First diary here. I'm so psyched about Air America coming to Baton Rouge that I had to share it. Baton Rouge has a metropolitan population of 730,000. According to someone in radio I spoke to, this station's range reaches beyond the metropolitan area to include some rather large towns.
Last week while listening to Air America online, it was announced that Fresno, Ca had just begun airing. But there is a dearth of these stations in the South - where they are needed most. So this is a welcome development. The total number of stations should be close to 70 with this announcement.
It was interesting to read the way local Baton Rouge Air America advocates went about landing the station (see article below fold). Maybe some of you can take similar action.
Correction: Since some of you seem concerned, please note that the article mistakingly prints Ed Shultz' name as Bob Shultz.
Petition gets liberal talk-radio in BR
Advocate staff report
Al Franken and other liberal talk-radio hosts are coming to Baton Rouge's airwaves starting Tuesday, thanks to the efforts of six women interested in having liberal talk radio in the area, an organizer said.
Vicki Lancaster, a Baton Rouge statistician, said her group of private citizens months ago started a petition campaign to bring Louisiana left-leaning radio programs like those Air America offers.
"These are public airwaves," Lancaster said. "We have a Democratic governor, Democratic senator. Why don't we have ... liberal talk radio?"
About 1,500 signatures later, listeners will be able to hear the likes of left-wing comedian Franken and Bob Shultz, host of "Straight Talk from the Heartland," on WYNK 1630 AM on weekdays until sundown. On the weekends, the station will cover all the Air America programs, Lancaster said.
If Air America, launched in 2004 to rival a plethora of conservative talk programs, plays well in Baton Rouge, Clear Channel officials have told Lancaster progressive radio could hit other Louisiana cities, she said.