Essential Public Media Not Waiting for FCC

When Essential Public Media announced Monday that it had signed an asset purchase agreement with Duquesne University to buy the licenses currently being used by WDUQ, it set a goal of taking over operations by July 1st. (See story posted May 2, 2011) With the sale pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission, it seemed to some like a near impossibility, however, at least one group working on the deal says it may not wait for the approval.

Susan Harmon is the Managing Director of Public Radio Capital and a Board Member of Public Media Company. She says a lack of FCC paperwork will not slow the process, “I think that we won’t have FCC approval by [June 30th] but if we can work on an operating arrangement with [Duquesne] University then that will be possible.” Public Radio Capital created Public Media Company to purchase and manage public radio stations across the country with the help of local partners. In the case of 90.5 FM, PMC partnered with WYEP to form Essential Public Media to purchase the WDUQ license.

Harmon says it typically takes the FCC 60 to 90 days to sign off on a license transfer so she does not expect the operating agreement to be in place for long. She says all the groups involved are working to quickly build the agreement.

At the same time, EPM is interviewing candidates to fill the post of general manager and has posted other job openings. Harmon says more job listings are expected in the coming weeks.

DU and EPM Ink Deal for 90.5 FM

A little more than two weeks after the April 15th deadline, Duquesne University and Essential Public Media have taken the next step in the process of transferring ownership of the license to broadcast at 90.5 FM in Pittsburgh.

In a brief statement, Duquesne University spokesperson Bridget Fare said, “Duquesne University and Essential Public Media have signed the asset purchase agreement for the sale of the station and the next step will be to file with the FCC which will happen shortly, and at that point in time the FCC will begin their 30-day comment period and both the University and E.P.M. are very pleased with this next step in the process and looking forward to moving along in that process.”

Essential Public Media is a nonprofit entity formed by local radio station WYEP and Colorado-based Public Media Company to purchase the license. Public Media Company was formed by Public Radio Capital with the goal of purchasing and operating public radio stations across the country in partnership with local entities. The WDUQ license would be the group’s first purchase.

EPM and WYEP Board Chair Marco Cardamone said, ”It is a very important milestone that we passed today and one of many that are yet to come, so a lot of work is still ahead.” The group is in the process of hiring an executive staff.

“Our intent is to still be operational by July 1,” said Cardamone, “that’s our goal, that’s our target date.”

The university has held the license for WDUQ for more than 60 years but decided in 2009 to sell the asset. A sale price of $6 million was arrived upon in January with Essential Public Media. That deal came with a 90-day deadline to gather funding.

“It is a very complicated transaction, as you might expect, and there were simply a few complications that needed to be worked out,” said Cardamone, “The attorneys did not feel comfortable unless we sort of satisfied every one of the items.”

Details of the finances are still to be made public but Cardamone says much of it is in cash with some seller financing.

UPDATE: Public Radio Capital's Susan Harmon says taking control of operations by July 1st may involve a operating agreement.

Bioethics Might Take Medical Ethics' Place

Dr. Edmund Pellegrino says that medical ethicist and bioethics should be working together for the good of patients. Dr. Pellegrino, Professor Emeritus of Medicine and medical Ethics at the Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at Georgetown University Medical Center, spoke at Duquesne University about medical ethics' relationship with bioethics. Medical ethics is the system of ethics that is applied to physicians and patient care, while bioethics is interdisciplinary and focus on the question that arise from bio-science.

Pellegrino says that bioethics was formed out of three main events, the first being the cultural shift that began in the 1960s away from previously trusted authority figures. He says that this distrust that happened around the time of the Watergate scandal caused the second event, a mistrust of physicians and medical ethics.

The third event was an acceptance of multiculturalism. "And that's all fine, but then again it began to confuse one cultural set of values with the right rules and this fed into the idea of individual determination. 'What's right and wrong is what I say it is, what I say it is, what I believe. And don't tell me anything different and don't argue with me."

Dr. Pellegrino stresses that instead of just accepting the values that one already has, there needs to be discourse and public examination of whether those are right or not. He says that without examination of whether things are actually beneficial to society or a patient there can be no true progress.

Pellegrino says that he sees two possible futures for bioethics. One is where bioethics take the place of Medical ethics. "No matter how highly organized we can be, not matter how technical we can be, how scientific we can be. The human condition of being will and wanting to be helped, cured if possible, at least relieved of pain and suffering will be universal. Don't leave that to this vague notion of bioethics. I'm asking you to leave it to physicians."

The second future would be one which he most likes, one where bioethics and medical ethics can work together. He says that the aim of both types needs to be figuring out how to best look at the human condition of being ill and working in the best interest of people.

Earth Hour Calls Attention to Climate Change

Tonight from 8:30–9:30 the City of Pittsburgh will officially participate in the global event, “Earth Hour,” during which hundreds of millions of people, organizations, corporations and governments around the world will come together and turn off their lights to demonstrate a concern for climate change.
In 2007, the first Earth Hour occurred in Sydney, Australia with 2.2 million people turning off their lights in a show of support for efforts to fight climate change. Pittsburgh began participating the following year and in 2010, 128 countries took part in Earth Hour. That included 90 million Americans and iconic American landmarks, such as, Seattle’s Space Needle, the Las Vegas Strip, St Louis’ Gateway Arch, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

This evening Carlow, Carnegie Mellon, Chatham, Duquesne, Point Park and the University of Pittsburgh will all have buildings go dark for one hour.
Since 2008, Councilman William Peduto has led the effort to have Pittsburgh be a partner in this global event.
“I am proud of Pittsburgh’s continued environmental leadership. Pittsburgh’s universities have long been leaders of the region and it is only appropriate that they lead Pittsburgh’s Earth Hour efforts.”

Free Session on Funding Tech Companies

Small businesses and university researchers can get some help in obtaining federal funding to grow their high tech companies and develop new ideas. The first of the free information sessions hosted by the Small Business Development Center at Duquesne University is Tuesday, March 22nd, followed by three daylong programs.

Cynthia Laurash, Consulting Manager at the Small Business Development Center, says the money is made available through the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research program (STTR). "So 11 federal agencies participate in these programs and they are required by law to share part of their R&D funds each year to solicit programs and research requests from small businesses."

Laurash says that both programs are under continuing authorization from Congress through the end of May. She says she believes Congress will work out a deal to keep the programs funded through the next 8-10 years because of their helpfulness to businesses.

WDUQ Buyer Looks for Comments

The entity chosen by Duquesne University to purchase its licenses to broadcast on 90.5 FM in Pittsburgh is looking for the region’s feedback. Earlier this month Duquesne University announced that it plans to sell the license currently used by WDUQ to a new group know as Essential Public Media. The group is a joint venture of the WYEP board and Public Media Company. Public Media Company is a nonprofit recently launched by Colorado based Public Radio Capital, which helps community groups buy public broadcast licenses. Essential Public Media has launched a website with links to news stories about the sale, a video of the sale agreement news conference and a place for the public to leave comments, ideas and suggestions. WYEP Board Chair Marco Cardamone says this is one of the first steps in the process. “ We wanted to follow up from the press release with some presence for anybody who heard about the name to log on and to give us, as we said there, any comments about anything that they think about related to this whole issue,” says Cardamone, “it’s really a listening post for us, our first attempt to start listening to others.”

Cardamone says they have not yet advertised the website and he has not checked the page to see how many comments have been left. He says he expects there will be new information released sometime in the early spring. “Within the next 60 to 90 days we plan to have another announcement and press conference perhaps,” says Cardamone.

Ridge: Sustainable Practices Should Be Seen as Investment

Former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania Governor was the keynote speaker at a conference hosted by Duquesne University in Pittsburgh Wednesday on the changing rules of sustainable business practices. Ridge brought to the discussion his expertise in security, running state government and working for the Marcellus Shale industry.
Ridge told those gathered that if sustainable practices are to be adopted by a business, the company must see it as an investment with a return rather than an expense. He says it needs to be part of a business brand and everyone from top to bottom needs to buy into the idea. Ridge says that goes for entire industries as well. He has been hired as a consultant by the Marcellus Shale Coalition and he says those companies must deal with sustainability issues in a very quick, real and public way...
"One accident, somebody trying to cut corners can tarnish it for everybody. So, there's got to be a certain amount of hopefully, self-policing and leadership within the industry itself to make sure that if you're here to be long term, 20 to 30 years to create family sustaining jobs, Pennsylvania jobs, and I want to create a platform where the industry is not grudgingly accepted but warmly embraced."

Ridge says managers need to embed sustainability as a for-profit methodology, a business process that affects the bottom line, has positive social impact and enhances stakeholder trust.

Nellie King Remembered as "Selfless, Terrific Guy"

Former Pirates pitcher and broadcaster Nellie King died today at age 82 after a battle with colon cancer and pneumonia. Nelson Joseph King was born in 1928 and pitched for the Pirates from 1954-57. After his playing days were over he began a broadcasting career and from 1967-75 announced Pirate games with Bob Prince.
Mr. King then joined Duquesne University as Sports Information Director, a position he held till he "retired" in 1992 and then became golf coach at the university.
Duquesne Associate Athletic Director Dave Saba said Nellie had a way of slowing down the day....."He'd stop by and be able to tell you a story that left a smile on your face. Every time he left the room, you felt a little bit better. I don't know if there's a higher compliment you can pay to someone. We'll miss him dearly."

Ray Goss, who has been the Duquesne Dukes basketball play-by-play announcer for 41 years, partnered with Nellie for 24 of those years...
"We traveled together, roomed together, ate together.....and of course, we talked..about basketball, politics, religion...he was a terrific guy. It's like part of me is missing because of his death."
Goss visited Mr. King last Thursday and said he was very weak and "I knew it was coming."
Goss says Mr. King was a great storyteller and during last week's visit, Goss says Mr. King told him that he was glad he finally got his book, "Happiness is like a Cur Dog: The Thirty-Year Journey of a Major League Baseball Pitcher and Broadcaster," published in 2009.
Nellie King is survived by his wife, Bernadette and daughters, Laura, Leslie and Amy. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.