WI: Talk Radio was Dominated by Liberals?

Westbrook 49

Following the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 by the FCC, conservative talk radio quickly came to dominate the airwaves, by 1991, Rush Limbaugh had become the number one syndicated host on air.

Now, what if it goes a different direction, and liberals and left-wing policies take the place of conservatives? A more liberal U.S., changes to politics? Would we have a liberal version of Rush Limbaugh, or would that movement have burned out?
 
SpanishSpy

SpanishSpy

Westbrook 49 said:
Following the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 by the FCC, conservative talk radio quickly came to dominate the airwaves, by 1991, Rush Limbaugh had become the number one syndicated host on air.

Now, what if it goes a different direction, and liberals and left-wing policies take the place of conservatives? A more liberal U.S., changes to politics? Would we have a liberal version of Rush Limbaugh, or would that movement have burned out?
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One of the reasons Conservative talk radio worked so well is because much of the Republican support base lives in rural areas not connected media-wise to large cities. Rural citizens did, however, have access to radio, which conservative commentators used to their advantage. There are not nearly as many liberals in rural areas, one of the major reason liberal talk radio failed to work.
 

tiggerfan

Westbrook 49 said:
Following the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 by the FCC, conservative talk radio quickly came to dominate the airwaves, by 1991, Rush Limbaugh had become the number one syndicated host on air.

Now, what if it goes a different direction, and liberals and left-wing policies take the place of conservatives? A more liberal U.S., changes to politics? Would we have a liberal version of Rush Limbaugh, or would that movement have burned out?
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If liberals dominated talk radio then it would be considered good and there would be no talk of banning it.
 
Bob the Great

Bob the Great

SpanishSpy said:
One of the reasons Conservative talk radio worked so well is because much of the Republican support base lives in rural areas not connected media-wise to large cities. Rural citizens did, however, have access to radio, which conservative commentators used to their advantage. There are not nearly as many liberals in rural areas, one of the major reason liberal talk radio failed to work.
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I think this is the best answer.
 
Plumber

Plumber

SpanishSpy said:
One of the reasons Conservative talk radio worked so well is because much of the Republican support base lives in rural areas not connected media-wise to large cities. Rural citizens did, however, have access to radio, which conservative commentators used to their advantage. There are not nearly as many liberals in rural areas, one of the major reason liberal talk radio failed to work.
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Yes, so avoid populism being hijacked from the right wing.
 
Plumber

Plumber

mrsandman said:
This would require a POD far before the repeal of the Fairness Act......................
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Yes, it would. It would help if Republicans enacted Civil Rights, which would avoid the Republicans exploiting backlash from that to make right-wing populism mainstream.
 

thekingsguard

I'd say near ASB - there's a reason Air America tanked and tanked hard. The reason the right-wing dominates talk radio is it provides an alternative. If you wan't left wing, you turn on MSNBC, not the radio.
 

Orville_third

Banned
thekingsguard said:
I'd say near ASB - there's a reason Air America tanked and tanked hard. The reason the right-wing dominates talk radio is it provides an alternative. If you want left wing, you turn on MSNBC, not the radio.
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Air America had a major advertiser boycott.
In addition, it's far easier to start a magazine or paper than to start a broadcast station. And, since bandwidth over the airwaves is limited, it was more regulated than those other media outlets.
In addition, the mainstream media often ignores numerous issues- or only covers one side. There weren't many antiwar voices heard in regards to the invasion of Iraq, for starters. For that matter, there was little opposition to the bombing of Libya under Obama.
I do have a nice PoD, only it would be much farther back.
 

BigWillyG

thekingsguard said:
I'd say near ASB - there's a reason Air America tanked and tanked hard. The reason the right-wing dominates talk radio is it provides an alternative. If you wan't left wing, you turn on MSNBC, not the radio.
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That and every attempt at leftwing talk radio seems to always end up sounding like an NPR knock-off. Half of the success of Rush and the other early conservative talk hosts who invented the genre is they were regular DJs or sports announcers before getting into talking about politics. This meant they brought energy and DJ gimmicks like theme songs, sound effects and energetic voices. This makes it interesting to listen to regardless of your politics rather than one or two people speaking in a monotone interspersed with Kenny G type smooth jazz played as soft as possible.
Getting a leftwing DJ to start talking politics in a DJ style when Fairness Doctrine is struck down.
 
flippikat

flippikat

BigWillyG said:
leftwing DJ to start talking politics in a DJ style when Fairness Doctrine is struck down.
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What if Michael Moore gets into radio instead of documentary making early in his career, just before the Fairness Doctrine goes?

THERE'S a POD that might get things moving along for liberal talk radio..
 

BigWillyG

flippikat said:
What if Michael Moore gets into radio instead of documentary making early in his career, just before the Fairness Doctrine goes?

THERE'S a POD that might get things moving along for liberal talk radio..
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That might do the trick. Could also have Keith Olbermann end up solely in radio instead of TV when he shifts from sports anchor to political pundit.
 

Torqumada

tiggerfan said:
Note I did say talk but a couple examples

https://www.google.com/search?q=ban...-US:official&client=firefox-beta&channel=fflb

Or with regard to Fairness Doctrine. Depending on which version is passed it would apply pretty much only to talk radio, not television or newspapers
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Like any law or political philosophy, the Republicans are for a Fairness type doctrine when it benefits them and against it when it doesn't. Repealing the Fairness Doctrine has actually bitten the Republicans in the butt a few times. When the Healthcare law was being debated, ABC did an hour long interview with President Obama about the matter. The Republicans were upset and demanded that ABC give them equal time on the matter. The executives at ABC basically told the Republicans that it was a shame that they had repealed the only law that would have required ABC to do exactly that.

Torqumada
 
Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf

The problem is that talk radio attracts the angry and the insane from among the population to phone up and rant and rave about their pet peeves. Thus, they are far more likely to be right-wing and reactionary.

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
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