Q&A on the News
Q: Can you tell us the frequency with which the two Atlanta PBS TV stations now run their fundraising drives? It seems like it occurs about every six weeks, for two weeks at a time. Wasn’t it formerly two times a year?
-- Tulah Vatalaro, Roswell
A: There has been no change in the frequency of fundraising drives, officials for the stations tell Q&A on the News. PBA 30 has for years held four drives -- one during each winter, spring, summer and fall -- that generally are about two weeks long each (the exact number of days may vary), general manager John Weatherford said. The station also has two short pledge drives (known in the industry as TOOPS, for "targeted opportunities of pledge") lasting four days each, in October and April. It also has three special day drives on holidays such as New Year's Day and Tax Day. He added that the radio station, WABE-FM (90.1), holds two drives a year. Like most PBS stations, Georgia Public Broadcasting typically holds on-air fundraising drives in March, June, August and December, spokeswoman Nancy Zintak said. A few "TOOPS" weekends during the year allow the station to share special offers that come from PBS or ticket and event offers with its members/audience, she said. The station averages 60 to 65 days of on-air fundraising per year, she said. GPB has maintained the same amount of on-air fundraising the past three years, she said.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
