The "new" Liberal Media!

[HootieMcBoob]

This is a really good article. He hits the nail on the head here I think.

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1016-06.htm

[laura888]

1. "Conservatives have their spokespeople on the air..."

"...in every nook and cranny of America, while liberals are much harder to find. Potential Democratic AM radio listeners, disgusted with the rants on the right, have tuned into music stations while they wait for somebody to realize they represent a vast, untapped market. So only conservatives are listening, although that doesn't mean for a moment only conservatives would listen to talk radio."

(above is a <snip> from the article)

Yup - there's a huge potential market for left-slanted talk show.
Think:
1) the flury of left, anti-bush books that have come out lately that are flying off the shelves.
2) the popularity of my local progressive radio station - WPFW that plays Democracy Now. (I believe their fund-raising drive this fall will break records!)
3) the amount of calls coming in on C-SPAN that are negative against Bush

C'mon- how about it folks?
A talk show headed up by Howard Zinn, Michael Parenti and Amy Goodman?

Now that's something I'd tune into!!!!!!!!

[displacedtexan]

2. i remeber the 'old' liberal media

it was called reporting only facts and allowing us to reach our own conclusions concerning the morality of situations.

you can argue morality, but you can't argue facts. this is where the right blurs the line. they argue facts, and sheeple listen.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. Hallelujah!

<snip> The United Auto Workers union has put money and resources into the i.e. America Radio Network, which syndicates liberal talk radio from coast to coast. Several other unions and Democratic candidates are waking up to the power of advertising on a philosophically aligned show, and supporting liberal talk programming on a local basis.

Following on i.e.'s successes, AnShell media, according to industry rumors, is on the verge of achieving funding goals to roll out America's second liberal radio network in January. Al Gore and Joel Hyatt are talking about a cable TV network to take on Fox News.

The Center For American Progress - a liberal version of Heritage - is already providing great information and research to reporters and commentators, and kicking off a national conference October 27/28. Billionaire George Soros is helping fund a political action group dedicated to revitalizing democracy.

And smaller, independent businesspeople are getting into the act. Socially conscious companies like The Organic Wine Company are sponsoring liberal talk radio shows. Two independent ventures have set up shop this fall to nationally syndicate the Randi Rhodes show and a new radio program by Marianne Williamson. Stations from coast to coast have now picked up liberal talk shows, and they're discovering large and active listenerships, often even beating the conservative competition.

Progressive business people and labor unions are learning from the success of conservative media that with a good business plan and a little patience it's possible to both advance your side's social/political goals and to reach customers and potential members. Working together with progressive talent, liberal activists, and progressive, democracy-oriented companies and unions, America's "new liberal media" just may succeed in the battle to wrest American back from the clutching fingers of the extremist conservatives who've held sway these past two decades.

We've watched them destroy our economy three times in the past forty years (the Nixon inflation, Reagan/Bush recession, and the new Bush debt crisis), drive our foreign policy into a series of questionable wars, and openly attack both our environment and our civil liberties. Like cold water on a sleeping face, conservative excesses are finally awakening Americans to the recollection that our nation's values have been fundamentally progressive since our Founding, that Al Gore got a half-million more votes than George W. Bush in the last presidential election, and that progressives/liberals are just as enthusiastic about rooting for their "team" as are conservatives. The larger half of America is finally finding its voice.<snip>

It's about time! It's good to know we have some wealthy Dems out there who are supporting our cause and assissting in getting our voices heard.

[OHdem10]

4. Reply New Liberal Media

Great post--none to soon to see some good things happening on the left. This very day--Weekly Standard Magazine has published an article putting out propaganda as facet--With election Schwartzenneger(California has gone Republican) therefore, the Republican Party is the dominant party in US.C_Span has spent an hour on callins--Is the Republican Dominant in US.? This is how Republicans have gained power. Convincing Democats there is no point in voting or participating--the Republicans are going to win regardless.

These new organizations you describe had best get hopping and the rest of us had best find a way to stop this line--The Republicans are the Dominant Party in US. We know Rove"s plan is to have the Republicans Dominate Poitical Life in US for the next 50 years.

[WillyBrandt]

5. KICK KICK KICK KICK READ THIS KICK KICK

Not THIS message, the one at the top. One of the best things I've read in a long time.

[HootieMcBoob]

6. that's exactly what I thought

when I read it. It's the best thing I've read in ages. It explains clealy the right's takeover of the media and what liberals need to do to get back into the game. Then, goes on to give good examples of how that's beginning to happen. It's a real breath of fresh air to read and made me feel optimistic for the first time in a long while.

[laura888]

7. On more of the same - read "Big Lies"

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2003/08/18/conason_one/index_np.html

<snip>

"In the introduction to his new book ("Big Lies"), Joe Conason explains how the right-wing propaganda machine demonizes liberals and distorts the common-sense politics of America."

</snip>

[PROGRESSIVE1]

8. WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Liberals need to spend more resources on things like building their own Media Machine, their own chorus of drums if you will! The Reich had started this some 40 years back when LBJ kicked Goldwater's hind end BIG TIME!!! The Dem's and Liberals have finnally learned and are doing something about it!

[librechik]

9. Taking back the Media is Job One

Except for BBV, this is the issue progressives should focus on above everything. I remember what a revolution "underground newspapers" and the like had on the Viet Nam War and all of American society back in the 70s. We need to recreate that wave of progressive information that swept over the country, allowing a Watergate to happen.

[laura888]

11. bingo! you're spot on!

Small progressive newspapers then, websites now?

[NJCher]

10. one of the best articles I've ever read

One thing I did not know is how Limbaugh got his start--the block time thing. Wow, that was really informative. Bankrolled, all the way, by big corporations.

The article is also good because it points how the left is getting its act together for media. BTW, the remark about Al Gore's TV network is out of date. He is pursuing it but it will only appeal to the very young.

You know, this article also made me realize how my attitude toward my country and fellow citizens has changed so much, too. It's because so many have turned into money-grubbers with these hideous values that conservatism promotes. I used to love America. Now I hate America. And now I know why!


Cher