Posted on 06/10/2008 12:21:39 AM PDT by raccoonradio
Ingraham Takes Award, Doesn't Explain Radio Silence *** WITH IMPORTANT UPDATED DETAILS ***
Less than a week after her sudden absence from the radio airwaves, syndicated talker Laura Ingraham found herself in a truly awkward position while picking up a radio industry award Saturday evening.
And today, the mystery over her program's fate has only deepened.
During the 2008 New Media Seminar, a talk radio convention held in Manhattan, Ingraham received the "Judy Jarvis Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions by a Woman to Talk Radio".
Touching on her past accomplishments in talk radio, Ingraham gave a brief speech to attendees, which included your Radio Equalizer. But she had not a word to say about her broadcast disappearing act.
Standing just a few feet away was Talk Radio Network honcho Mark Masters, whose firm syndicates Ingraham. Regardless of any potential conflict that may have emerged between the two parties, neither said anything during the ceremony. Nonetheless, one could feel a certain amount of tension.
During the convention, many attendees approached your Radio Equalizer looking for information about her fate. But the biggest clue to date has come from Ingraham herself, with this note now posted on her website (UPDATE-- it's been removed from the site):
IMPORTANT NOTE TO LAURA LISTENERS
Due to contractual obligations, for the present time I am unable to reveal why I am not currently hosting The Laura Ingraham Show. Rest assured, this absence is not of my choosing, nor is it health or family related. I am ready, willing and eager to continue the conversation we started seven years ago about politics and the culture. (Heck, if cancer couldn't keep me off the airwaves for long, nothing will.)
Keep checking the site for a schedule of my appearances on the Fox News Channel. All queries regarding my on-air status should be directed to Talk Radio Network's management at 541 474 2297 or send an email. Thanks for sticking with me, and...Power to the People!
Earlier this evening, your Radio Equalizer contacted a reliable industry source who backed up Ingraham's version of events. Discounting earlier rumors that Laura had abandoned her own show, possibly to take a Fox News Channel slot, the insider said "she didn't walk off anything".
As to the reason for the possible lockout by her network, others speculate it's related to rumors she's been shopping her program to other syndicators in advance of her contract's upcoming expiry date.
Stay tuned for further details.
UPDATE: according to an industry source, Ingraham may have brought some of her troubles upon herself by possibly violating the terms of her contract: "Laura was 'locked out' because she's been negotiating secretly with individual Citadel-ABC program directors to get on their stations in the event they lose Sean Hannity. She's looking to make $4 million a year, far more than her show currently generates in terms of revenue.
"She was operating behind the back of Mark Masters and the Citadel-ABC people have been talking to her. She does not want to quit radio, quite the contrary. She really wants TV, too," said the insider.
Ingraham is apparently looking to move her show into a live midmorning slot on key ABC talk stations should Hannity leave the company, as many expect. This scenario would see hosts from WABC, WMAL/ Washington and WBAP/ Dallas slide into afternoon drive slots.
Sean’s very good at what he does but if you’re looking for intellectual heft you’re looking in the wrong place. He’s a real lightweight in a battle of the brains. But if you’re looking for someone to stay on message and hammer a point home day after day he’s your guy. Sean is going to keep talking about Rev Wright and Michelle Obama and Bill Ayers and any other dirt that comes up about the O man from now until the cows come home.
I said “some” at FR. Read my first sentence.
I’m borderline menopausic, so pills are part of my repertoire (sp?) already... ask my husband - he works overtime just so that he doesn’t have to hear my mouth every day... ;-)
LOL! I need to chill out? I was not in the least bit emotional, but you sure are. You’re the one using caps and insults. I’m not being a dope, but I think your being a bit hysterical. Are you by any chance female?
Let me ask you a few questions, assuming you’d do not want to continue trading insults and emotions and prefer to discuss this on the issues and principles.
You said “There are not too many people, conservative or not, that have a problem with Laura I. adopting a child that would otherwise not have ANY FAMILY!”
Using that logic, is it okay if two loving males adopt? If keeping families together is so important, how do you feel about illegal aliens? Surely the kids are better off in America and with their families.
This is not about being perfect. This is not about the fact that the girl might be better off. The question I ask is what message does this send about the need of fathers? How does this jibe with Laura’s own comments on the traditional family.
That's certainly true. And, of course, Sean was talking about Rev. Wright, his racist church, and his connections to Calypso Louie long before anyone else was.
You're an imbecile.
The question I ask is what message does this send about the need of fathers? How does this jibe with Laura’s own comments on the traditional family.
Well, if Ms. Ingraham had not been constantly dumped by her fiances and/or boyfriends in the past few decades, then maybe this almost 44-year-old might be happily married. Her biological clock is clicking away to oblivion.
Men don't like strong women, and Laura is pretty strong-minded. Her fiance James Reyes dumped her in 2005 after learning of her breast cancer ordeal. Seems he didn't really believe the "in sickness and in health" part of the oath was for him, ya know.
I do.
Just saw Laura on FOX mins ago. It sounds like she is having a regular gig starting next week on FOX.
She said to Bill Hemmer, will be nice to follow you.
Might be the 8am PST slot.
I have listener of Laura’s for some time.
She is on live at 6am in San Diego
Well Hello, YOU!
Thanks SO MUCH for the info! This is an important development!
Absolutely!! I think you hit the nail on the head!
If that’s true, that she’s leaving TRN for Fox, TRN’s people can call my people and we can do lunch...
From further threads, etc. looks like the FOX gig is a go
for 5pm EST
That was my first assumption—that the critics against singles adopting were moving against her. Of course how many of them are waiting in line to bring children out of third world orphanages into their homes? They’re probably as committed to adoption as the Clintons were a few years ago when they claimed they were contemplating adopting a child.
“she’s been shopping her program”
If they took her off the air because of that, then it sounds like an anti-trust violation.
I guess you enjoy gregorian chants on radio and constant talk of religion.
You can’t hold that against her. Sheesh. She has reasons. You don’t know what they are yet. That’s all there is to it.
Maybe you should investigate and find out where this child would be if she hadn’t been adopted.
Could be that I was craving a balanced opinion in the news and they were the only act on TV at the time.
I rarely watch them now.
FYI
http://rawstory.com/news08/2008/06/10/fox-hires-controversial-talker-to-fill-evening-time-slot/
Struggling to hold on to viewers in an early-evening time slot, Fox News has decided to give a controversial right-wing radio host a trial run hosting a new show.
The New York Times reports that conservative talker Laura Ingraham will join a rotating series of personalities on a new 5 p.m. program. Network executives “appear to be grooming her as a new talent for the network,” according to the report.
Ingraham, who frequently fills in for the brash Bill O’Reilly on Fox, has made a name for herself with a popular talk radio show that is among the top-rated in the country. Fox will need the rating help, as its previous 5 p.m. report — America’s Election HQ — placed third last week in the advertiser-coveted 25- to 54-year-old demographic, the Times reports.
Ah. More baseless insults. I guess I hit pretty close to the mark eh? LOL! tsk tsk.
No, I'm quite the opposite by any definition of the word, but can you guess what I think about you based on your attitude and anatomy?
One more chance to rationally discuss the issues instead of going all liberal (read: emotional) and ad hominem. I'd really rather that.
Well, if Ms. Ingraham had not been constantly dumped by her fiances and/or boyfriends in the past few decades, then maybe this almost 44-year-old might be happily married. Her biological clock is clicking away to oblivion.
So bad luck with men (if it is indeed just bad luck) is justification for choosing to raise a child in a fatherless home? Especially, when by her own words she has said that "Under attack from all sides, the traditional family is now regarded as just another social arrangement, no better than any other."
That "traditional family life is the healthiest for us and for the future of the society"
Those are her words, not mine.
I'll say..."under attack from all sides" now includes her.
Men don't like strong women, and Laura is pretty strong-minded. Her fiance James Reyes dumped her in 2005 after learning of her breast cancer ordeal.
Some men don't. I love em, as do many others. Ask my wife and daughter. In addition, as I said already, Laura said her cancer had nothing to do with their breakup. She has never discussed the reasons.
Hannity is not the brightest bulb, but he DOES care about the country. He has had great fundraisers for military families. He also puts on great live appearances; has a lOT of enthusiasm.
He is not great to listen to because he does not have the smarts Rush has to be able to hold his own in a debate.
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