may be time to find a new morning show

[duskyjewel]

I have been a loyal listener of Barry Young on KFYI for years, but today I'm thinking I may find something new to listen to in the morning. For anyone who heard it, I am "Jennifer" who called in near the end of the 8:00 hour today, talking about General Petraus's comments asking the Florida church not to burn the Koran because he thinks it will endanger our soldiers.

I have enjoyed Barry Young, but there comes a point where you are just being intellectually dishonest and refusing to listen to your callers' points in your hurry to run them over and maintain your argument at all costs. God forbid you say, "Hmmmm, you might have a point. Maybe I was wrong..." on the air.

He kept going on and on about how Petraus is violating the First Amendment by saying anything at all about the church's action, because he is a member of the military and a representative of the government. When I asked him about a comparison between this and the "Loose Lips Sink Ships" campaign of WWII, he of course ridiculed me. Never mind that both were, in fact, government requests for private citizens to self-regulate their speech to protect our soldiers. If he thinks Petraus is over the line, then he should be condemning "Loose Lips Sink Ships." He seemed to think that since LLSS was aimed at defense-related factory workers, that made a difference. But baseline ideological comparison, they both were requests from the military for private citizens to limit their speech.

When I made the point that neither Petraus nor any other representative of the government was going to bring any of their power or resources to bear in order to stop the church from burning Korans, and so I thought he was misrepresenting the 1st Amendment issues involved, he went off on straw-man pooh-poohing, saying that I claimed, he, Barry, was misrepresenting the 1st Amendment itself, and what part of "Congress shall make no law" do I not understand? Well, Barry, what part of "Congress isn't MAKING any law" do YOU not understand?!

He's funny sometimes, but I think I might just go listen to Laura Ingraham and Neal Boortz over on 1100 KFNX. Neal Boortz can sound like a jerk sometimes, but at least he is intellectually honest.

 

[johnboy53]

Sorry that you felt Barry was being intellectually dishonest. But the reality is, in Barry's mind, he's being completely honest. You see, talk show hosts know that there job is not being correct (about the first amendment or anything else) or fair or even intelligent. Their one and only job is to be ENTERTAINING and to garner a BIG AUDIENCE.

This is what really scares me about Glenn Beck and Rush. Listeners (and even politicians) take these talk show hosts' positions seriously. When at the end of the day, Beck and Rush would tell you that their only job is to entertain their audience.

And I agree with you about the first amendment. The only thing it limits is what laws congress and the states can pass.

 

[KOHS]

I'm beginning to understand why Barry is losing his hair... 

If Barry isn't quite your cup of tea, may I recommend afternoon shop/drafting class with class clowns Mac y Gaydos? As their show page on KTAR states, "Your Afternoon drive home just got funnier." (See, they are funny...really they are. KTAR says so.) It's mindless talk radio that doesn't involve a lot of needless interaction with the audience and sounds like a lot of conversations overheard at the high school cafeteria. Just text your thoughts to 411923!  ;D

You'll love hearing Mac talk about the 'infamous girlfriend' and hang on every word from self-professed germaphobe/hypochondriac Gaydos. Jayme reads the news at the top and bottom of every hour (she does an excellent job reading the news) and detour dan chimes in occasionally with west side-west side traffic.

And if it happens to rain, you will hear wall-to-wall coverage of rain gauge stats and reporters checking to see if it's raining where you are. How fun is that?

Ward (Mark Curtis) or June Cleaver (Lin Sue Cooney) from Mc12 drop in with the usual tease of "What's on Mc12 tonight," and their professional non-meteorologist (Jimmy Q and Caribe) weather guessers read the weather forecast after each newscast. If you're really lucky, Rob "The Beaver" Carlmark will give you the weathercaster seal of approval forecast personally!

Oh, I forgot to mention...Mac y Gaydos have the number one talk show in the valley!!! (Which really speaks to how pathetic talk radio in the valley must be.)

 

[duskyjewel]

You see, talk show hosts know that there job is not being correct (about the first amendment or anything else) or fair or even intelligent. Their one and only job is to be ENTERTAINING and to garner a BIG AUDIENCE.

This is what really scares me about Glenn Beck and Rush. Listeners (and even politicians) take these talk show hosts' positions seriously. When at the end of the day, Beck and Rush would tell you that their only job is to entertain their audience.

To quote my dad... horse puckey. Their MAIN job may be to entertain and garner a big audience, but they also need to be correct when talking about facts, and intellectually honest if they want anyone to tune in beyond the second or third time. Those things bolster the main job of entertaining and getting a big REPEAT audience. If someone goes about spewing stuff that is verifiably false all the time, who will bother to listen? If someone constantly violates the beliefs they espouse or the system to which they claim to subscribe, why would anyone ever bother to listen?

 

[DrAkbar]

He kept going on and on about how Petraus is violating the First Amendment by saying anything at all about the church's action, because he is a member of the military and a representative of the government.

He also thinks religious groups should be able to build their churches, synagogues, mosques, etc, wherever they wish without any kind of approval from local, state or the federal government. To hell with zoning and building codes, if it has anything to do with theology the Constituition gives them the right.

The Nearly Bald One may have left the Libertarians, but they should haven't left him! (sfx - fake studio audience applauding)

 

[indieradioguy]

You see, talk show hosts know that there job is not being correct (about the first amendment or anything else) or fair or even intelligent. Their one and only job is to be ENTERTAINING and to garner a BIG AUDIENCE.

This is what really scares me about Glenn Beck and Rush. Listeners (and even politicians) take these talk show hosts' positions seriously. When at the end of the day, Beck and Rush would tell you that their only job is to entertain their audience.

To quote my dad... horse puckey. Their MAIN job may be to entertain and garner a big audience, but they also need to be correct when talking about facts, and intellectually honest if they want anyone to tune in beyond the second or third time. Those things bolster the main job of entertaining and getting a big REPEAT audience. If someone goes about spewing stuff that is verifiably false all the time, who will bother to listen? If someone constantly violates the beliefs they espouse or the system to which they claim to subscribe, why would anyone ever bother to listen?

Air America Phoenix (any version of it) was ENTERTAINING and, more pertinently, intellectually honest, but not nearly entertaining enough to stay on the air. At least AA's staff was informed enough to graduate to the U.S. Senate, MSNBC, etc., as opposed to the infomercial gig that sore loser J.D. got.

 

[Ford]

[If someone goes about spewing stuff that is verifiably false all the time, who will bother to listen?

Yeah, I mean, that's like...oh wait, we'll be right back after the break...

THIS WEEKEND ONLY AT SKIDWAY CHEVROLET, NEW CHEVY'S WILL BE SOLD FOR ONLY 99 DOLLARS DOWN, AND 99 DOLLARS A MONTH!!! on approved credit, dealer retains all rebates, plus tax title license only one vehicle available at this price subject to prior sale not valid with any other offer your mileage may vary see dealer for details.

And we're back! But before we go to the phones, let me tell you about how great my life has been since I began the Nutri-fast weight loss program! :

 

[sirlaughsalot]

If you've worked with talk show hosts behind the scenes for any amount of time in radio, you know the post by johnboy53 is dead-on right.
If you think talk show hosts actually give a crap what they said after the show is over, enjoy the illusion and keep those letters (tweets, e-mails, etc.,) comin'.
They don't care if they lose you as a listener because there are plenty more sheep in the flock waiting to be fleeced.
If the Program Director receives enough e-mails, something may be done, but not likely.

 

[Wildstyle K]

;D - RESPECTING YOUR LISTENERS... - ;D


...Sorry, just wanted to make myself feel involved!

 

[duskyjewel]

Well, I guess I am just a naif who knows nothing about radio. My nearly 2 decades of listenership to various national and local talk radio shows counts for nothing. Whatever, if the industry insiders don't give a crap what the listeners think, then....

This morning only compounded the problem. Barry was praising the President and Secretary of State for stepping into the fray, even after what he said Tuesday. Which was this:

Would it then be appropriate for the Secretary of Defense to comment on this? Hell no! It’s not appropriate for anybody in government to comment on what this little, stinky, Dove World Outreach gobbledygook Christian tire center or whatever the hell they are… It’s not appropriate for anybody in the government to reprimand this moronic guy, Terry Jones, if he wants to burn the Koran. That sh… it’s inappropriate.

So when I called him to challenge him, he claimed he never said that no one in government should comment, and that if I was going to quote him, I should do it correctly. Well, there, I just did. Obviously, I should find better uses of my time if this kind of crap is totally acceptable among people who go around pointing out others' intellectual inconsistency and savaging them over it.

 

[DrAkbar]

The Nearly Bald One simply wants it both ways - his way and his way! The Nurse and I agree with your opinion that hypocrisy runs amok at this blustery suburban radio station between the hours of 7 and 10am


sfx - fake studio audience: oooooooooooooooo!

 

[oldiesfan6479]

When did 55/FYI become a "suburban" station?

It's not like they're licensed to A.J.

 

[Legend City]

Talk Radio is basically the same as pro wrestling. Its fake, the hosts aren't invested, its schtick. Listen to Savage for 5 minutes and you realize its just performance art, but what is scary is how many fans eat it up.

If you could go back in time to when Jeff Christie (Rush Limbaugh) was getting his start, and you offered him the money, he would have done a liberal talk show, and would have been good at it. Its just a job.

The talk host who has really been dogging it lately is Hugh Hewitt, lots of pre recorded shows, entire shows dedicated to his religious comrades and programs and really uninspired shows where he just phones it in. zzzzz

 

[UnWashD]

Duskeyjewel, may I suggest Thom Hartmann and Randi Rhodes? http://www.1480kphx.com/
Randi especially.
I also had it with KfwhyI many years ago.l
And ktar is nothing but kfwhyI on fm from my point of view. Which is only having the opportunity to listen to Crummy, Ramsey, and Bohannon.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I don't understand why people do, or would want to fake things. I find that it would be easier that a person just tell it how it is based on how they feel or what is happening. Most of the time, the two do not (always) coincide with each other. It's easier to be passionate and on point if it's coming from a genuine frame of mind, and you don't have to really look up anything, backtrack too much, put in extra work to remain consistent, or twist anything when you're being real.

While I'm sure that some act, I'm also sure that this doesn't mean that every talk show host on the planet acts, or that everyone I may not necessarily agree with only acts (like they believe in what they are saying). I'd really like to see if Bruce St. James acts or if he's true to his word. If HE (or John Hook) are acting, then the best academy award(s) goes out to them. Barry Young does have the ability to twist stories and things a bit. I'm not sure about Rush... but it is rather pleasing, however, to find out Savage is acting because... well, I'm sure I really don't have to explain why.  ;D

 

[flashman1]

I sometimes wonder if the market could support a real all-news station a la KNX or KCBS. The "news/talk" stations are just showcases for political points of view (usually right wing) and don't really provide news. That goes for most of cable TV as well. Although I'm a liberal, I can't stomach Olbermann's occasional rants, and have pretty much migrated to PBS NewsHour and CNN.

Yes, I know that the "hate talk" stuff draws ratings. But is it possible that there are enough listeners in the Valley who just want information without making political points and attacks?

 

[KeithE4]

I sometimes wonder if the market could support a real all-news station a la KNX or KCBS.

Probably not, even with this metro as large as it is. All-news was tried and it failed three times in the '70s (KPHX, KTAR, KRUX). Granted, the Phoenix market was about 1/3 the size it is now, but without an available South Mountain FM stick or a 50 kW full-time transmitter at the low end of the dial, it's not likely to happen. Those three stations just didn't have the required signals - not even KTAR, who had the best signal and the most (relative) success with it.

CBS and TMISU are the only companies with success in this format. Apparently, neither wants to put all-news on FM on a full-time basis (KTAR-FM is closest, and only in AM drive), and neither owns an AM blowtorch to put it on.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I sometimes wonder if the market could support a real all-news station...

I remember I either brought up or replied to this question before. I am currently still in the hospital recovering from the beat up I got for suggesting that it could work, but my fingers have healed enough to the point I can now type.

Just kidding. But in other words, going strictly by hearsay since I have 0% expertise or experience on news and how all news operates, I don't think it will work. There are a number of reasons why I (now) say I don't think it would work (but not because of the hospital experience ;D). However, I do still think if they can make their all day news coverage live and interesting (Ned & Connie or Wall Street Journal style), maybe it may work. Either way, I think there will always have to be some degree of opinionated talk or playfulness involved (Ned & Connie style) to keep things interesting.

 

[asugeorge1]

I sometimes wonder if the market could support a real all-news station a la KNX or KCBS. The "news/talk" stations are just showcases for political points of view (usually right wing) and don't really provide news. That goes for most of cable TV as well. Although I'm a liberal, I can't stomach Olbermann's occasional rants, and have pretty much migrated to PBS NewsHour and CNN.

Yes, I know that the "hate talk" stuff draws ratings. But is it possible that there are enough listeners in the Valley who just want information without making political points and attacks?

I've asked this question before and still believe that an all-news station could work in the valley, but only if it's with a news staff as dedicated as KTAR. 620 AM is probably the only AM station in the valley that has the power to run a successful all-news radio station. It could also work on FM, but I've yet to see it happen with success anywhere in the country.

I'll keep hoping that someday we'll have an all-news station in the valley. Yeah, when pigs fly or when the Lumberyard decides to go 24/7 with Goldmine oldies all night on 1440 AM KAZG! ;D

 

[johndavis]

I've asked this question before and still believe that an all-news station could work in the valley, but only if it's with a news staff as dedicated as KTAR. 620 AM is probably the only AM station in the valley that has the power to run a successful all-news radio station. It could also work on FM, but I've yet to see it happen with success anywhere in the country.

WTOP, Washington DC moved from AM to FM a few years back. It's currently #1 12+ in all dayparts, according to DCRTV. http://www.wtopnews.com

TMISU seem to want to run KTAR more like KSL than they want to turn it into WTOP. If they thought they could make more money with all news 24/7, they would have done it already.