5 ways to rescue liberal talk radio (but it won’t be easy)

Politico ^ | November 28, 2013 | By MACKENZIE WEINGER

[Brad from Tennessee]

Just a few dozen stations now carry liberal talkers, as key affiliates in cities with active left-wing politics are falling like dominoes, going dark or switching formats. Detroit’s progressive outlet shut down in January, along with Seattle’s liberal talk station, which changed to sports. And after last year’s election, Portland’s progressive talk station ended its political programming.

With the political battlegrounds of 2014 and 2016 on the horizon, reducing the whopping imbalance between conservative radio, with its huge fan base, and the left has become more important than ever, according to those in the progressive media world.

POLITICO spoke with a dozen radio talkers, media observers and industry insiders to get their take on how the troubled medium of progressive political talk can be saved — but it’s not going to be easy.

1. Don’t be a shill for the Democratic Party

If progressive radio really wants to get on the map, its hosts would do well to remember that one of the reasons the liberal talk radio network Air America flopped was that they “forgot they were in the radio business, not in the get my candidate elected business,” said Al Peterson, publisher and editor of talk radio trade NTS MediaOnline Today. . .

[Brad from Tennessee]

Back in the 1980's I can remember spending my lunch hours driving around until I got an audible signal from a weak AM station broadcasting a conservative talk show. I would stop the car and listen until time to go back to work. AM radio was the only broadcast medium where dedicated-conservative venues could thrive. Later these shows moved up to FM as that band became dominant. As talk radio became more popular all talk-and-news stations became profitable in large metropolitan markets. Most liberals never followed this evolution because their world view was echoed hourly by 95 percent of mass media. Outside of the largest markets--New York, L.A., Chicago--liberal talk radio doesn't work because liberals won't bother with radio when their beliefs are reinforced by all the alphabet networks and all but one cable news network.

[PROCON]

5 ways to rescue liberal talk radio

Only one way...

0bama Bucks

[FreeAtlanta]

How about a hunger games competition with everyone that was ever a lefty host blabber?

[wac3rd]

1. Liberal radio’s biggest winners are subsidized by Left Wing-conquered nonprofit foundations (Gates, DuPont, Kaiser, Ford, Rockefeller, etc.) and the others like NPR are partially paid for by tax dollars. Commie millionaires like Gwen Ifill and Bill Moyers run amok with their Marxist ideals on your dime. Isn’t it great to think Charlie Rose takes a limo to his million dollar flat in Manhattan on your hard-earned dime?

[BuffaloJack]

Rescueing Liberal Talk Radio?
Why? Nobody would listen to it.

[G Larry]

1. Outlaw Conservative talk radio.

2. Use taxpayer funds to sustain liberal talk radio.

3. Screen callers and only allow shills through.

[Gen.Blather]

Listening to liberals talk is painful. It’s being lectured by the Prius driver on sustainability and global warming. It makes me nauseous. Not only do they talk down but their voices grate. I hate wimpy, whiney nasal voices.

[Steely Tom]

Articles of this type always seem to come down one basic concept:

"here's a new set of ways to tell the same old lies, direct from Liberalisms threadbare brain trust, all of which have tenure or cushy government jobs, unlike you."

[BenLurkin]

“Don’t be a shill for the Democratic Party”

Good advice. They can never hope to compete with the Democrat Party shills on ABCCBSCNNNBCMSNBCPBS

[tumblindice]

That’s right. Lefties don’t have time to listen. They’re always shooting off their mouths.

[rktman]

Concrete life preserver?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

...actually there are two ways... 2. Become Conservative

[SandRat]

Why would we want to rescue liberal talk radio?

[Chode]

2. Use taxpayer funds to sustain liberal talk radio.

it's called NPR...

[Hayride]

What’s the point of tuning into leftist radio when you’re bombarded with leftist b.s. everywhere else?

[Vanbasten]

Exactly! NPR is liberal radio. Can’t even exist without subsidy.

The shilling for the democrat party is a good point though. There is no principle in the current crop of progressive losers.

[ThunderSleeps]

3. Screen callers and only allow shills through.

That's really the crux of it right there. Talk radio needs an audience. That makes selling advertising during the programs viable.

However, a host blathering on and maybe interviewing a few guests only goes so far. A big part of the appeal seems to be callers getting their chance to interact. That's the death knell of liberal talk radio. Too many conservatives call in and take apart the points made by the host and guest. All too soon listeners start to realize the host and guests are full of brown smelly stuff, and the audience drifts away. No advert bucks, and the program collapses. It has happened over and over again.

[Berlin_Freeper]

80 Million To Come

[bmwcyle]

The best way is with Jesus but liberals would have to go.

[Chode]

100% and that one RAT station only stayed on long enough to get through the election, it should have been declared as a contribution in kind...