Jon Gallant <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>The interesting question, to me, is how the corporate way of doing things
>somehow takes over supposedly non-corporate entities. Is it like a
>computer virus?

Easy question...

Unfortunately the arts and public broadcasting are corporate entities.
They will incorporate as non-profits and seek tax-exempt status.  Along
the way they have to have boards.  Board members are usually seen as
needing to be major donors.  To be a major donor you have to have lots
of money.  To have lots of money you usually have a corporate mentality,
and expectedly, you will bring that mentality to the process.  So you
look for a bottom line. The most easily measurable bottom line is income.
Hence, what started out as a well intentioned educational organization
ends up being run like a for profit corporation, where success is measured
by the amount of money one can raise.  Artistic and educational success
is too difficult to measure, so, it no longer is considered "the product."

In a sense, it is like a computer virus. The process will wipe out the
memory of why the organization was started in the first place.

Here in Austin we used to have a good classical station and a good NPR
station.  Since they have become almost totally corporate, we now have
an emerging cooperative station.  One can only wonder how long it will
be before the cooperative station goes corporate.

Karl