I am trying to accustom myself to talk radio shows, if just to listen to going-ons in the world and consider a different perspective. I listened a little bit to NPR on that trip to Indiana, but too much of the programming was not political talk, only a National Geographic-like discussion on New Guinea or something, with maybe five minutes of actual news per hour. Here, in Akron, I found this 100.1 FM station which touts itself as a talk show, but it is really turning out to be a babble-fest for an over-the-hill radio personality to yell out his opinions on things without doing the least bit research or inquiry on the subject matter.
That these stations contain more commercials that actual talking is a shame, especially as the callers who seek to engage in discussion are more often shouted over by the radio personality who doesn’t want someone else’s opinion catching more airtime than his own. Whether Conservative or Liberal, Democrat or Republican, this is usually the case for whatever talk show I happen to catch a few minutes of between commercial breaks.
This mid-morning show on WNIR is just the same, though the radio personality is no expert. He seems, instead, directed towards simply stirring the pot without adding any stew meat to the meal. It seems he spends more time impersonating Rush than actually looking into the various subject matters that he could be presenting. When a caller rings up with more information than he has (than he is willing to present), he overspeaks above the caller and repeats the misinformation that he showcases his show with.
That the show is a rabid Conservative soap box is not a surprise, nor is it a turn-off. I like it. More of the callers come off as more informed on the subject matter than the rabid Liberals, even though both sides are adamant towards not considering both sides of an argument.
That the idiot repeats the “What do you think of my…?” is really sad, because it is evident that he is not interested in presenting these issues, but rubbing his own ego and convincing the listeners that his opinion is wholly right, without looking fully into the facts. This is consistent with many talk radio Personalities, who are not interested in presenting facts, only showcasing his or her own opinions and his or her tightly-held agenda…
Instead of reporting and presenting the happenings of the community and the country and the world, it is all a pissing contest. Which, yeah, can be expected, but then to use the shooting and death of an 11 year old girl as a platform against Liberal agendas and reasons why the country is going to Hell in a Handbasket, that just solidifies this opinion that these shows do not care about reporting the news, but force-feeding political agendas, turning one side against the other instead of ever working towards the common ground.
Of course, of course, it is possible to find a political agenda slant in every news story and every reporting source. It is always there: what stories are reported on, what page a story appears on or how many inches are given to one side of a viewpoint versus how much space is given to the other side. The news becomes decided by political affiliations and advertising contributions. Nothing new here.
I am curious towards a news radio show that isn’t interested in one side or the other, but in reporting the news and understanding that there are two sides to every story. And, yes, opinions and thoughts are good to share, but they should not be used as weapons, and they should not be given half-assed, half-informed. To argue on an on-air platform without even holding all the facts only accentuates that personality’s ignorance and makes that viewpoint appear full of halfwits and bigots. This is why there is such a fight over radio talk shows. The format allows any idiot to say anything, with only the minimum restraint.
I fight the urge to call up on one of these shows, because I know I would be rude – whether or not I agreed with the idiot – and it would only be a pointless antagonization. These guys are not paid to inform, to keep the listeners up to date, to accept any other opinion than the one they are sitting on, nor would their egos allow it. Their role is intended to stir the pot without adding in a damn thing. Their insight is spewed out with the least bit of research and the least bit responsibility. These shows are made to be controversial, made to be combative. In most cases, the “Other Side” caller is probably someone on the radio station’s payroll who is prompted to call in order to heighten the tension; is it odd that someone who sits at the other end of the political spectrum is always listening and always gets through on the phone line? Or maybe I just have a touch of paranoia…?
Yeah, I am sure I will still listen to a radio talk show and I am sure that I will keep looking around for one which I find comfortable (any soft English-accented ladies on the air, let me know…), but I don’t think there are too many stations out there which put informing the listeners over feeding the fire and I don’t think there is much chance that any one talk radio personality will ever put their ego or the practicality of presenting intelligent discussion over the chance to piss people off. Maybe I am wrong – my track record is definitely not stellar – but I don’t believe that is ever a direction really sought after. What would be the point?
No-Talk Radio
Advertisement
Well, let me say this in defense of NPR. It really depends on when you’re listening. There are a few shows on there that are genuinely good. Then there are some that are meant to be turned off. My ex was a Conservative in Libertarian clothing — and I am NOT either of the those — but the one station we could agree on was NPR. (And sometimes CNN as far as tv goes.) He felt it was ACTUALLY fair and balanced, and I agree. Plus, I kind of like the National Geographic type stuff because I get to actually learn about something besides these United States. Fresh Air is good; Talk of the Nation is wondeful. (And I have Sirius – until they realize I won’t pay my bill. Ever. So I don’t know what they’re able to play in this particular area.) Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me is funny, and informative — with a Liberal bent that appeals to me, but not so bent as to disgust most Conservatives.
I’ve called in to exactly ONE raving lunatic and it did nothing but raise my blood pressure. So, I stopped doing that. We’ve fallen into this trap where there is entirely TOO MUCH expressing opinions, in order to fill hours of programming, and entirely TOO LITTLE reporting of facts. When people complain of our divisive society they rarely look at their own listening/viewing habits. Though, to be fair, I simply refuse to listen to the extreme Right anymore. It makes me physically ill.