Topic: Radio Ratings

NPR's traditional radio listenership has reportedly dropped by over 25% as fewer people are commuting in cars. While podcasting numbers are up, the monetization through underwriting is not yet equivalent to radio advertising revenue, presenting a financial challenge for public broadcasting.

The news media has shifted focus entirely to the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, creating what is described as a "debris field" of information. CNN and other networks have seen a significant ratings boost from the continuous coverage, leading to criticism that the tragedy is being exploited for viewership.

An NPR story regarding a "Cheesepocalypse" or Velveeta shortage is deconstructed as a blatant example of native advertising. The hosts point out that the source of the story was Kraft's own Tumblr page, launched during "Advertiser Week." They estimate the value of such a four-minute "earned media" segment on national public radio to be between $50,000 and $150,000.

Glenn Beck has achieved significant ratings success and recently appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, though the photo was criticized for being intentionally unflattering. His radio show has evolved into a "political zoo" format that competes with established hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. The hosts express annoyance at the success of mainstream media figures who they believe distribute disinformation.