What public radio and the mosh pit have in common

Photo: Ted Van Pelt, CC some rights reserved

Trust.

NCPR’s side of the equation is obvious: every time we ask you for a contribution to help us pay the bills, or an idea for a story, or just about anything we need, you come through, you catch us.

We have to ask ourselves why this is so.  Why can we trust you, why can we plan our work based on your generosity and reliability?

It seems to me the answer is trust on your side of the equation, too.

You trust that we’ll deliver solid, fact-based news coverage, a fair balance of issues and stories; that we’ll carefully curate cultural content; that we’ll respect the conversation with you about, well, anything that comes up on air or on digital platforms.

Photo: Elyce Feliz, CC some rights reserved

This is somewhat obvious. You wouldn’t give us money and time and encouragement unless you trusted the basic work we do day in and day out.

I think the relationship between NCPR and its community takes trust to an extraordinary depth. I’m going to sound a little corny here, but bear with me…it’s our 45th anniversary year.

I think you know that ultimately it is NOT about money, even when we’re asking you for money, as we will be doing this week.

Oh, okay, for some of you it is transactional: give us the programs, we’ll give you the money.

But for so many of you it’s about building and creating something together, day by day, story by story, song by song. That’s the part of the trust relationship that makes me jump up and down with glee. No kidding. Even after all these years. It’s what gets me to work every day.

You being there. The station being there. All of us trying to make something worthwhile.

Pretty cool, huh?

So, all I’m going to do at this point is give you the link. I trust you’ll do the rest.

Photo: Irmeli Aro, CC some rights reserved

Years ago, I planted my first peony in the front yard. As the bush budded out, I noticed ants all over the buds. An elderly gardener I knew told me that the buds needed the ants to open into flowers. I didn’t believe her. I washed the plant with soapy water to deter the ants. Okay, you know the punchline: none of the buds opened. Now I rely on the ants, and I trust my gardening friends.

Thanks.

Tags: fundraising, public radio, trust