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