Following up on Bill Press and Progressive Radio

[ladym55]

After reading the disheartening piece about progressive radio in Washington, DC, this LTTE appeared in today's Akron Beacon Journal, which included the following:

Between 2005 and 2007, there was one radio station that switched from sports talk to lefty talk.

Unlike when Rush Limbaugh was brought to Akron radio, the liberal talk was put on a station apparently powered by a hamster on a wheel and given absolutely no advertisement.

Limbaugh was given several near full-page advertisements when he was brought to this market. Although WARF (1350 AM) didn't move much in the ratings, it was getting some ratings.

As soon as Democrats gained ground in the 2006 elections, the lefty talk was replaced with — surprise — sports talk.

The result? The radio station no longer even shows up in the ratings. Even a media site devoted to Ohio can't find their ratings.

Here's the rest of the letter: http://www.ohio.com/editorial/vop/39415747.html

It's pretty obvious that the right-wing doesn't want progressive voices heard because when they ARE heard, people don't vote Republican. It's time to break up the media monopolies and get voices heard that aren't (a) ignorant, (b) nasty, and (c) whiny ... oh, and naturally Republican.

[napi21]

1. I used to listen to them all the time via the net. Obviously I don't anymore.

I still listen to ill Press & almost all the other radio shows on an Oregon station...KPOJ. If the stupid owners of that radio station think they prefer losing money, that't THEIR choice! Sad that they hate another point of view so much!

[rurallib]

2. We've had a couple stations near here that ClearChannel

was more than happy to dump on rather than give lefty talk a chance. Both were doing well under lefty talk. Franken was kicking Rushhole's ass head to head.

[Earth_First]

3. Same thing happened here in Upstate, NY

950 am was our AAR affiliate here locally. Right around the same time that you mention ('06 midterms) it was 'restructured' and was rolled out as a sports talk station. Problem is, that 1280 am was already the 'go to' sports talk station here locally. So 950 was forced to compete, and your guess is as good as mine as to why they are still competing to this day.

[islandmkl]

4. it's from a du'er:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x36300

[ladym55]

5. That's AWESOME!!!!

It's a great letter, and I wanted to help get his ideas out there.

It is also RARE for any kind of "liberal" to get an LTTE published. We have had letter after letter about the evils of the Fairness Doctrine published in the ABJ.