I agree with you on all your points – and agree with the writer on the “bee-sting” lips comment. I have thought for years that Jeff Simon, while an incredibly gifted writer, is the singular most sexist critic in Buffalo journalism history. That said, Alan, the first rule in journalism school is don’t make yourself part of the story. Keep doing what you’re doing and don’t let the bastards get you down.

I’m not demanding that WBFO go back to jazz during the evening (when I used to listen on an almost nightly basis), although being a Southern Tier listener unable to pick up Toronto signals, it’d be appreciated. Public radio is not supposed to be about pandering to an audience. That’s the realm of commercial programming. The role of public broadcasting is to make culturally significant programming available to the masses. Personally, I’d say moving the jazz to WNED-AM would be a smart move and a better use for the 970 signal than duplication. As for “everybody else does it,” you don’t need me to remind you of the old mother’s adage about jumping off a bridge.

But the real punchline of the column is Simon, in the Buffalo News, slamming WIVB for gutting their news resources and casting aside veteran journalists while his paper is doing the EXACT same thing. You could build a hell of a newspaper with the reporters who’ve been through the paper’s buyout program. To then go on and claim credit for Alan’s story (which is the same as not giving credit), another veteran reporter from one of the News’ “buyouts,” is the cherry on top of the hypocrisy cupcake.

It wasn’t until an article over the summer when Simon wrote the outrageous statement that one of my esteemed colleagues at WBFO has done more to harm the arts in Buffalo than anyone in the media that I decided to begin speaking out, especially now that I no longer have a management position at WBFO.

I have always found Jeff Simon’s columns to be unreadable. He goes off on tangents, and yes, it’s all about him. Even as a kid who was getting interested in radio, I remember not liking Simon when he was the News radio and TV critic because he didn’t cover the industry. I had to read about the latest developments from Jack Allen and then Jim Baker in the Courier. I don’t always agree with you, Alan, but your columns were always accessible to your readers.

I understand a columnist has certain liberties that a reporter does not have. But it astounds me that News editors permit Simon to advance a personal agenda — his apparent love of jazz — in the pages of its newspaper. A column or two that he doesn’t like our jazz would have been appropriate. But more than a quarter of a century of such columns? It’s overkill. And I have to question whether the vast majority of News readers even care!

The fact is there is not a market for jazz on the radio in a city the size of Buffalo. Fortunately, the signal of Toronto’s jazz station covers much of Buffalo. So, local jazz lovers can hear their music. And I’m one of them. I listen to Jazz FM 91.1 several times a week.

Please know that WBFO is better serving the Buffalo radio audience through its presentation of quality NPR news programming than we would if our format was jazz. Plus, Simon and Buck Quigley at Artvoice spread a pure falsehood that many take as gospel — that WBFO duplicates programming available on WNED-AM. First of all, WBFO is a charter member of NPR and has been presenting “All Things Considered” since its first broadcast in May 1971. Yes, both stations are now airing “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” but that’s done in all markets where there are two or more public radio stations. Nothing unusual there. Does Simon really believe we should drop “Morning Edition” from our line-up in favor of jazz? You want to hear real outage from the WBFO audience? Plus, during the rest of the day, there is exactly one hour of duplication — ONE HOUR — at 10am with “On Point.” The rest of the time, each station is running separate shows — for example, “Fresh Air” on WBFO and “Hear and Now” on WNED at 12noon. But I guess a columnist like Simon does not let the facts get in the way when he’s trying to make a point.

And you are right about one thing, Alan. You are breaking more news about Buffalo TV than the Buffalo News is. The News is consistently reporting on stories that I read here first. I know it must be frustrating that you’re not getting the credit for that. But all of us in the industry are well aware that the News is now following your lead. It’s not the other way around.