Air america is in deep financial trouble. They have filed for bankruptcy but remain on air. Al Franken and Jeanine Garafolo have programs on this station. We will loose media diversity if they close. The Right is having a schadenfrude field day. Any Air America Listerers on this board ?
I thought it was okay. I think there are many more articulate, intelligent, liberal minded folks who could have done a better job with a leftwing radio show. Also I feel that they often resorted to name-calling and just constant bitching. But yeah, I agree the airwaves are absolutely one-sided and we need media diversity. Plus they definitely weren't any worse then a Rush Limbaugh or a Sean Hannity.
I think a big loss would be the other moderate to left shows such as Ed Schultz. However, companies operate in bankruptcy protection all the time, United Airlines, anyone? I think the Clear Channel that runs the Jones/ Air America shows (and we have a local morning show that overlaps Springer, Jay Marvin) is making the ad revenue they need to keep the format. So could this help local/ regional lefties get gigs? I'd be sad to lose Franken (Garafalo was already replaced here with Rachel Meadows[or is it maddox]) because I love the GD intros. Full disclosure: I work in news in Colorado.
I liked Air America.........for the 2 weeks it was in a market in Chicago. I think their lopesided view that only the East and West Coasts, and not the Midwest, were the place to be heard hurt them. I liked the shows a lot, but they pulled it, due to "financial consideration" in Chicago after a week or so. It returned, and then dissappeared again. Their consolation to us was that "you can listen to us on the Net all day." My computer is at the back of the house, I also can't do things like write or post on HF when I am hearing radio talking, so that isn't going to work for me. I wish they had given Chicago more of a chance.
its been reported for a long time it was no suprise to me. The only talk radio i listen to aside from ESPN is the Neal Boortz show. he is a libertarian i dont know how much some of you would dig him but i really enjoy his program.
The problem with Air America in a nutshell: "Our country is founded on a sham: our forefathers were slave-owning rich white guys who wanted it their way. So when I see the American flag, I go, 'Oh my God, you're insulting me.' That you can have a gay parade on Christopher Street in New York, with naked men and women on a float cheering, 'We're here, we're queer!' -- that's what makes my heart swell. Not the flag, but a gay naked man or woman burning the flag. I get choked up with pride." -Air America's, Janeane Garofalo. You really think this radio network is going to win over the hears & minds of mainstream America while spewing garbage like this???
Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of folks. But it was painfully inevitable. Bad management decisions, stiff resistance to syndication (until September 2005, by then it was too late), going exclusively on one satellite radio carrier, and just a touch of Coastal elitism all did them in. I agree that there isn't enough liberal opinion radio to counter Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, etc. But AAR went at it with an approach that was doomed almost from the start.
the country was founded by libertarians so i wouldnt imagine that Garofalo would like them. conservatives have the radio liberal has the news and tv media. thats why conservative talk shows do well, its their outlet.
Ive never understood why people bought this line. Television media is only as liberal as the corporations, some of which are defense contractors, that own them.
I believe if you watch msnbc, cnn then watch fox news, you can tell a distinct difference in the way the 2 cover the same stories. Id also say fox is as far right and the others are left. I also believe that is a reason that fox new does well and talk radio does well. Thats just a theory not fact, just my take. discuss.
