Our View: It's time to help out YPR

Many folks in the area go to sleep at night listening to classical music on Yellowstone Public Radio and wake up in the morning listening to the latest state and worldwide news on "Morning Edition."

YPR has become a tradition in eastern Montana for providing news, public service and entertainment that other media cannot offer.

The National Public Radio news staff provides the kind of in-depth reporting that no other organization can. Its talk shows have enlightened discussion of public issues without the screaming of cable television and AM radio.

This is the week that the public can take part in public radio.

It is the station’s pledge week, and listeners are urged to make contributions to help defray the costs for the nonprofit organization’s expenses.

Many people help donate money to keep the station going but an awful lot don’t, and we hope they will start this year.

The station is Montana through and through and has programming designed for the Treasure State. It is the place people can tune in for state news updates. People interested in deciding who to vote for in the Nov. 4 elections can listen to debates between the candidates. Interview programs have a Montana and western flavor. If you want to keep up with the goings-on of the Montana State Legislature when it convenes in January, no electronic media can come close to YPR reportage.

If you are a fan of classical music, jazz or folk, there is no place else you can go.

There is a tendency to assume that YPR will always be there, and the station is far from being bankrupt. But if the high quality programming is to continue, management will need more money just to keep pace.

And the cost of running the operation is high. Reaching the far corners of the vast, rural eastern Montana area is not easy.

Yes, the daily pleadings from staff and station friends to pony up can be irritating, especially when you want to hear the top-notch programming. But you won’t be able to hear the programs if they money is not forthcoming.

So when you hear the requests for money this week, get your money, checkbook or credit card out to help out. Call the station directly or call up http://www.ypr.org.