I'm sending out a long but very valuable Buzzflash interview with one of our favorites, Thom Hartmann. He's now an Air America radio host and his show has been a success. Now, some of you may not appreciate progressive talk radio (some of you may too) but listen to what Hartmann has to say.
I just think that Air America, Democracy Radio, and other progressive talk show programming doesn't get the recognition it deserves in our community. There's more to taking back the airwaves than low-power FM, community access TV, media reform, etc. Personally, all these elements remain critical to our causes. But I hope this interview provides some answers to all the nay-sayers out there and that those who care about media reform (or other issues in Windham County) can embrace progressive talk radio instead of bashing it (just because it's "commercial radio"). We really need to take advantage of all the resources at our disposal. I feel like a lot of us overlook its value, as an outlet or an ally. We really gotta rise up, defeat the right, and repair all damage they're leaving behind. Progressive talk radio is one means to fix that.
-patagonianomore
PS: Don't forget, "Your Show With John O" begins on Monday, November 14th at 9:00 AM on your progressive news and talk leader AM 1490 WKVT!
"Thom Hartmann, Now Syndicated on Air America Radio
A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW
In the early days, we’d call up radio stations, and program directors would say nobody wants to listen to liberal talk radio. They really believed it. Of course, common sense tells you that that doesn’t make any sense, but that was the conventional wisdom for the better part of a decade. They are continually trying to reinforce that myth today, but Air America is growing very strong.
* * *
Thom Hartmann writes our monthly "Independent Thinker of the Month" book reviews. But, he's also an author himself. Indeed, BuzzFlash has offered a number of his diverse books as premiums.
Hartmann, in addition, has established himself as one of the leading progressive talk radio show hosts. In fact, just a short time ago, he became the first program to be syndicated by Air America, in addition to their regular line-up. (It should be noted that BuzzFlash editors appear on Thom's program from time to time.)
Although we've interviewed Hartmann before, we have wanted for some time to discuss an article he wrote awhile back, "Liberal Talk Radio - Let The Water Cooler Wars Begin," (see Commondreams.org) on what makes talk radio work. We were intrigued because many pro-democracy advocates think that talk radio should be intellectually "talky." Hartmann knows better. It has to engage, entertain, inform, and establish an intimacy and trust with the listener. And it helps to be provocative, but not screechy.
Well, we'll let Thom explain it in his own words ...
* * *
BuzzFlash: Your radio program recently became syndicated by Air America. Explain what that means.
Thom Hartmann: Air America has taken over the responsibility for marketing my program to radio stations – getting it on the air on radio stations, and selling the advertising on it. And they also mix the show in New York and put it up on the satellite from New York.
BuzzFlash: Air America is actually producing it and broadcasting the syndication.
Thom Hartmann: Correct. Technically it's originating in New York, and in Portland, Oregon. And they have also put me on Sundays, whereas it had been my Friday afternoon show, which you guys were occasionally on. I’m on their seventy stations on the weekend, and I’m on around 25 stations weekdays on my own. We also have our web streams, plus www.airamericaradio.com now has a web stream of my program...."
You can read the full story here:
http://www.buzzflash.com/interviews/05/11/int05043.html