CNN Again Cites Liberal Study on Talk Radio, Pushes Localism

[Chris_]

CNN Again Cites Liberal Study on Talk Radio, Pushes Localism

CNN’s Carol Costello again omitted the liberal source of a statistic she touted during a report on Wednesday’s American Morning, that 91% of talk radio is apparently conservative. Costello also pushed the left-wing aim of localism in radio programming, playing three sound bites in favor of the proposal, versus two against it.

Near the end of her report, which aired at the bottom of the 7 am Eastern hour, the CNN correspondent cited ultra-left talker Randi Rhodes (all three clip in favor of localism came from Rhodes), who “says millions of Americans get their political talk from AM radio- 91 percent of which is conservative.” Costello didn’t cite the source of the figure, which comes from a 2007 report by two liberal organizations- the Center for American Progress and Free Press- and co-authored by Mark Lloyd, who is now the FCC’s “chief diversity officer.” The correspondent touted the figure as well during a report on Monday’s American Morning, where she claimed that it came from “Talkers” magazine. The figure itself is misleading because, as MRC’s Culture and Media Institute pointed out, the CAP report ignored “non-commercial radio,” such as NPR and other public radio networks.

Earlier in the segment, Costello put the localism issue in the context of the past Fairness Doctrine, and before playing the first bite from Rhodes, acknowledged that “it’s unlikely the Fairness Doctrine will return, but there is something else many liberal talkers are fighting for- localism.” She also downplayed talk show host’s leftism, merely labeling her as a “progressive political talker.”

Rhodes came out of gate with her advocacy of localism in the first clip: “If you know that you live in a town where everybody votes Democratic [Washington, DC], and all you have on your radio is conservative talk, then you can see how localism isn’t part of the equation in media programming.” Costello then explained what that “localism...means radio stations would be forced to carry more local programming that appeals to local audiences. Right now, big broadcasting companies like ClearChannel Communications...own hundreds of radio stations across the country, and much of what they broadcast aren’t shows with local personalities, but syndicated shows featuring Rush Limbaugh...and Sean Hannity.”

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Don't forget...liberals will tell you that CNN is "fair & balanced". 

[thundley4]

Doesn't several of 0Bama's appointees favor this crap also, which is a back door into pushing the "Fairness Doctrine"?

[Lord Undies]

Trust me, if pushed, this issue is the one that will be the end of the current liberal/lefty/democrat/communist occupation.  Normal people will take a lot of crap from liberals, but they will draw a line when their relationships are being threatened.  And that's what people have - a relationship with their radio programs. 

This is 2009, not 1939.  The media - all the media, the shore-to-shore carpet of media, and the people's knowledge about the media, has become much more sophisticated.