ACTION ITEM: ONLINE Liberal Grassroots Radio Network?

[patrioticliberal]

I've long hoped for an online radio 24-7 progressive radio network (with mostly original content, although it could be free to broadcast Democracy Now, Counterspin, and other important shows) with current commentary and live shows and coverage; not as commercial as Air America is, but rather grassroots funded for the bandwidth it would use. Even Pacifica Radio doesn't cover a lot of events that a lot of us talk about on this website. I'm aware of Raw Radio (part of RawStory.com), but that's just one show. And it's once a week. I mean a solidly online streaming radio station. With as few ads as possible. (And NO, I'm *NOT* suggesting we stream Randi Rhodes or Al Franken or the Majority Report or Mike Malloy and other Air America hosts. They have their own network, and more power to them. I'm talking about US doing it. WE the progressive movement being involved. *THE GRASSROOTS*. The people that start live threads at DU about an important vote; the people who help raise boatloads of money for candidates like Paul Hackett. Doing where we've done it best. ONLINE. ON THE "INTERNETS". )

It could be news, talk, debate, whatever you wish. Heck, Cindy Sheehan deserves her own damn radio show on it.

But so could anyone really that wished to apply to be a host. Realize how many right-wing outlets are available. Heck, didn't Jeff Gannon/James Guckert have a radio show at some online Republican radio network and when he was revealed to be a gay male prostitute/fake White House Reporter, a substitue host filled in on his radio show? Does he still work there? I don't have the bandwidth for an online radio station. I don't think one person does, especially if we got as many listeners as site members, but you can do a station easily with something like SHOUTCast.

Imagine having live coverage of important events, like the march that took place in Atlanta, or heck, Cindy Sheehan in Crawford, TX: with 'reporters' for the online radio network on the ground and in correspondence.

Did you hear any of the Atlanta march or Cindy Sheehan on Air America this weekend? Did you hear it on Pacifica Radio? I didn't.

I just think it needs to be something discussed.

What do you think? I'd like some serious discussion on the topic. I think it would be a GREAT way to grow and organize even more so.

Please don't use this thread to say how much you love or hate Randi Rhodes, or Jerry Springer, Stephanie Miller, or any other Air America host or Air America affiliate. This is not what that diary is about, and it's off topic. They aren't going to be on the online station; heck such a station couldn't even freely use their show without running their commercials, and they already have their outlet anyway. They're a business. I want this to be a free (supported by donations) online radio station run by the GRASSROOTS..the people...YOU.

Not necessarily silly content at all. I think DemsTV is a bit silly, personally. Not a game show. Serious (and sometimes entertaining, sure, but mostly serious) REAL news, not about some missing girl over and over in Aruba.

If you really like the idea, you can use this thread to organize.

Finally, I thought I'd let you all know of a radio show that is produced online. It's called "Talk Nation" at http://talknation.org/ and the 8-3-05 episode features John Bonifaz. It's a 30 minute show and if you remember John, he was in the Downing Street memos forum held by Congressman Conyers. He talks about the memos, a little about the CIA leak/Novak/Rove thing, and impeachment.
http://www.radio4all.net/index.php?op=program-info&program_id=13560&nav=&

(Please discuss and keep it kicked for discussion if you feel this is a good idea; provide your comments and services if you're interested in seeing it happen. I don't feel I can lead such an effort, although I'd be happy to provide input, but SOMEONE here can stand up and be a leader.)

[patrioticliberal]

1. kick

[MisterLiberal]

9. Air America is needing some help

That's for sure.

Just make sure that you get money UP FRONT so the Right doesn't have any opportunity to laugh at you.

AA has embarrassed me. We should be doing way better than blowhard Limpnuts and Sean Hackerty.

Now they are doing the corporate thing and denying denying denying the money thing. They need to just own up to it and pay it back.

The longer they take, the worse they look.

Please, if you do this, DO IT RIGHT...I MEAN CORRECTLY (LEFT)!!!

[NYCGirl]

12. You should really do more research. AAR paid the money back, even though

THEY DIDN'T NEED TO, because the person responsible had not been a part of AAR since 5/24. And they did it months ago. Here's the statement.

http://www.airamericaradio.com/press

Statement:
If the allegations of mismanagement and corruption at Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club are true, it is absolutely disgraceful.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal and the HBO Documentary, Left of the Dial‚ the company that the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club officials gave money to, Progress Media, has been defunct since May 2004. That company was run at the time by Evan Cohen who has not had any involvement in Air America Radio since May 2004.

The current owners of Air America Radio have no obligation to Progress Media's business activities. We are very disturbed that Air America Radio's good name could be associated with a reduction in services for young people, which is why we agreed months ago to fully compensate the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club as a result of this transaction.

We at Air America Radio strongly believe in the mission of Boys and Girls Clubs to provide a safe and nurturing place for young people to learn and grow. As a result, we recently allowed the same club, Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, to use our name in a fundraising effort for a summer camp for children in their community.

The funding for Camp Air America was raised and collected entirely by the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, and Air America promoted the camp on air and urged support for it. A link on our web site sent those interested in contributing to the camp to the Gloria Wise web site. Regrettably, the camp did not survive the closure of the Gloria Wise organization. We have offered any individuals who contributed to the camp as a result of Air America's promotion the option of a refund paid for by Air America Radio and the Club offered the alternative option of having their donation redirected to Kip's Bay Boys and Girls Club.

[patrioticliberal]

13. This is not an Air America thread. This is an online grassroots radio

thread.

Thank you.

[NYCGirl]

14. When someone repeats lies about Air America, I answer with the truth.

You're welcome.

[patrioticliberal]

15. I'd rather you offer some ideas on this thread about

What I posted.

Thanks more :) .

(And yes, I understand your concern re: the truth about Air America. I just don't want this to become a bitch thread back and forth about that rather than what the topic of this thread is.)

[patrioticliberal]

17. Hello?

[ncanadianlee]

16. AA / Boys&Girls Club

Might be something here but, thank God, it's not connected to the Democratic Party or national politicians.

[bananas]

2. i think it's a good idea

maybe a combination of streaming mp3 fopr listeners and voice chat or voip for the hosts, so you could have several co-hosts across the world keeping the discussion going.

[patrioticliberal]

3. But how does it even get started, is the question.

Ideas?

Show ideas?

Any particular hosts you have in mind, even? Would you be willing to do one?

Etc?

I'm really looking for specifics because I want to see it happen so badly..lol!

[bananas]

4. I guess what I was thinking

was to start out with voice-chat, kind of an open conference call that people could join in and drop out of whenever they had time.
At some point you have to deal with screening "callers" or people joining, you see what Skinner and the mods have to deal with here.

[patrioticliberal]

5. To be honest online radio

Doesn't have those regulations, so if the right wingers wanted to spew into a radio show they could be dropped or torn a new asshole.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. excellent idea

I think I just saw a similar point on the Kos

[patrioticliberal]

7. kick

[patrioticliberal]

8. kick

[patrioticliberal]

10. kick

[patrioticliberal]

11. KICK AGAIN!

[WHAT]

18. It's the only thing left to do...

I think it would need a loose, lateral structure with many contributing members in order to avoid the pitfalls of ranting centered around a few inconsequential issues. The more input, the deeper the discussion, the better. I don't know if it could be reflective of a large IM group where input and feed-back reaches synergy. Maybe there could be many different hosts that each have a well-grounded perspective on specific issues reflective of interests raised by commentary. I wouldn't center it around a few people or a group because that's how things get co-opted and strangled.

I love your idea. I think it's doable...maybe solicit input from students. This could morph into a people's news network, also, all those cams.

[patrioticliberal]

19. Can you help get it started? I really can't lead it myself

I'd happily provide input, but I don't know even where to start and don't have the money either.