Ive been reading alot of diaries over the past few days with the implicit premise that the only way progressives can get on local talk radio is to react and respond to wingnut's on their shows. This is completely false.
How do I know this and what do you all need to know? I have a local progressive talk radio show. True, it is only one day a week, but thats better than nothing. The best thing is that I diddnt need connection, money or power to get. Even better, its possible that with very little effort you can get one too within a very small amount of time.
Find out how to take back the airwaves on the flip.
Where is my mysterious show? Its on the local college station, 91.3fm WVKR Poughkeepsie Ny. The radio station owned by Vassar College where I am a student.
College radio is one of the most neglected resources available to the progressive community. Dont be under the illusion that the only reason i have a show is because i go here--there are scores of locals who have no other affiliation with the college that have their own shows. A local democratic county legislator has a very popular show every sunday night. The head of the local greens also has a popular show that airs before democracy now, which we succesfully lobbied to have on between 5-6 when people return from work.
Better than all that, YOU can get a show on your local college station. Colleges radio stations are all over the place (just find your local college) and their broadcast time is mostly wasted on bad indie rock and electronic music nobody likes. You can change that whether or not you are a student. College stations have an obligation under FCC guidelines to provide a certain amount of community service and that means both informing the public and making the stations available to them.
If you are not a local but a student there is no excuse for not enlisting a time slot (even if its a very bad time) and getting your own show.
Best of all, the most important talk radio period (between 6 and 10 in the morning, commute time) is the least wanted time period for college students because they dont wake up until about 12 or 1. Oddly enough they would much rather have no one listening between 4 and 6 in the morning than a large audience between 7 and 9.
Progressives need to take serious advantage of these tremendously underused resources. Dont just respond to the news--BE THE NEWS.
This is completely possible, so if each and every one of you does not immediately find the number of your local university(ies) radio stations and inquire as to how you can join the team im going to personally find you and give you a big kick in the ass. Move it!
sorry for the lack of editing, im in a rush and was just pissed off with how this tremendous resource is not being taken advantage at of.