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I’m sorry for this rare weekend interruption, but it is necessary as you’ll see below.
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WHAV’s fiscal year ends Monday, June 30, and expenses are up while income is below last year as numbers stand now.
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The good news is WHAV’s individual and family subscriptions and donations are up 9.8% over last year—about $3,300 more. Far offsetting this gain though is—like what’s happening at public radio stations around the country—underwriting by businesses has dropped 16.9%—or down more than $27,000.
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Making matter worse—as it has for residents and businesses alike—inflation has taken its toll. With much effort and internal efficiencies, WHAV has managed to hold increasing costs to 7.2%, but it is not enough.
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It is polite to avoid comparisons, but I must be extraordinarily and necessarily candid here. WHAV carefully tracks what the competition delivers and what they charge. The regular, ongoing digital only, monthly subscription to the Boston Globe is $36 and the Eagle-Tribune’s is $29.99. Print editions cost even more. Competitors also take more than what first comes to mind. For example, cable television subscribers pay enormous surcharges for, on one hand, mostly opinionated “news” channels and, on the other, fees for what is loosely described as local service. These household charges and fees add up to far, far more than the average monthly subscription or donation paid to WHAV.
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Those looking for Greater Haverhill and Merrimack Valley news on other outlets barely find either and, when they do, it is often quite late and because WHAV called attention to the news in the first place.
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Even though it is a nonprofit, public station, it may surprise you that WHAV does not receive government subsidies. Yet, private, for-profit media receive millions annually in required, taxpayer-paid subsidies, called legal notices, that barely anyone still sees. You may also have witnessed how one private-equity-owned outlet has co-opted another nonprofit and is receiving what may well be an illegal advantage.
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Local news should not be a luxury and that’s why WHAV News—on-air, online, in the Wavelengths eNewspaper and elsewhere—is available to all without a paywall. An informed public makes for better neighbors, employees, volunteers, customers, leaders and voters. For those who can afford it, thank you for your support. Please consider matching your donation to those paid to other outlets. For others, please consider starting a monthly WHAV subscription by midnight, Monday, June 30, by reviewing the options here (https://whav.net/subscribe/).
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P.S., WHAV manages several email lists and apologizes if you receive a duplicate of this email appeal.
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