Public Commercial Radio

       Two local "public" radio stations are including more commercials on their air waves.  They don't want them to be called commercials, but they are.

       Last week, one of those stations did a promo for itself, speaking of its virtues, proudly ending, "and all this with no commercials."  The irony was pretty heavy--just before the promo, three businesses had been identified as sponsors, including "selling" language for those respective companies.

       I have heard the words "supporters" and "underwriters," and I remember a time when that minimal straightforward wording and the sparseness of such announcements made those appellations credible.

       But now I even hear the word "sponsor" used on the air shamelessly.  And the numbers are growing.  When will the government, not to mention listeners, decide "public" radio doesn't need us any more and withdraw funding?