Today I’m doing the last of my packing for our cross-country road trip, which begins at dawn tomorrow. Pamela will be back to take care of you.
I don’t know if you saw SNL’s opener last night arguing who’s smarter Sean or Rush but it was hilarious. When it comes to Republicans there is no doubt they are the center of the Republican universe. The reason why is easy: conservative terrestrial radio reaches across this country into every town, county and state. No other medium can compete with giving one single message to the masses. That’s it’s the cheapest way to deliver it and is completely portable helps immensely in tough economic times.
So with all the talk about the Fairness Doctrine, people are really digging in to the subject, which can only benefit us all. After all, whether you are for it or against it, there is nothing to lose from Democrats exposing the conservative ownership on radio stations that program the whole day of non stop right-wing talk. Just imagine listening to station managers explain why their entire radio line up goes from Rush to Sean to Mark Levin or Fred Thompson, including Christian broadcasting, while progressive hosts explain they can’t get their phone calls returned. Not even from producers who tilt left because it’s just too hard to get a new host launched and sustain them monetarily on terrestrial radio. So progressives are stuck on the Internet or on satellite, which doesn’t come close to the financial or audience opportunities.
There are many also arguing the legal side, saying there are ways to break through so the Fairness Doctrine will never fly legally. That Obama isn’t interested makes it even harder, some say. Frankly, President Obama is a smart man, but he likely doesn’t have a clue about what goes on in terrestrial radio, and there’s no reason he should. Most people don’t have the facts on how it’s set up and operated. The myth that liberals can’t monetize is nonsense as well.
Even if you aren’t convinced that the FD is the way to go, which I’m not, a debate on terrestrial radio’s make up on ownership is long overdue.
Knowing the minutia of radio, I’ve written and spoken a lot about it, while also reading a lot of bloviating about the FD, most of it rubbish. So I was thrilled to see a cogent argument on the subject, which is an important read for anyone not quite versed on the subject. David Neiwert:
The core problem is ownership: Radio station ownership in the past twenty years has been decidedly conservative. And anyone who’s worked in media can tell you that ownership sets the tone and direction of what you do. After the Fairness Doctrine was removed, these wealthy right-wing owners effectively proved right one of the fears that drove the creation of the Fairness Doctrine in the first place: That the wealthy can and will dominate the political conversation on the public airwaves by simply buying up all the available space. Since the wealthy in this country are overwhelmingly conservative, the end result was not only predictable, it was in fact predicted.
Liberal radio has withered on the vine not for the lack of demand, but for the lack of ownership dedicated to nurturing talent, promoting the product, and creating local outlets as well as national markets.
Besides, anything that makes Sean Hannity red in the face is good for Democrats.
There are so many reasons why the debate about the FD and radio ownership could benefit Democrats. Reading progressive arguments against the FD is infuriating, because these folks are basically caving to pressure from the wingnuts who don’t want any sunshine on this issue due to the fact that if people knew how stacked the radio deck was in favor of conservatives they’d finally be exposed and someone would have to do something about it.
In these tough economic times, with ad dollars drying up, conservative hosts are the ones raking in most of the money, while spreading one side of the story across this country. No other platform can compete. That’s the way conservatives like it and some Dems seem happy to oblige.
As an aside, since I’ve gotten quite a few emails about it, my show remains on hiatus and I’m not sure where I go from where I’ve been. I haven’t been on the air since 2002, only able to do web radio, which isn’t the primary place where I want to be broadcasting. The passion I have for the medium remains, but I never got into it to do it for free.
Now it’s your turn. Consider this a Sunday free for all, any topic.
Keep good thoughts for us on our long drive back east. I’m just hoping the weather doesn’t get too gnarly. Pamela will take good care of you.
Happy and safe trails Taylor… sometimes new surroundings are just what the Doctor ordered.
As the FD. I agree with you it’s about ownership. “In the old days” you could own one station in any given market. Reagan did away with all that. Now what ewe need to do is set SOME limits so we get away from what we have now which is Rush Limbaugh on simultaneously on 4 or 5 stations in the same listening area. Basically they’ve monopolized the dial which makes it next to impossible to compete.
Thanks for the article. More balance on radio is definitely needed. How it’s to be achieved, I am not sure…
Hope the weather cooperates Taylor. I used to love to move,in my gypsy days. I loved having a new space to arrange and make mine.Loved new sights and sounds around me and new routines to establish. That is the only drawback to having found my spot in the world.
If the world were different I think I might have one move move in me,to Mexico. That is not in the cards.
great news for many, many families, including mine:
Axelrod: Stem cell order coming soon from Obama
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gmrZqrq_6H7mQuJkfn7NHIjHz9aQD96C3P780
Excellent!
Take your time and enjoy your trip, Taylor.
Cheers to a safe journey!
“Frankly, President Obama is a smart man, but he likely doesn’t have a clue about what goes on in terrestrial radio, and there’s no reason he should….Taylor Marsh”
Say WHAAAAAAAAT!? “there’s no reason he should?” Maybe it’s just me. It could be. I am aware that some folks think I’m a bit…quirky. But I find it AMAZINGLY hard to believe that President Obama or at LEAST someone close to him “likely doesn’t have a clue about what goes on in terrestrial radio,”
It’s only the not so subliminal FREE propaganda arm of the repugnantklan party!!!!
RaygunzzzZZZZAP started the give away of OUR, YOUR AND MINE and everybody else’s airwaves to his rich, white buddies. And the Bush crime syndicat continued the theft and consolidation so no, NO liberal or proggressive voice can be heard.
It is inconcievable to me that ANY Democratic candidate would be unaware of the free campign oppertunities the repugs have because of this.
Something MUST be done to counter this and take back the PUBLICS airwaves.
Mind blowing!!
Inquiry on Graft in Iraq Focuses on U.S. Officers
By JAMES GLANZ, C.J. CHIVERS and WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM
Published: February 14, 2009
Federal authorities examining the early, chaotic days of the $125 billion American-led effort to rebuild Iraq have significantly broadened their inquiry to include senior American military officers who oversaw the program, according to interviews with senior government officials and court documents.
http://tinyurl.com/bpo5zp
boohall Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Mind blowing!!
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Tons of cash in suitcases and shoddy accounting = abuse. Greed seems to trump principle time and again in cases like these. Remember the price tag in Iraq to date: nearly $1 trillion dollars. And unlike our deal with the banks we hold no equity in Iraq, no chance for a return on our money.
Q: Will we be back for more round(s) of federal bailout/stimulus/recovery money legislation? How soon? Anyone, thoughts?
Great to hear from you BobbyG. Mark and I so wanted to have a meal with you all before we left, but we just couldn’t swing it. We had such fun hearing jazz with you, and no one was more gracious to us than you were. When I come to party in Las Vegas, drinks and dinner are on us!
secularhumanizinevoluter Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Hey everyone, just checkin’ in. Thanks justlen and everyone else for the hopeful weather and trip vibes!!! Considering that my hubby has decided to haul it all, it’s going to be quite a different ride than my last cross-country trip from NY to LA.
Secularh, very, very few Dems champion radio, with Obama being a web guy. No doubt the web is fantastic, which his election proved. But nothing has been able to dent the Dems’ denseness on terrestrial radio. Nothing, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that a tech geek is no different.
My favorite article of the day is this one:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4623148/Barack-Obama-sends-bust-of-Winston-Churchill-on-its-way-back-to-Britain.html
As many of you know, Winston Churchill is not among my favorite examples of great leaders of countries. No doubt he was an influential man, but he also led England to ruin, in my opinion. That he basically never met a war he wouldn’t wage is another point against him. So I for one am glad to see that bust returned.
Secondly, this is worth action on for everyone:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/184801
Follow emptywheel:
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/02/14/the-push-to-publish-the-opr-report/
GeoT Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
great news for many, many families, including mine:
Axelrod: Stem cell order coming soon from Obama
Yes, it is great news. My father had Parkinson’s Disease for 25 years. The last ten years of his life, my mother was basically his nurse. She didn’t want him going to the nursing home. She cared for him into her mid seventies. It almost did her in. Every Christmas I give money to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in his memory. Hopefully, we will get a cure soon.
Evening everyone. Been gone most of the day. We closed on another house on friday, which we are renting to our son. So we had to go over today and see all the problems that he will have to fix
Anyway, here is a link for the conclusion of the weeklong articles in Salon about our soldiers committing suicide and murder.
http://www.salon.com/news/special/coming_home/2009/02/14/coming_home_five/index.html
# lynnette Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
GeoT Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
great news for many, many families, including mine:
Axelrod: Stem cell order coming soon from Obama
Yes, it is great news. My father had Parkinson’s Disease for 25 years.
______
Wow, Lynette, your Mom sounds like a strong woman. My oldest brother has Parkinson’s. He’s the oldest of 9, I’m the youngest, he was more like a father to me then a brother. He is a fighter against this slow and cruel disease. I pray we get relief for him and others.
Betsy Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
____
thanks Betsy, I need to read the whole series but at laest now I have then link.
Here is a great article written in the National Journal by Ron Brownstein who I really like.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20090214_5045.php
It’s about the interview with Obama on AF One friday night. After reading that I feel so much better about what he’s trying to do.
I graduated with a degree in communications in 1975. At that time there was a limit to the number of radio and television stations one person/corporation could own. Then along came Ronald Reagan and all those safeguard went right out the window. Now one person/corporation can pretty much own as many radio and television stations as they can afford. And THIS is the biggest reason conservatives now OWN talk radio — to the detriment of us all. Ownership needs to be regulated, but I’m not sure how to get that genie back into the bottle.
And what I loved about the Fairness Doctrine was growing up in Indiana, and seeing a farmer on television in his overalls giving a counter argument to the opinion piece delivered by the station manager the night before. The station had to give him equal time, because that’s what “fairness” is all about!
BAC
GeoT Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Wow, Lynette, your Mom sounds like a strong woman. My oldest brother has Parkinson’s. He’s the oldest of 9, I’m the youngest, he was more like a father to me then a brother. He is a fighter against this slow and cruel disease. I pray we get relief for him and others.
She was, Geo T., but not so much anymore. She is 80 now and had aortic valve replacement 10 months ago. That’s why I decided to take a leave of absence this year. I often wonder if this was due to the constant stress she was under for years taking care of my father. My father’s mother also had Parkinson’s but contracted it at the ripe old age of 27. My dad didn’t get it until his “50′s. My parents also attended the local Parkinson’s support group and attended Parkinson’s symposiums. Sometimes I went with them. They are helpful. Maybe your brother could benefit from something like this. Parkinson’s affects each person differently. I wish your brother all the best. The experts say Parkinson’s is really going to increase in the future and its implications for long term health care and its costs are significant. They say most everyone would contract Parkinson’s if they lived to be old enough (like 110 or something).