Expanding Mediums in Media

Right on the Right ^ | 8-03-06 | RealTeen

[RealTeen]

There have been great revolutions in the political discourse in this country, and many of them have happened in the last hundred years. You can think of Fireside Chats, Cable Television, and the expansion of the Print Media as huge innovations effectively educating and enlightening the masses. In the last 20 years however, two new powerful mediums have emerged, both of which give not only the intelligent and entertaining a voice, but give the average American a voice. Let’s take a look.

In August of 1988, a man hit the airwaves popularizing a new format of AM radio, now known as Talk Radio. It was around before, but this man made it exciting, made call-ins an aspiration of Americans everywhere, and made a drive to the grocery store a politically invigorating experience. Rush Limbaugh was a talk radio pioneer. Following him were many others, including Laura Ingraham, Michael Savage, and Sean Hannity to name a Conservative few. Talk Radio is unique, because it combines the sheer charisma and personality of one or two hosts, and then a rogue element. That rogue element is the American people. While Rush is a genius when it comes to monologue, it’s not the monologue you listen for, it’s the phone calls. Every single day, average Americans are heard by millions, on talk radio shows across America. Talk radio is all about giving the American people a voice.

Following the events of September 11th, 2001, another medium which had existed but hadn’t really blossomed, took off. All of a sudden Michelle Malkin, Little Green Footballs, and unfortunately Daily Kos became household words/names, especially amongst the politically astute crowd. All of a sudden, average Americans became Novaks, breaking news stories and voicing their diverse and often-ignored views. Opinion mattered, and a community was born known as the blogosphere. The blogosphere was like talk radio, because it gave the American people a voice, whether it be through their own blogs or through the invigorating comment section debates. Political discourse was strengthened.

Recently, I had the opportunity to join an endeavor known as

[RealTeen]

Sorry, the post got cut

---

Wide Awakes Radio. For those that don’t know, Wide Awakes Radio has combined the two revolutionary mediums, and is giving bloggers a voice on internet radio. Average Americans are becoming show hosts, but just like the two mediums before it, it’s not the hosts, it’s the people. Whether it be comments on the site, or callers into the shows, it’s the everyday Americans that make W.A.R. work, and it’s opinion that drives our venture. If you haven’t already, I invite you to listen to Wide Awakes Radio, not for one show or for one opinion, but rather, to hear others, and to join into the political discourse of an America that is too stagnant in this day and age. Let’s wake this country up.

[RealTeen]

Ping