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News Talk for 20-30yr olds?

A

azenergyfan

Guest
Does anyone know if there are any news talkers that focus on the 20-30yr olds? I am not talking bout Free FM or Hot Talk that targets mostly guys I am talking about straight ahead news talk but focus on the younger generation rather than the older generation. Would be interested to hear how they sound.
 
I don't know of any but I've been waiting for this. Conventional wisdom is that only old farts listen to News/Talk. Maybe if it wasn't programmed by old farts ABOUT old farts 20-30 year olds would listen. And if I'm not mistaken, 20-30 year olds are interested in a lot more than just politics. This whole right-wing versus left-wing talk argument might be moot if the political-talk boat is just circling the drain.

> Does anyone know if there are any news talkers that focus on
> the 20-30yr olds? I am not talking bout Free FM or Hot Talk
> that targets mostly guys I am talking about straight ahead
> news talk but focus on the younger generation rather than
> the older generation. Would be interested to hear how they
> sound.
> <P ID="signature">______________
SD</P>
 
I hear ya! I am 31 and can only take so much of the non stop as you call it old fart talk radio that is basically non stop political talk. I do not know how someone even an old fart could listen to this non stop all day long without going in sane! I do enjoy the Free FM format, gives me some laughs and I laugh at their stupidness but I do wish there was an outlet for young adults to go to so we could talk about politics, money, sports, entertainment, investments, and life in general for our generation. Possibly this is in the near future but I think it should happen and if programmed right would attract many listeners who want to be in the KNOW.



I don't know of any but I've been waiting for this.
> Conventional wisdom is that only old farts listen to
> News/Talk. Maybe if it wasn't programmed by old farts ABOUT
> old farts 20-30 year olds would listen. And if I'm not
> mistaken, 20-30 year olds are interested in a lot more than
> just politics. This whole right-wing versus left-wing talk
> argument might be moot if the political-talk boat is just
> circling the drain.
>
> > Does anyone know if there are any news talkers that focus
> on
> > the 20-30yr olds? I am not talking bout Free FM or Hot
> Talk
> > that targets mostly guys I am talking about straight ahead
>
> > news talk but focus on the younger generation rather than
> > the older generation. Would be interested to hear how they
>
> > sound.
> >
>
 
> Does anyone know if there are any news talkers that focus on
> the 20-30yr olds? I am not talking bout Free FM or Hot Talk
> that targets mostly guys I am talking about straight ahead
> news talk but focus on the younger generation rather than
> the older generation. Would be interested to hear how they
> sound.
>

That probably sounds like Air America or other progressive radio.
Younger folks tend to be more liberal ("a conservative who hasn't
been mugged yet"). And while they don't necessarily target people in
their 20s and 30s, conservatalkers like Ingraham and Hannity do have
people of that age group listening and calling in.<P ID="signature">______________
raccoonradio5ap.gif
</P>
 
Not on anywhere that I know of. But it might sound like this...

http://knrshow.com.

We're young and don't have the benefit of a PD, good or bad. Check out Show 9 Segment 2 in particular.

We don't want to be "Hot Talk". We want to use the news to do what we do, entertain.
 
Many make the mistake of assuming that a newstalk station that would appeal to a YOUNGER audience has to have a certain type of content vs. a traditional newstalk station.

WRONG. This has been the mistake since DAY ONE of these "FM Talk" outings.

Younger doesn't mean "stupid and uninterested in more serious issues".

Younger, in this sense, generally indicates that a stuffy approach is not attractive. A newstalk stations that would be successful in attracting younger listeners is a newstalk station that has hosts who execute shows in a more provocative and more animated way---NOT overproduces, mind you, but simply more energetic in their presentation.

The three biggest mistakes PDs make when trying to program to a younger crowd:

1) shallow and superfluous content
2) waaaay too many production elements
3) making strict format rules (other than "be entertaining")


Younger oriented newstalk should be almost the same as traditional newstalk, with one big, fat exception: it needs to be more ENTERTAINING ---in other words, not so dry. Most any subject can be interesting if you have the right host.
 
Hear hear to the two previous guys...

Hell, I'm fifty and I'M sick of old-fart talk. I'm tired of shows and hosts who focus on national political issues. I'm tired of hosts whose idea of showprep is regurgitating the latest talking points from right-wing rags like "World Nut Daily." (And no...the answer is NOT to regurgitate talking points from left-wing rags.) I'm especially tired to those hosts who pay lip service to the notion of entertaining the listener while serving up more of the same old political crap (in other words about ninety-seven percent of the hosts working today).

Talk hosts of America: give me compelling issues that are relevant to my life style. And above all else, entertain me. Basically, do everything that you're not doing now...
 
Glenn Beck does it for me! Informative, but very very entertaining! And he says that he is sooooooo sick of "right or left."
 
There have been attempts, some successful, to bring down the average age of certain talk stations. Randy Michaels did just that at WKRC and later WLW in the early and mid 80s. Stations like WFLA, Tampa (also Jacor at the time) purposely did things to drive away the oldsters, like a lot of sexual topics, hitting the dump button as soon as the senior caller said "I'm 73 years old", not putting old-sounding callers of any age on the air, and wording commercials like "are your parents thinking about retirement?" (rather than "you). From what I've read, KTRS in St. Louis is now going down a similar path. Remember, Rush was in his upper 30s when he went national.
 
I think local and being fun is the way to pull in a younger audince, granted I am 26 so my knowledge is limited. And maybe my station hooks some of the younger crowd tuning through the dial as a FM Talk station. But in order to keep them entertainment and information are key, the main key should be staying local. Tell people what is going on in your area, even if it is boring "old fart talk." Approach it differently and give it a fresh look. Being local and entertaining is what matters, My listeners can get national news the rest of the day via syndicated shows or the internet. My show is local so we talk local issues.

Dale Griffin
"The Attack Machine"<a href="http://www.talkradio101.com">
www.talkradio101.com</a>
 
> I think local and being fun is the way to pull in a younger
> audince, granted I am 26 so my knowledge is limited. And
> maybe my station hooks some of the younger crowd tuning
> through the dial as a FM Talk station. But in order to keep
> them entertainment and information are key, the main key
> should be staying local. Tell people what is going on in
> your area, even if it is boring "old fart talk." Approach it
> differently and give it a fresh look. Being local and
> entertaining is what matters, My listeners can get national
> news the rest of the day via syndicated shows or the
> internet. My show is local so we talk local issues.
>
> Dale Griffin
> "The Attack Machine"
> www.talkradio101.com
>
Too bad your audio link isnt working, would like to check out your program sounds like a show I be intersted in for sure.
 
> Hear hear to the two previous guys...
>
> Hell, I'm fifty and I'M sick of old-fart talk. I'm tired of
> shows and hosts who focus on national political issues. I'm
> tired of hosts whose idea of showprep is regurgitating the
> latest talking points from right-wing rags like "World Nut
> Daily." (And no...the answer is NOT to regurgitate talking
> points from left-wing rags.) I'm especially tired to those
> hosts who pay lip service to the notion of entertaining the
> listener while serving up more of the same old political
> crap (in other words about ninety-seven percent of the hosts
> working today).
>
> Talk hosts of America: give me compelling issues that are
> relevant to my life style. And above all else, entertain
> me. Basically, do everything that you're not doing now...
>

Amen! I know very few people who actually think about political issues in terms of the talking points and "If X supports it, well, they're a hippie communist/jackbooted fascist, so it must be wrong even though it sounds like a good idea". TV is at least trying to break out of that mold, whereas radio really hasn't at all beyond replacing some of the politics with locker room humor.
 
> I hear ya! I am 31 and can only take so much of the non stop
> as you call it old fart talk radio that is basically non
> stop political talk. I do not know how someone even an old
> fart could listen to this non stop all day long without
> going in sane! I do enjoy the Free FM format, gives me some
> laughs and I laugh at their stupidness but I do wish there
> was an outlet for young adults to go to so we could talk
> about politics, money, sports, entertainment, investments,
> and life in general for our generation. Possibly this is in
> the near future but I think it should happen and if
> programmed right would attract many listeners who want to be
> in the KNOW.
>
>
>
> I don't know of any but I've been waiting for this.
> > Conventional wisdom is that only old farts listen to
> > News/Talk. Maybe if it wasn't programmed by old farts
> ABOUT
> > old farts 20-30 year olds would listen. And if I'm not
> > mistaken, 20-30 year olds are interested in a lot more
> than
> > just politics. This whole right-wing versus left-wing talk
>
> > argument might be moot if the political-talk boat is just
> > circling the drain.
> >
> > > Does anyone know if there are any news talkers that
> focus
> > on
> > > the 20-30yr olds? I am not talking bout Free FM or Hot
> > Talk
> > > that targets mostly guys I am talking about straight
> ahead
> >
> > > news talk but focus on the younger generation rather
> than
> > > the older generation. Would be interested to hear how
> they
> >
> > > sound.
> > >
> >
>



I have enjoyed political talk since I was around 13 years old, I am now pushing 40, still relatively young for a talk radio listener. For my tastes, most of the current political talk is boring. There are so many subpar syndicrap shows out there. Yet, I can't stand non-political talk radio (or should I say non heavy issues talk radio).

For example, I like Michael Savage when he talks about politics and issues. But I punch out as soon as he talks about food or his dog Teddy. I would much rather listen to music than lifestyle talk. Please talk radio keep it heavy and keep it political. I have always appreciated that talk radio is an escape from a dumbed down world that wants to keep everything shallow, light and non-thought provoking.
 
>
> I have enjoyed political talk since I was around 13 years
> old, I am now pushing 40, still relatively young for a talk
> radio listener. For my tastes, most of the current political
> talk is boring. There are so many subpar syndicrap shows out
> there. Yet, I can't stand non-political talk radio (or
> should I say non heavy issues talk radio).
>
> For example, I like Michael Savage when he talks about
> politics and issues. But I punch out as soon as he talks
> about food or his dog Teddy. I would much rather listen to
> music than lifestyle talk. Please talk radio keep it heavy
> and keep it political. I have always appreciated that talk
> radio is an escape from a dumbed down world that wants to
> keep everything shallow, light and non-thought provoking.
>

Ditto on that, Rush!
 
> > Does anyone know if there are any news talkers that focus
> on
> > the 20-30yr olds? I am not talking bout Free FM or Hot
> Talk
> > that targets mostly guys I am talking about straight ahead
>
> > news talk but focus on the younger generation rather than
> > the older generation. Would be interested to hear how they
>
> > sound.
> >
>
> That probably sounds like Air America or other progressive
> radio.
> Younger folks tend to be more liberal ("a conservative who
> hasn't
> been mugged yet"). And while they don't necessarily target
> people in
> their 20s and 30s, conservatalkers like Ingraham and Hannity
> do have
> people of that age group listening and calling in.
>

AAR has an average listnership age of 45, that was as of last summer. Neither conservative or liberal talk is succesful with young people. I'd say AAR is focused on gettting 25-40 year olds. Love your political jabs.
 
Re: Why this does not happen

> Does anyone know if there are any news talkers that focus on
> the 20-30yr olds? I am not talking bout Free FM or Hot Talk
> that targets mostly guys I am talking about straight ahead
> news talk but focus on the younger generation rather than
> the older generation. Would be interested to hear how they
> sound.

To like new talk is more about the lifestyle of the listener thant he presentation or even band of the radio staiton.

20 to 30 year olds, in thier vast majority, are not newspaper readers, either. They are not interested in news, because they are still establishing relationships with people and the world around them. As a person matures as an adult, their interest int heoutside world expands.

Some 25 year olds are interested, but most are not. It's important to realize that interest in news and the community grow as a person matures and as they form families, get jobs and realize that the community around them affects their lives.
 
Actually azenergyfan,

The show you're looking for does exist. It's called "Free Talk Live". We're on over a dozen stations nationwide after just over a year in syndication, and are the top political/cultural podcast on the internet.

Talk stations are just starting to wake up to us. We have free archives, streaming, and more here:

http://freetalklive.com

Thanks for your interest!
Ian
Host, Webmaster<P ID="signature">______________
Free Talk Live: Talk Radio's Insurrection
http://freetalklive.com
</P>
 
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