A or B?

First, we have to agree that we have problems. Pick one, or add one of your own:

• Mass shootings.
• Increasing income inequality.
• Distrust in elections and institutions.
• Disagreement about the nature of science and facts.
• The sheer scale of the millions who want to move to America, especially from South America.
• The ridiculous cost of healthcare and housing in America.
• Radio isn’t attracting young listeners.

That Radio one doesn’t fit with the others, does it? Helps with perspective though, don’t you think?

And it is a problem for our industry, so… once we agree there’s a problem then we have to figure out how to fix it, right?

Each faction in any disagreement needs to put forward its plan to solve the problem, not just yell at the other side, blaming them for the problem.

A plan has to have concrete steps forward or it has to admit it has none.

That’s a big deal. Honesty, for a change.

Gun violence in America? If it’s not about guns and it’s actually about mental health, what specific steps need to be taken to improve mental health in our country, and who’s going to pay for them?

What’s your plan, your specific plan to make our children and citizens safe?

If you’re Bob Pittman or David Field, what’s your specific plan to increase Radio revenue – not just cut “expense” by decreasing investment in the product (as if the actual product listeners hear is an expense) – but to make the product itself more valuable?

The beauty of a real plan with real steps needed to implement it is that it allows all of us to assess the plan and consider the most likely outcomes we can expect.

We can ask, “Will that actually work?”
“Why?”
“How?”

And we can stop pretending our work is done after voicing our frustrations about the problems we face.

We all need to be part of – and party to – the solutions.

And we need to figure this out with some urgency.

*Inspired by a Seth Godin post