Tanya Singh makes no bones about where she stands. "I want my NPR,” says the chief executive officer of V.I. Public Television System WTJX channel 12 on the station’s newly created webpage.
When the station that carried National Public Radio programming, WVGN, was sold last year to Detroit-based broadcaster Robert J. Watkins., it went off the air March 15 as the station began broadcasting as WVIE.
WVIE carries contemporary programming and Watkins said he plans to eventually adopt a lively format with a live DJ interacting with the local audience.
On Saturday, Singh said WTJX was in talks with National Public Radio to bring the programming back to the territory – but, of course, it needs funding.
The message on the station’s webpage reads: “WTJX-FM, 93.1, is in the process of bringing back NPR programming to the Virgin Islands and we need your assistance.” It continues to call for tax-deductible donations, stating that “all proceeds from donations on this page will go to getting NPR on WTJX-FM.”
Singh hasn’t wasted a moment putting her plans in action. A Source article on Saturday announced WTJX’s intention to acquire NPR programming, along with an email contact.
She said Tuesday that the response already has been encouraging. "We’ve already received a $400 donation Monday,” she said. The webpage accepts MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Discover credit cards and Pay Pal.
With a hefty goal of $60,000, Singh said she feels confident about the community’s commitment to NPR. She said the bulk of the money would go for bulk programming with some toward PRSS the content distributor fees.
Singh is looking to the public for more than financial help, she said. "People have been emailing me with ideas. I want to contact people to form a focus group to find what they are interested in, the best times to air and to figure out what programs people want.”
For more information, contact Singh at tsingh@wtjx.org or visit http://www.wtjx.org/npr-donation/.
