Mississippi Public Radio

[Gildor Inglorion]

Does anyone have any information as to what the Barbour administration is doing to Mississippi Public Radio? I haven't read or heard anything on this subject, yet constant changes in the schedules, programs, and so forth have been much in evidence since the Hon. Gov. Barbour was inaugurated. The programming is much more "amateurish" and bland, with ever more emphasis on jazz and "homegrown" commentary. Last week they announced that "The 90-Second Naturalist" and "Living on Earth" would no longer be broadcast. I suppose these programs are not in compliance with the GOP's anti-environment views. The morning lineup has become packed with inane talk shows like "Zorba Paster on Your Health" and "You Bet Your Garden." This may not be a big deal to most, but it is to me. I refuse to watch TV; I just won't do it, so I've been a long-time supporter of Public Radio. If Mississippi Public Radio is going to self-destruct, I guess I can listen to stations over the internet or something. Is this just another example of Republican mischief-making?

[TacticalPeek]

1. Don't know, but if he's pushing jazz programming,

it could be because it reminds him of his early childhood spent in whorehouses. He liked to sit at the piano and pretend to play.

I remember reading something about it in the papers.

:silly:

[Phil214]

3. Re: "Mississippi Public Radio"

I heard a lot of complaints about MPR going downhill, though I haven't been in the listening range much for the past 2 years (I'm in Dallas now, lived in Ridgeland for 13 months, and grew up across the river in Northeast Louisiana)

However, you might want to try listening to the GREAT public radio station out here, KERA http://www.kera.org It's all talk and news, but this is a VERY, VERY good station. I highly recommend it.

As for more news about Mississippi itself, I'm surprised you haven't heard about Mississippi's Alternative Weekly, The Jackson Free Press. It's been a going concern for exactly two years. It's also an OFFICIAL AAN member! ( http://www.aan.org ). In fact, the JFP organized a petition drive to get Fahrenheit 911 to come to Jackson! Here's the site's blog about it http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=3220_0_27_0_C

So you see, Mississippians... the ultra-right wing is no longer the only game in town any more!!!

[newyawker99]

4. Hi Phil214!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[SalParadise]

2. I don't think this is any right-wing plot

I think all the "homegrown" crap is being put on to appeal to the average mississippian - it's been creeping in over the last few years, beginning with that garden guy in the mornings.

All this locally produced stuff is horrible - HORRIBLE - so it's probably right up the alley of your average locals. I always go back to that dreadful sitcom, "Mamma's Family" - it was on for years in one timeslot or another on the local networks. That's the kind of pablum that appeals to the folks around here.