Argument 109/110 Arg 109 shift programming in radio station-o
109) The following appeared in a memorandum from the general manager of KNOW radio station.
Several factors indicate that radio station KNOW should shift its programming from rock-and-roll music to a continuous news format. Consider, for example, that the number of people in our listening area over fifty years of age has increased dramatically, while our total number of listeners has declined. Also, music stores in our area report decreased sales of recorded music. Finally, continuous news stations in neighboring cities have been very successful. The switch from rock-and-roll music to 24-hour news will attract older listeners and secure KNOW radio's future.
Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.
110) The following appeared in a memorandum from the manager of KNOW radio station.
Several factors indicate that KNOW radio can no longer succeed as a rock-and-roll music station. Consider, for example, that the number of people in our listening area over fifty years of age has increased dramatically, while our total number of listeners has declined. Also, music stores in our area report decreased sales of rock-and-roll music. Finally, continuous news stations in neighboring cities have been very successful. We predict that switching KNOW radio from rock-and-roll music to 24-hour news will allow the station to attract older listeners and make KNOW radio more profitable than ever.
Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.
C1: Several factors indicate that radio station KNOW should shift its programming from rock-and-roll music to a continuous news format.
G1: Consider, for example, that the number of people in our listening area over fifty years of age has increased dramatically, while our total number of listeners has declined.
G2: Also, music stores in our area report decreased sales of recorded music.
G3: Finally, continuous news stations in neighbouring cities have been very successful.
A1 (G1, C1): The people over 50 would prefer continuous news format and they should be accommodated in order to attract more listeners.
A2 (G2, C1): The decreased sales of recorded music suggested that people are not interested in radio music.
A3 (G3, C1): The success of news radio stations of neighbouring cities could be replicated.
The switch from rock-and-roll music to 24-hour news will attract older listeners and secure KNOW radio's future.
assumption 1: the decline of number of listeners is the result of increasing number of older people who do not like rock and roll music
- maybe fewer people listen to the station because they now spend more time on new media such as Spotify
- older listeners may actually enjoy rock-and-roll music by the stars they knew earlier (featuring some old rock-and-roll music may be helpful)
assumption 2: the decreased sales of recorded music means that people have lost interest in rock-and-roll music
- maybe the recorded music has become too expensive with the decline of disposable income due to poor economy
- people now turn to the Internet for music (radio station needs to design their programs differently to attract more audience)
- perhaps people prefer free music which is good news for the radio station
assumption 3: the success of the news station can be replicated
- maybe the people in neighboring cities are very different in terms of age, income level and taste
- maybe there is a good news station in KNOWs listening area
- maybe these stations have expertise for news that KNOW does not have