Ben Merens and annoying show today

[Sabriel]

He had a poli sci professor on, and Merens mouthed the RW talking point about Kerry dressing up for effect (when in reality the clean suit was a requirement to enter the shuttle). He likened it to the Dukakis/tank photo. Is he really that much out of the loop that he had to be corrected by a caller? And thank you to that caller!

I can't believe I ever used to listen to and enjoy WPR. Now, it's just annoying and infuriating. The hosts' "neutral" stances are a joke. They're bending over backwards not to be accused of a liberal bias.

Arrrrrrrgh.

[MadAsHell]

1. I have to use an example I experienced ...

to illustrate to falsehood of "neutral" coverage. I attended a TABOR forum put on by the Wisconsin Counties Assoc. There were around 40 to 50 people at the site I was at (it was a interactive telecast). The local police scanner chasers (read as TV news team) were stopping every person that walked into the room and asking if they were for or against TABOR. The woman actually said "we have our 'for' interview, lets find an 'against'." They ask every person until finally they got some uni-bomber look-a-like who said on camera and I quote "my taxes are to fucking high". No mention of the fact there were 40 to 50 people opposing the nonsense, no weighting of the merits of the two side. Just both points of view.

If it wasn't so insidious, it would be laughable.

[sybylla]

2. I agree with you to some extent

I think you are right that some of the hosts do bend over backwards merely to shun the label of liberal. I've quit listening to Joy Cardin on a regular basis for that very reason.

But I've never thought Ben Merens was that kind of host. He has a technique that I sometimes find annoying and that is to play devil's advocate by taking the position of the friendly opposition with his guests. On a show with a guest taking a liberal stand, he will host from the conservative position. When he has a conservative guest on, he will host from the liberal perspective. I guess it is good because it gives the guest a chance to defend their positions publicly and they can usually get the "dirty laundry" out of the way early to focus on more interesting facets of the discussion.

Though I find it annoying, it is his attempt at being fair and balanced and it is still a far cry from Joy Cardin fawning all over her conservative guests like they are some kind of defenseless waif she found on the street.

In defense of Ben, give him another try. Listen to a show where he has a conservative guest and you'll likely hear him parroting the liberal talking points.

[Cheesehead]

3. Joy and Ben both irritate me and I listen to them less and less

In addition to her partisan attitude, Joy is a manager at heart and insists on controlling the air time with a jackboot. She does little to try to get the most out of either guests or callers and cuts people off at the slightest provokation. I told WPR not to look for donations from me while she is on the air.

Ben's show is all about him at the expense of guests and callers. His "fair and balanced" schtick gets tiresome when he refuses to be refuted, even by an expert, and beats the point to death. He is way too comfortable "blowing his own horn."

I enjoy Kathleen Dunne almost no matter what the topic, and like the afternoon show much better when Dave Berkman is subbing.

[Dying Eagle]

4. yeah

I Listened to that show for about 2 minutes. I got really mad and turned on Sports Radio.

[ewagner]

5. I stopped listening

When Tom Clark left.

Joy is still a producer at heart and pays far too much attention to the mechanics of the broadcast.

I miss Jean Feracca.........