Local men launch radio show Sunday
By Sean Smyth, September 03, 2005
Erin Carlin and Rick Smith say they want to see change in the American agenda.
Starting this weekend, their views gain a public platform.
Carlin, who has been involved with Democracy for America and the Cumberland County Democratic Committee, and Smith, a Teamsters member, both dub themselves progressives.
The name of their new radio show on WHYL-AM (960), "United for Progress," dovetails with that vision. The two-hour show debuts at 4 p.m. Sunday.
The show features a Web site with a blog, www.unitedforprogress.com. Smith and Carlin say the Web site serves as an interactive element.
Smith says the inspiration for turning to radio was Congressman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the show's first guest.
"I'm a big fan of Bernie Sanders, and he talks a lot about average people getting involved and getting involved in media," Smith says. "The more I heard him talk, I thought, ‘Maybe it's something I can do.' "
Carlin and Smith also plan to speak with Steve Macfarlen, assistant national director of the Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association, about the ongoing labor dispute involving the association and Northwest Airlines.
Taking on football
Carlin and Smith say their show will be a home of pro-labor, pro-middle class progressive-oriented discussion.
"The goal is to present progressive, pro-labor talk that examines President Bush's policies and how they affect people," Smith says.
The time slot provides a challenge, coming on a day where many people turn their attention to the TV to catch pro football.
"We're hoping union people will turn down the volume on football — still watch it, but listen to us for a couple hours," Smith says.
And Carlin is putting ideology before fanaticism.
"I'm a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan with season tickets I'm giving up as a result of this," he says.
The program is getting its initial backing from unions: the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Carlin says they have signed a 12-week agreement with the unions for funds but adds "we have verbal commitments for longer."
Plan upbeat message
Sharon Snell is working with Carlin and Smith on the Web site's blog. She says the show will maintain an upbeat atmosphere. "We're hoping the more that people can hear fresh voices with interesting solutions to the problems we're facing, the more that they'll listen."
And, no, the show will not be straight, dry political talk. Carlin says there will be some humor thrown into discussion on issues such as health care, union-employer relations and the national deficit.
"Politics is not a spectator sport; it's an action sport," Carlin says. "Humor makes for a good water break in this type of thing."
Adds Smith, the "whole idea of this program is not to spend our time excoriating Bush. There's enough of that already. What we need to do is examine the policies and get people involved — get them involved with their local representatives and push pro-labor legislation."
-The Sentinel
By Sean Smyth, September 03, 2005
Erin Carlin and Rick Smith say they want to see change in the American agenda.
Starting this weekend, their views gain a public platform.
Carlin, who has been involved with Democracy for America and the Cumberland County Democratic Committee, and Smith, a Teamsters member, both dub themselves progressives.
The name of their new radio show on WHYL-AM (960), "United for Progress," dovetails with that vision. The two-hour show debuts at 4 p.m. Sunday.
The show features a Web site with a blog, www.unitedforprogress.com. Smith and Carlin say the Web site serves as an interactive element.
Smith says the inspiration for turning to radio was Congressman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the show's first guest.
"I'm a big fan of Bernie Sanders, and he talks a lot about average people getting involved and getting involved in media," Smith says. "The more I heard him talk, I thought, ‘Maybe it's something I can do.' "
Carlin and Smith also plan to speak with Steve Macfarlen, assistant national director of the Airline Mechanics Fraternal Association, about the ongoing labor dispute involving the association and Northwest Airlines.
Taking on football
Carlin and Smith say their show will be a home of pro-labor, pro-middle class progressive-oriented discussion.
"The goal is to present progressive, pro-labor talk that examines President Bush's policies and how they affect people," Smith says.
The time slot provides a challenge, coming on a day where many people turn their attention to the TV to catch pro football.
"We're hoping union people will turn down the volume on football — still watch it, but listen to us for a couple hours," Smith says.
And Carlin is putting ideology before fanaticism.
"I'm a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan with season tickets I'm giving up as a result of this," he says.
The program is getting its initial backing from unions: the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Carlin says they have signed a 12-week agreement with the unions for funds but adds "we have verbal commitments for longer."
Plan upbeat message
Sharon Snell is working with Carlin and Smith on the Web site's blog. She says the show will maintain an upbeat atmosphere. "We're hoping the more that people can hear fresh voices with interesting solutions to the problems we're facing, the more that they'll listen."
And, no, the show will not be straight, dry political talk. Carlin says there will be some humor thrown into discussion on issues such as health care, union-employer relations and the national deficit.
"Politics is not a spectator sport; it's an action sport," Carlin says. "Humor makes for a good water break in this type of thing."
Adds Smith, the "whole idea of this program is not to spend our time excoriating Bush. There's enough of that already. What we need to do is examine the policies and get people involved — get them involved with their local representatives and push pro-labor legislation."
-The Sentinel