March 26, 2004

Al Franken and Others starting "Progressive Radio Station" Bored with talk-radio being dominated by Conservatives, and perhaps seeking some profit along the way, Air America Radio is launching a new network at the end of the month in New York, Illinois, and California. There will also be simultaneous broadcasting over the internet, for the rest of the interested population.

The premier feature of the network is the 3-hour show, The O’ Franken Factor, starting at noon on weekdays. The idea is to provide biased news reporting, without resorting to lies and substance-free rhetoric. Not that any talk-radio hosts wou...ah, never mind.

posted by Sandspider 20 years ago
  • "Air America Radio will debut its programming on radio stations WLIB (AM 1190am) in New York, WNTD (AM 950) in Chicago and KBLA (AM 1580) in Los Angeles and a station in San Francisco to be named before launch." They are preaching to the choir by targetting cities - they need to get their sound out into real talk-radio heartlands.
  • Big story in NY Times Magazine this weekend. I for one would like to hear Air America Radio here in Europe.
  • The revolution has begun, MUWAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
  • jb, while they definitely need to move into the more rural areas, it's key that they start off as strongly as possible. They need to reach lots of listeners, and they need to hit areas where they will be well received. There will be time later to expand, as long as it's a hit to start with. Also, they are working to be put on the various satellite radios.
  • My only question to this has been; right-wing talk radio is what it is because central to right-wing ideology is the notion of stronger/weaker groups and the inherent correctness of the right-wing positions. While central to liberal thought is the notion that we can learn from all points of view and to a lesser extent - maybe the truth is not what we thought it was and we should take a new look at things. Creating legions of dittoheads is easy for right-wing talk radio, "I'm right, you're wrong - deal with it" whereas it seems harder for a "here's an interesting thought, let's see what they have to say" approach will cause the same . . whatever the goal is - indoctrination? I'm hoping it's funny, informative, and wildly popular, just saying that when liberal points of view are sharpened to a fine point it comes off like. . PETA
  • petebest, I think you're unfairly labelling and characterizing. I know a lot of Liberals who would consider themselves in the "I'm right, you're wrong" camp. Partisanship is not one-sided, and as a conservative with at least an open mind, I'm offended to be lumped in among those people who DO live in those camps. Liberal ideology is not this paragon of partisan virtue, and neither is conservativism. Both are locked horn to horn in a desperate battle to prove who's right. Dittoheads exist on both sides of the table. on preview, pete, i'm not attacking you personally. i probably come off a little strongly there.
  • no worries, it's all [banana] :) I didn't _literally_ mean "i'm right, you're wrong" previously but was referring to the approach. On right-wing talk radio that i've heard, it's the standard p.o.v. (i.e. Rush), whereas when I hear a liberal discussion (can't really say talk radio as such) the p.o.v. seems to sound most effective to me when it's open-ended and inclusive of the merits of contrary positions. A liberal argument that uses sarcasm, angry rhetoric, and ad hominem attacks usually fails to achieve what it sets out to do, whereas it seems to me that right-wing radio vastly succeeds in attracting support with those tools. That's my concern with this Air America thing - failure comes from emulating what they have set up to challenge, i think. The tricky part is that right-wing radio seems to truly be successful, so it's very tempting to emulate it. I think an argument could be made that those two contrasting methods of delivery are based in the ideologies they work towards, but i wasn't trying to make that particular point. And besides, it's not a black-and-white issue as you say. /calls_for_more_whiskey
  • I don't think talk radio will work for liberals. The internet is where the action is. Look at Atrios now going head on with Glenn Reynolds. A year ago no one would have thought that was possible. I think an argument could be made that those two contrasting methods of delivery are based in the ideologies they work towards, but i wasn't trying to make that particular point. And besides, it's not a black-and-white issue as you say. Good point, Pete. f8xmulder, I think you will agree with me that if a Democrat tried to run mainly on religion against a Republican he will loose. The Republicans have Christianity as there issue. End of story. There are certain things that work better for each party. Example: conservatives can't sell newspapers. the Washington Times and NY Post are loosing money. Rupert Murdoch and the Rev. Sun Myung Moon don't care. They are interested in getting their views heard. Likewise: liberals don't don't do talk radio well.
  • Al Franken considering Senate run From skimming through the thread above: I've always wondered, who were those users that no longer exist, and are now known as "anonymous??" Aha, my question has been answered! Just which pete was it though? Hmmm....
  • hoisted by my own petard.
  • The Franken vs. Coleman battle continues... Coleman's unofficial lead is only 477 votes from approx. 2.9 million cast; it doesnt' get much closer than that!
  • OK, I lied... Coleman now leads by 5 votes.