The only radio station that I listen to is NPR. I prefer to watch PBS for news, and because I like Nature and some of their other programs. However; I think the public is often misled to believe that they, and other nonprofits, are truly non profit. In fact, they have subtly begun squeezing in advertisements at the beginning of programs, in spite of the fact that they claim to be commercial-free.
I subscribe to only two magazines, both of which began as advertisement-free, but one has succumbed to more and more ads through the years. The ads are limited to subjects related to the magazine itself. Both magazines have been in publication for decades, so they are apparently doing something right. I do not mind the few ads because the stories and articles are worth reading. The other periodical regularly asks for donations on top of their already steep subscription rates. The issues always have subscription cards tucked inside of them; and the publishers have put together book volumes containing the best stories from their many years of publications, which they also promote. I enjoy the articles and the interviews, which help me to stay abreast of important issues, so I don’t mind this bit of extra paper that I am forced to recycle.
If you listen to NPR or watch PBS, you have to put up with their twice yearly fund drives. It can be tiring to listen to and I frequently turn the program off during those times. I cannot help wondering if it is really necessary for them to do this. Nonprofits still have to make a profit, so the term nonprofit is really a misnomer. They have overhead and employees to pay, so clearly, they would not survive if they did not profit. They rely heavily on volunteers, who are willing to work for free. Other businesses rely on desperate people who are willing to work for a minimum wage that keeps them trapped in poverty. The nonprofits are really no different than those other companies that seek to exploit others for their own gain. The only difference lies in their right to be tax exempt. They are as much a contributor to capitalism as are the big corporations. I cannot help wondering why we have allowed capitalism to grow like a great tsunami, which is now heading straight towards us, where all but about 1% of the population (the obscenely rich) is about to be swallowed up.
