Ok, I'm gonna say this and be done with it. Talk and News/Talk work when the AUDIENCE can particiapte. It's not LISTEN radio, it's TALK radio. Of course there are the Limbaugh-esque hosts now and then that have built such a head of steam that they can carry a show on their own, but more often than not, in my opinion, talk works when people can voice opinions, concerns, dissent or just generally get a chance to feel like they are being heard on the issues and news of the day. After a crappy day, they can call and gripe. The street is a sheet of ice, they can call and gripe. The city spent $60million on a $20million project, they can call and gripe. They get things off their chests and feel empowered because someone other than the family dog heard their pain.
Secondly, if "talk radio" as a societal industry thinks they are going to change the world, they have to expand their selection of messengers. Think about the hosts that are on the air in Columbus. find me the non-white people...findm e the women. There are women and blacks and latinos that could bring a whole new audience to the message, no matter what the message is, but as long as talk stations continue to serve the dead and dying, the format will be dead and dying. The forum MUST expand it's audience by expanding it's selection of hosts or it's doomed.
Radio in general is now a bean counter business. The reason(s) people listen faithfully is (are) because 1. You provide what they want as no other station provides it, and/or 2. They have a personal allegiance to the people they hear on the air, and/or 3. The station runs a great promotion to bring in new listeners, like a big cash prize, trips, free gas, etc. When was the last time you saw a radio station doing a live remote broadcast (except for music stations in bars)? It doesn't happen all that often. When a person comes to the car dealer on Saturday morning and meets the on-air person, they will feel a kinship. When the on-air person shows up at their kids' school to judge a talent show, they remember and appreciate it. Not every time, but many times, those people become a loyal audiece member. When was the last big contest run in Columbus by a radio station? I'm not talking about the national CC stuff, I mean LOCAL.
There was a time when radio related, interacted, involved itself in the lives of listeners and in return, the listeners listened.
I know I am talking old school...that's when radio worked. Those that forget the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. Those that ignore the successes of the past are continually reinventing the wheel...and it's becoming square.
Again, just my opinion...there was no show to call so I posted it here.
;D
