Secrets of Talk Radio - WTMJ reveals how talk show hosts ... work to get us angry

[davepc]

...

To begin with, talk show hosts such as Charlie Sykes – one of the best in the business – are popular and powerful because they appeal to a segment of the population that feels disenfranchised and even victimized by the media. These people believe the media are predominantly staffed by and consistently reflect the views of social liberals. This view is by now so long-held and deep-rooted, it has evolved into part of virtually every conservative’s DNA.

To succeed, a talk show host must perpetuate the notion that his or her listeners are victims, and the host is the vehicle by which they can become empowered. The host frames virtually every issue in us-versus-them terms. There has to be a bad guy against whom the host will emphatically defend those loyal listeners.

This enemy can be a politician – either a Democratic officeholder or, in rare cases where no Democrat is convenient to blame, it can be a “RINO” (a “Republican In Name Only,” who is deemed not conservative enough). It can be the cold, cruel government bureaucracy. More often than not, however, the enemy is the “mainstream media” – local or national, print or broadcast.

Sometimes, it can even be their own station’s news director. One year, Charlie targeted me because I had instructed my midday news anchor to report the Wimbledon tennis results, even though the matches wouldn’t be telecast until much later in the day. Charlie gave out my phone number and e-mail address on the air. I was flooded with hate mail, nasty messages, and even one death threat from a federal law enforcement agent whom I knew to be a big Charlie fan.

In the talk radio business, this concept, which must be mastered to be successful, is called “differentiating” yourself from the rest of the media. It is a brilliant marketing tactic that has also helped Fox News Channel thrive. “We report, you decide” and “Fair and Balanced” are more than just savvy slogans. They are code words signaling that only Fox will report the news in a way conservatives see as objective and truthful.

...

http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/currentIssue/full_feature_story.asp?NewMessageID=24046&pf=yes

[gratefultobelib]

1. It's the fact that they incite their listeners that is so worrisome to me.

[DJ13]

2. Hate radio is why the GOP's efforts to remake their image after losing will fail

Hateful people arent going to change as long as their feelings are being bred by talk radio.

The GOP either has to get their hard right radio hosts off the air or face moving even further to the right, which is a recipe for further losses in the future.

[bananas]

3. "and even one death threat from a federal law enforcement agent"

Hate radio.

[OmahaBlueDog]

4. Good Post on Righty Radio

First, good post and I tink there's some good insight there. One of the key problems with Righty Radio is that a generation has come of age confusing entertainment for genuine information.

<<To succeed, a talk show host must perpetuate the notion that his or her listeners are victims, and the host is the vehicle by which they can become empowered. The host frames virtually every issue in us-versus-them terms. There has to be a bad guy against whom the host will emphatically defend those loyal listeners. >> I agree thst this is part one of the three part righty talker equation. The other two parts are:

a) a kind of verbal equivalent to "judo" or "wrestling techniques." The host will use some tried and true debate tricks, as well as their ability to cut off callers, to reduce-to-ridicule any counter arguments to the host's POV.

b) a consant need to push-the-envelope of the debate. Rational discussion of an issue will never garner ratings or sell advertising. The host will have the constant need to find more controversial stances, find new issues, and find ever harsher charges to throw against the would-be enemies. Hence, it's a "culture war", a "war on Christmas", a "defense of our borders", an "onsllaught by the liberal media." It's about releasing adrenalin in the listener and keeping them coming back.

In the mid-80's, this was found to be a great format for AM. Righty talk tended to appeal to the older demographic, as well as stay-at-home-moms (often more conservative and traditional in their outlook), and road warriors (outside salesmen, truckers, tradesmen) -- many of whom als trend conservative and many who were craving some intellectual stimulation. I'd speculate that some of this latter group has been lost, of late, to 24/7 sports radio. Rush Limbaugh had the added benefit that his 12-3 format in the East caught the tail end of morning drive in the West.

My hope is that in the next 4 years, we can, at a minimum, get Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller on in all the major markets. They may not be the favorites around here in terms of content, but they have the broadest appeal to the broadest demographics.

[davepc]

5. bump

[boomerbust]

6. WTMJ

Home of "The Chocolate Judas", James T. Harris. Calls Obama Chocolate Jesus.