Re: Cary Ginell’s Aug. 30 letter, “KCLU abandons jazz”:
As the former program director of KCLU Radio, I can say that Cary Ginell’s comments do not represent a majority of the listening audience in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. His confusion seems to stem from his own actions.
Ginell quit volunteering with KCLU on his own accord, and his bitterness appears to live on. Nonprofit public radio stations often rely on volunteers to support programming and fundraising efforts, and when the volunteers stop coming in, as Ginell did, the programs often change to meet the needs of the listening audience.
Since I left KCLU in 2001, I have continued to live and work in Ventura County. I can proudly say that I continue to listen to KCLU — now more than ever. The radio station has improved year after year by offering what myself and others want to hear, such as award- winning local news programs and in-depth analyses of local, national and international events. No other radio station meets those needs like KCLU, and station management should be commended for responding to listeners’ needs.
Ginell did not single-handedly raise “tens of thousands of dollars” as he wrote in his letter, and it is misleading for him to imply this. The KCLU fundraising drive comes from a collective team effort, which includes staff, volunteers and station management. In fact, the other KCLU jazz hosts who continue to air jazz music and volunteer must feel embarrassed by Ginell’s comments.
Furthermore, if Ginell in fact hates KCLU so much, he should just stop listening. Duke Ellington may have liked his swing, as Ginell noted in his comments, but Ellington also once said, “If it sounds good and feels good, then it is good!”
KCLU still sounds good. Enough said.
—Jeff Barry, Simi Valley
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