conservation groups, the many American (name your deadly disease) Societies, various co-worker’s walkathons, and so on. It’s pretty much a vast sink into which I could endlessly throw checks. So they all get a pittance, the size of which depends on my mood at the time of the check-writing, and my current job security. If the organization pisses away that pittance sending me a letter a month asking for more money, I’m less inclined to give them anything in the future.
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### Author:  [@dublos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dublos)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-radio-listeners-do-you-pledge-how-much/237578/25 "2004-04-07T21:00:20Z")
> [@Kakofonous](#):
>
> I support MPR (listen exclusively to KNOW 91.1, the News and Information Station). I give $120 and a local 2for1 dinner card, a gift (coffee travel mug this last time) and pass on the magazine. When there’s a bit of extra cash floating around, I intend to support Iowa Public radio (WOI radio group) as I take advantage of their web streaming.
I went for 20 bucks a month because I wanted the Sony Radio. 🙂
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