Is commercial radio listening to you?
Posted by schroeder915 on November 15, 2006
When was the last time local broadcast media — radio in particular — did a detailed story about your neighborhood’s planning process?
Has the local broadcast media covered the move by the Archdiocese to destroy the architecturally and culturally unique St. Francis Cabrini Church, scheduled to fall under the wrecking ball this Friday?
Do you think you might like to have some airtime to get the word out about your neighborhood battles?
You could, if you had an outlet.
First, you need to challenge the broadcasting license of a commercial broadcaster.
If the guys who get paid to cover important issues of concern to the community aren’t serving the community, then they don’t get to keep their broadcasting licenses. We just need to remind them, and the FCC, of that small detail.
When they do hire talent, broadcasters need to make sure they hire hosts who are well-informed and balanced in their interviews. That’s not what we’re getting with WWL. Neither is it what we’re getting with that other new Republican radio station. In their lineup of crooks and liars, at least “The New 99.5” Clear Channel/Fox News station in New Orleans “didn’t hire ex-FEMA head Mike (heckuva job) Brown.” But it can’t be too far off given the Bush regime apologists they hired as hosts.
19 Responses to “Is commercial radio listening to you?”
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People Get Ready 
f p said
In 1947, after reading a newspaper article about the crash of a plane carrying a group of Mexican contract workers back to the border, Woody Guthrie wrote a poem, later set to music by Martin Hoffman. In haunting lyrics he describes how it caught fire as it flew low over Los Gatos Canyon, near Coalinga at the edge of California’s San Joaquin Valley. Observers below saw people and belongings flung out of the aircraft before it hit the ground, falling like leaves, Guthrie says.
While the Coalinga Record carried the names of the pilot and Border Patrol agent on the flight, no record was kept of the workers’ identity. They were all listed on the death certificates simply as “deportee.” That became the name of the song.
Some of us are illegal, and some are not wanted,
Our work contract’s out and we have to move on;
Six hundred miles to that Mexican border,
They chase us like outlaws, like rustlers, like thieves.
Today, the word illegal is used to mean a person without immigration papers. But Guthrie uses it in the sense of an earlier era—of being excluded. To him, it means someone who is not a real resident of the place where he works, not part of a community, or accepted by the society around him.
http://americas.irc-online.org/am/996
f p said
My point was that when DJ’s refuse to work for 4 dollars an hour without benifits we are going to have to give their jobs to someone who won’t refuse to do such low and demeaning labor… .
… Robots and Tape Recorders.
Larry Stevens said
Here is a typical question posted in a local community forunm:
http://community.livejournal.com/neworleans/2458479.html
“Restoring gas service?
Hey, all –
I had a plumber come out to pressurize our gas lines over two weeks ago, to the tune of $325. This was less than the $850 I was quoted by another company I heard about on OZ. Mr. Plumber told us the lines were fine, there were no leaks, and that he filed the paperwork with the city the following Monday.
Entergy site sez that they restore service 3-5 days after paperwork is filed. We still haven’t heard from an inspector, and I suspect that we are about to be screwed by yet another contractor.
Anyone have experience with how long this process actually takes, as opposed to what the website is telling me?
Man, I’d love to have a hot shower & be able to cook in my own kitchen again!”
I am wondering how this type of question would be handled differently by the connected business community if were funneled through the chain media and there were some issue at Entergy that should be addressed and they did not want us to know about it?
Anyway, this is the type of community connecting we need everyone to have access to in order to rebuild or community. And as a way to make our community stronger. How do we tip the balance of fairness in oreder to give Community the chance it needs to grow?
Lenny Zimmermann said
And on a related note, Clear Channel looks like it will be bought out:
http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/nov2006/pi20061116_382938.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_investing
KamaAina said
Do you think you might like to have some airtime to get the word out about your neighborhood battles?
You could, if you had an outlet.
First, you need to challenge the broadcasting license of a commercial broadcaster.
The post-Reagan FCC has, unsurprisingly, been notably hostile to license challenges, however well-founded.
An alternative could be to get some money together (not as much as you might think) and purchase a license. The station wouldn’t be as powerful as WSMB, let alone WWL, but there’s one that’s been dark since Katrina (at least) that would cover the city, plus Jefferson, St. Bernard, upper Plaquemines, and the immediate North Shore.
The possibilities are limitless: local hosts in the key time slots, with some syndicated progressive programming mixed in, and possibly time brokerage, particularly nights and weekends, to any number of neighborhood and community groups whose voices need to be heard.
Larry Evans said
Hey, is this fairness in media? anyone got any scoop on if these folks spoke up since they lost their jobs?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/10/national/main665727.shtml
Was this made up?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/08/60II/main641984.shtml
schroeder915 said
KamaAina,
Yeah! Let’s do it.
I think a 501c3 to start fundraising toward a license purchase would be the way to start. I like more the idea of outright taking a license away from Clear Channel or Entercom, but I think there are a lot of powerful citizens who would get behind a truly democratic, community-run radio station.
Shall we meet on it?
schroeder915 at yahoo dot com.
Robots and tape recorders FP. I think there’s a story there which isn’t immediately apparent to me.
Larry, yes! We’re on the same page. We need to hear and share the narratives of people still in the struggle, not the excuses and grandstanding of public officials.
I’m sick of hearing people like Walter Leger being given a stage for their vanity with Garland Robinette on WWL — but it does make sense that they get along so well, doesn’t it?
Lenny, I too was surprised to hear the news … but they’re just passing the hat to a new owner. I don’t expect any changes in the bottom line management decisions.
F P said
more bad news: Bush is buying clear channel Check out the comments here http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061116/ap_on_bi_ge/clear_channel_buyout
Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee are bed with the CARLYLE GROUP. Surprise, Surprise. I guess it would have been too obvious to have the Carlyle name out front owning the primary means of radio telecommunications in the country. Couple this with the news of Bush’s attempt to renominate Kenneth Y. Tomlinson as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which is the agency that directs U.S. broadcasts overseas, and you have a concerted effort by the established elite to control the vast majority of American radio broadcasts. Wake up!
By: ProfiteerInCheif on November 16, 2006 at 02:26pm
Flag: [abusive]
ProfiteerinChief has nailed it right.
the investment group is a front for the Carlyle Group.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlyle_group…
Carlyle specializes in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Consumer & Retail, Energy & Power, Healthcare, Industrial, Real Estate, Technology & Business Services, Telecommunications & Media, and Transportation. The Carlyle Group’s investments are focused on East Asia, Europe and North America, with most investment money coming from the United States (65%), Europe (25%), Asia (6%), Latin America, and the Middle East. Defense investments represent about 1% of the group’s current portfolio — though this translates, for example, into a 33.8% ownership of QinetiQ, the UK’s recently privatized defence company.
Politicians affiliated with Carlyle
* James Baker III, former United States Secretary of State under George H. W. Bush, Staff member under Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, Carlyle Senior Counselor, served in this capacity from 1993 to 2005.
* George H. W. Bush, former U.S. President, Senior Advisor to the Carlyle Asia Advisory Board from April 1998 to October 2003.
* George W. Bush, current U.S. President. Was appointed in 1990 to the Board of Directors of one of Carlyle’s first acquisitions, an airline food business called Caterair, which Carlyle eventually sold at a loss. Bush left the board in 1992 to run for Governor of Texas.
* Frank C. Carlucci, former United States Secretary of Defense from 1987 to 1989; Also, former Princeton wrestling partner of present US Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Carlyle Chairman and Chairman Emeritus from 1989 to 2005.
* Richard Darman, former Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget under George H. W. Bush, Senior Advisor and Managing Director of The Carlyle Group from 1993 to the present
* William Kennard, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under President Bill Clinton, Carlyle’s Managing Director in the Telecommunications & Media Group from 2001 to the present.
* Arthur Levitt, Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under President Bill Clinton, Carlyle Senior Advisor from 2001 to the present
* John Major, former British Prime Minister, Chairman, Carlyle Europe from 2002 until 2005
By: rebelpatriot on November 16, 2006 at 02:36pm
F P said
Wrong link… here are those comments: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/16/nations-largest-radio-st_n_34259.html
schroeder915 said
Good find FP! I didn’t know about the connection to the Carlyle Group.
f P said
Here is another link on the media take over: http://www.freepress.net/news/19211
F P said
Here is a good article that could be relevant> click here.
GentillyGirrrrl said
Do you think you might like to have some airtime to get the word out about your neighborhood battles?
Yes – we would like the opportunity to get the word out about the elitest preservationists who do not live in our neighborhood nor are they ever likely spend to their money in our neighborhood attempting to stop the progress of our devastated hood to recover by putting a halt to the demolition of a hideous, poorly and inefficiently designed Cabrini Church. Please get the word out about what you non-Gentilly residents are trying to do in MY neighborhood.
schroeder915 said
Is the problem really that the Walter Maestri is remarkably uncompromising for a Christian in his approach to communities?
It may be that Cabrini cant be saved, but Gentilly residents might like to know why. The Archdiocese would have Cabrini leveled to put a football field in its place. It isnt just Gentilly suffering from the Archdiocese unilateral tactics, now Metairie residents are complaining about the same tactics at Rummel. And recall the St. Augustine battle.
A church that cares is a church that asks, and listens. If it has an argument to make for why Cabrini cant be incorporated into existing plans, it should make that argument. Creating conflict between communities is a decidedly un-Christian value.
Business Traveler said
I am concerned about the free wireless network in New Orleans. Who is creating enough heat to get it working, and who is responsible to make sure that it works? Who is behind it and who is backing it?
If it works well, convention goes and business travelers are going to love it. Geek conventions will come here to use it. If it does not work it is a big waste. But I have feeling cox cable and other local players may be lobbyng or somehow have their hands in making sure that the service does not compete with their service in any way. I know there is good story here! I can feel it!
Schroeder said
Business Traveler,
That wireless network is up and running in many parts of dry New Orleans. I can make a connection on my front porch. The problem is, as an EarthLink tech explained to me, I probably won’t be able to make a connection inside my house without upgrading and getting an EarthLink/FeatherWiFi modem. That might be an option for me, since I hate BellSouth and Cox, but it definitely falls short of the “free” wireless system that EarthLink and the city were touting.
Business Traveler said
Yes,, Lets put some presure on them to change this.. It only falls short for reason. I can connect to several of my neighbors systems, and some live several houses away. There are using those cheap routers , not the commercial stuff. This New Orleans network should be working a lot better than that!
Since I’ve been called an elitist … « People Get Ready said
[…] Gentilly Girl, with whom I don’t wish any animosity, nevertheless chose to take me to the mat in response to an earlier PGR post: He/she asks “Do you think you might like to have some airtime to get the word out about your neighborhood battles?” and ironically above that line questions the motive of the demolition of Cabrini Church. I’m sure the church isn’t located in Schroeder’s neighborhood. The irony of the elite preservationists dictating to an entire neighborhood what they can and cannot do in order to rebuild and recover. So, please log on to his blog and get the word out about YOUR neighborhood. […]
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