Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Liberals Want End of 'Right-Wing Radio'
A liberal organization has gone on the attack against what it calls "right-wing talk” radio – while acknowledging that it totally dominates the airwaves today.
The Center for American Progress’ new report, "The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio,” questions whether the "companies licensed to broadcast over the public radio airwaves are serving the listening needs of all Americans,” the Center’s Web site states. "Right-wing talk reigns supreme on America’s airwaves.”
According to the report, 91 percent of the total weekday talk radio programming on stations owned by the top five commercial station owners is conservative, and 9 percent is liberal.
It also notes that 76 percent of the news/talk programming in the top 10 radio markets is conservative. The percentages range from 60 percent in Detroit to 100 percent in Dallas, Houston and Philadelphia.
The report dismisses the obvious notion that conservative dominance is attributable to "simple consumer demand,” calling that a "myth,” and instead maintains:
"The gap between conservative and progressive talk radio is the result of multiple structural problems in the U.S. regulatory system, particularly the complete breakdown of the public trustee concept, the elimination of clear public interest requirements for broadcasting, and the relaxation of ownership rules including the requirement of local participation in management.”
The report calls for an increase in "ownership diversity,” which will supposedly lead to "more diverse programming.”
A liberal organization has gone on the attack against what it calls "right-wing talk” radio – while acknowledging that it totally dominates the airwaves today.
The Center for American Progress’ new report, "The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio,” questions whether the "companies licensed to broadcast over the public radio airwaves are serving the listening needs of all Americans,” the Center’s Web site states. "Right-wing talk reigns supreme on America’s airwaves.”
According to the report, 91 percent of the total weekday talk radio programming on stations owned by the top five commercial station owners is conservative, and 9 percent is liberal.
It also notes that 76 percent of the news/talk programming in the top 10 radio markets is conservative. The percentages range from 60 percent in Detroit to 100 percent in Dallas, Houston and Philadelphia.
The report dismisses the obvious notion that conservative dominance is attributable to "simple consumer demand,” calling that a "myth,” and instead maintains:
"The gap between conservative and progressive talk radio is the result of multiple structural problems in the U.S. regulatory system, particularly the complete breakdown of the public trustee concept, the elimination of clear public interest requirements for broadcasting, and the relaxation of ownership rules including the requirement of local participation in management.”
The report calls for an increase in "ownership diversity,” which will supposedly lead to "more diverse programming.”
