The email that I received Friday from Joel Rubin was one I had expected for a while.
WVEC TV is canceling On the Record, the half hour interview program I have hosted and executive produced since 1992.
The giveaway for me was the move of the show from 11:30 to noon. It just didn’t make sense. I guess the folks paying for Panthers Huddle wanted the slot (after all, most football shows come on at 12 or 12:30, just before the 1pm kickoffs). No doubt something similar will show up in the slot now. The article in today’s paper gives no hint of what is to come, only that the show was losing money.
No one is in business to lose money – I get that. But sometimes, there are things more important than money. On the Record brought to the citizens of Hampton Roads issues and opinions they might otherwise miss. While I might be most interested in the political candidates and issues discussed, it provided me insight into many other public issues as well, from offshore drilling to the closing of the Jordan Bridge, from historical information on the 1800 election to global warming. (You can find the topics of past shows here.) It is a shame to lose such a treasure.
Station general manager is not “closing the door” on a future relationship with Rubin. But in these tough economic times, I am realistic enough to know that without sponsorship, the show won’t come back. So what can we do? First, if you or your company can sponsor the show, contact station management right away. And second, if you enjoy the show as much as I do, let station management know.
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This Sunday, OTR will have gubernatorial candidate Senator Creigh Deeds as a guest. In the second segment, the topic is the Medicare Part D options for seniors, the decision on which they must make by December 31.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
This is really sad.
I have contacted the station.
On the Record is the ONLY local program that allows for perspectives on issues relating to our region. I hope that readers will contact WVEC to express the need for this program, and the unique niche WVEC-13 has in providing the community On the Record.
The marketing team at WVEC should have communicated to advertisers that this is a unique program providing the citizens of Hampton Roads with information that they would not receive otherwise. It is Marketing 101, this is not selling ice to Eskimos but selling water to marathon runners.
Great job in reporting this Vivian.
Another great way to register one’s displeasure is to write a letter to the editor. For the Virginian-Pilot: letters@pilotonline.com. The Daily Press has a form on one of it’s navigation buttons. Letters to the station are great, but when you write letters to the editor, we all get to see it!