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lauragarbes.bsky.social
@lauragarbes.bsky.social
250 followers 270 following 39 posts
Sociologist @ UMN. I study public media, race, voice, and orgs.

Order “Listeners Like Who?” here: https://press.Princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691257426/listeners-like-who with discount code P327
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lauragarbes.bsky.social
It’s publication day for Listeners Like Who? @princetonupress.bsky.social.

I’m grateful to the journalists that shared their stories with me, the colleagues and friends that read copious drafts, and the early readers of the book. press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
A dedication that reads “To the squeaky wheels of public radio” A book cover of a book entitled “Listeners like Who?” On a wooden table
September 9, 2025 at 12:23 PM
lauragarbes.bsky.social
Had a blast seeing my book Listeners Like Who? in the wild at ASA this weekend 🤩

@princetonupress.bsky.social

press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
August 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
lauragarbes.bsky.social
From my forthcoming book, listeners like who (press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...)
Through an analysis of public broadcasting archives and marketing materials, I have shown throughout this book that public radio has become reliant on a set of mostly white, affluent donors for financial survival. To resolve the fundamental tension between public radio’s mission to reflect and serve all Americans and its entrenched white dominance, it is necessary to rethink the public radio industry’s funding structure altogether. Underfunding by the state leads to a dependence on donors, which promotes personal attachments to public radio. It might sound daunting and perhaps overly ambitious to completely change this model, since it’s been in place for fifty years at the time of this project’s writing. But then when we look at any other democratic nation with a public broadcaster, it becomes clear that this model is both uniquely American and not an inevitability.
August 1, 2025 at 6:16 PM
lauragarbes.bsky.social
Must have been one of my first talks! And yes. Depressingly timely reminder to folks that publicly funding public media is a racial justice issue.
Through an analysis of public broadcasting archives and marketing materials, I have shown throughout this book that public radio has become reliant on a set of mostly white, affluent donors for financial survival. To resolve the fundamental tension between public radio’s mission to reflect and serve all Americans and its entrenched white dominance, it is necessary to rethink the public radio industry’s funding structure altogether. Underfunding by the state leads to a dependence on donors, which promotes personal attachments to public radio. It might sound daunting and perhaps overly ambitious to completely change this model, since it’s been in place for fifty years at the time of this project’s writing. But then when we look at any other democratic nation with a public broadcaster, it becomes clear that this model is both uniquely American and not an inevitability.
July 22, 2025 at 9:59 PM
lauragarbes.bsky.social
In my latest for Work and Occupations, I show how POC in public radio expand the stories available on the airwaves, due to their connections with and commitment to underrepresented communities journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Screenshot of a journal article titled “Occupational Activism of Outsiders within: How Journalists of Color Work Toward a More Expansive News Ecosystem” This article examines the storytelling values, critiques, and practices of journalists of color in public radio, a historically white dominant industry. I draw on 83 interviews with people of color employed in public radio to analyze their stated values and how they use their position to disrupt the white racial frame that shapes the industry's genre in accordance with said values. Interviewees highlighted a commitment to make more stories that would resonate with their communities of origin; further, they expressed a commitment to exposing existing, majority-white public radio listeners to a more diverse set of news stories through their storytelling. Their “outsider within” status leads public radio employes of color to recognize the white racial frame of public radio storytelling and organizational resistance to change. Given the mismatch between their values and the organization's white racial frame, public radio employes of color engage in values-centered occupational activism. Specifically, they find newsroom allies, reframe stories to make it through the white racial frame, and in some cases, directly challenge authorities to ensure a more diverse set of news stories make it on air. This form of values-centered occupational activism promotes a more expansive and diverse news ecosystem, both in newsroom culture and in the broader public sphere.
July 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
lauragarbes.bsky.social
Copy of my book just arrived in the mail today! Feels unreal. You can preorder it here: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
A book cover with title “Listeners Like Who? Exclusion and Resistance in the Public Radio Industry”
July 21, 2025 at 9:55 PM
lauragarbes.bsky.social
The senate has begun debating the rescissions act. Debate ends around 1:30 ET today, with amendments to follow. A final vote is expected today or tomorrow.

Call your senators now and urge them to remove cuts to public media! It’s the most impactful action you can take on it today.
The senate has begun debating the rescissions act. Debate ends around 1:30 ET today, with amendments to follow. A final vote is expected today or tomorrow. Call your senators now and urge them to remove cuts to public media! CONTACT YOUR SENATORS. Tell them: remove public media funding cuts from the rescissions act.
July 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM