Jennifer Colleen Douglas's Wonderful World of Media Reform

Save the Cross-ownership Ban of newspapers and TV/radio in the same market

2011-11-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

If FreePress.net is pushing this now, then you can believe that the Obama FCC is poised to kill the ban

on cross ownership of newspapers and TV/radio in large markets, just as the Bush FCC wanted....
(a court overturned the ban last summer and sent it back to the current FCC for further consideration;
all this is described in our film Save KLSD: Media Consolidation & Local Radio,
public screenings start early 2012); Here is a great Businessweek article with more info including a
quote from the new boss of our (former CPR pal) Mera Szendro Bok, Andrew Jay Schwartzman of Media
Access Project in DC). Sign the online letter below to the FCC and let your voice be heard.

The FCC holds a media ownership tomorrow (Dec. 1, 3-6pm PT/5pm-8pm ET) Thursday in Atlanta,
so sign the letter today! You can get more info and watch and email/twitter live here: http://www.savethenews.org/atlanta

(Email: livequestions@fcc.org twitter: #FCClive)

Court Finally Squashes 2007 FCC Cross Ownership Rule

2011-07-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

Aleading media group called Free Press is cheering the decision rightfully so (see headline link) , but it's not over yet folks and it's more complicated than ever (see the New York Times more tempered article). among other things, the court said that the fcc didn't give enough time for public comment (and for toyally ticked-off Democratic FCC Commissioners Adelstein and Copps) to consider the 2007 vote that killed the cross-ownership ban. The ban prevented newspapers from owning radio or TV stations in the same market, to prevent further ownership-power concentration of media. So, the cross-ownership ban remains in effect while the matter basically gets thrown back to the FCC to deal with again. You'd think the ban would be safe with a Democratically controlled FCC and a Democratic President who had a strong anti-media consolidation stance while a candidate... but President Obama likes the status quo just fine now that he doesn't want to piss-off the media powers-that-be. His FCC chief actually has defended the killing of the ban... Hopefully the FCC will drag its feet and let things lie until Obama's second term when perhaps his spine will regrow.

Stacy Taylor on KGO again regularly + Keith debuts June 20 on Current TV

2011-05-08T08:42:00.000-07:00

San Diego's talk radio star Stacy Taylor is on KGO/AM810 in SF for at least the next 7 Saturdays. Can't get signal during the day in San Diego, but it can be streamed. KGO is the #1 station in San Francisco and can be heard all over the West Coast in the evenings.

Big day for me and Keith... Olbermann's new show on Al Gore's "Current TV" debuts June 20 -- my birthday! 5pm live here on the West Coast, repeated at 8pm. The show will has the same name as his MSNBC show, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann". It is on Time-Warner here in San Diego and also on DirectTV, AT&T U-Verse and other channels.

Sneak Peek at Keith's new show on Current TV + Stacy Taylor wins more hosting gigs on KGO/AM810

2011-03-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, it's a spoof - not flattering to Keith or Al but pretty darn funny. click here or on headline to go to link of a sneak preview of keith olbermann's debut on Current TV . Meanwhile San Diego's own Stacy Taylor is again hosting the Sat. 7-10pm slot tonight (March 12, 2011) and 10pm to 1am March 28-April 1.

Olbermann starts FOK News Channel (website)

2011-03-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

Keith has started the FOK News channel... sounds a lot like FOX and F_CK combined, which is perfect but is officially supposed to mean "Friends of Keith"... I learned about this from The Hollywood Reporter which writes that Current TV considers its new host Keith Olbermann to be a "game changer" who could change the future of the little-known network. Keith's show debuts in May 2011 -- exact date TBD.

Stacy Taylor Hosting for 5th week in a row on SF's #1 station, KGO

2011-03-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

Stacy's back again on KGO/AM810 ouf of San Francisco! We hear someone else has been selected as the permanent host for the slot (Saturdays, 7-10pm) but keep listening to Stacy while you can and email KGO to tell them to keep putting Stacy on the air -- chose the general manager from the dropdown list. Another media activist (Bettina Rausa) and I have been sending the general manager emails in this way -- Bettina says she is getting response email s back... I haven't yet. But we need to let KGO that San Diegans are listening -- that means a growing awareness in San Diego of KGO overall and that its signal can be heard here at night. Stacy is on Facebook, just search on his name.

Stacy Taylor Hosting on SF's #1 station -- KGO!

2011-02-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

Stacy Taylor -- former host at KLSD (progressive talk station in San Diego) -- has hosted the last 4 Saturdays, 7-10pm on San Francisco's #1 station, KGO/AM810. He also hosted Feb. 25, 2-4pm. To listen to the archives, click on the headline above.

You can listen at night in San Diego -- the signal is heard all over the west coast. Or stream from the web or listen on a blackberry (check application center to download free app) or iphone.

Stitcher Radio on Smartphone features progressive talkers

2010-12-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

If you live in a radio wasteland like San Diego, there is a way to get your fix of progressive talk via your smartphone for free. Check out Stitcher radio -- it has streaming podcasts, radio shows and news from Stephanie Miller, Mike Malloy, and Bill Press radio shows and audio from the Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann shows and much more. I was able to easily play Stitcher radio on my Blackberry Tour and Stitcher is available for the iphone and other smartphone models. You can listen on a computer and Stitcher gives advice for listening to your smartphone through your car's radio speakers. It has a list of radio stations nationwide where you can listen to live broadcasts via Stitcher. V.C. (as in Very Cool but also as in Venture Capital, as Stitcher has venture capital behind it so maybe there's a chance it will be successful. Now if we could get our local San Diego radio greats Stacy Taylor and Jon Elliott on Stitcher, then it would be extra V.C.

Richard Wolffe in San Diego says radio needs balance of views, nonprofit model

2010-12-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks to former KLSD radio host Jon Elliott, I was able to interview MSNBC commentator Richard Wolffe about the lack of progressive voices on the airwaves. (Get youtube link to Wolffe interview by clicking on the above headline). Wolffe was in San Diego Dec. 5 speaking at The City Club, as part of the tour for his new book, "Revival: The Struggle for Survival in the Obama White House". The interview was for the forthcoming film "Save KLSD", which I am working on with Jon Monday of MondayMedia. The film is about the effort to save KLSD/AM1360 progressive talk radio, the rise corporate media and dominance by conservative talk radio, and the national lack of content localism and diversity.

StacyTaylor.com adds podcasts, live blogging to MSNBC political shows

2010-12-06T23:58:00.000-08:00

Stacy Taylor just added podcasts to his Website, there's one today (Dec. 6, 2010) re: tax deal with Congress & Obama and also a podcast from Dec. 4. Hope to see this continue!

I posted this to Facebook as it was happening on Nov. 30, 2010 : If you miss Stacy Taylor from San Diego's KLSD/AM1360... (or want to check out his edgy, left of center style), go to his blog now, 5pm Pacific Time. He's live blogging to MSNBC political shows... Olbermann's on now.

Stacy Taylor Resurfaces

2010-02-22T10:25:00.001-08:00

We haven't heard from our beloved on-air voice of edgy progressivism since his last blog post in December, but alas, Stacy Taylor has surfaced, with a lengthy email yesterday to supporters, stating that his websites will be back up soon with podcasts. Glad the man is back. We need his viewpoint and sharp mind and wit, "as an alternative to the dimwitted rubbish that passes for local media" as he put it in the email. (For some reason i can't copy and paste it right now, i will try later).

Next Radio Bankrupcy: NextMedia

2009-12-22T06:54:00.000-08:00

Just after a day after #3 radio company Citadel goes bankrupt, now we have NextMedia going BR...(chapter 11 in a debt-for-equity swap that will give ownership to creditors). It owns outdoor advertising and 36 stations in various states including 2 in San Jose and 5 in my hometown Saginaw, MI (including the big talk radio stations WSGW). Once again blogger Jerry del Colliano is on top of things -- love the way he cuts the corporate speak to get down to the essentials:

"These are piranhas – they prey on growth industries, feed their borrowers by
reissuing loans at ever increasing rates of interest – loans that would make
Tony Soprano’s family envious.And as you heard in the Citadel bankruptcy you get
the usual assurances that there will be no more cutbacks and I finally believe
them – but I also believe in the Fairy God Mother (full disclosure)."

Jerrry's right: Citadel Bankrupt, CC and Cumulus Layoffs Coming? Ah... Media Consolidation; Hello Kitty Radio!

2009-12-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Another one bites the dust? not really, but the bankrupcy filing by #3 radio consolidated radio company Citadel may mean more firings, according to InsideMusicMedia.com and InsideRadio.com's Jerry del Colliano -- a straight-talking insider and USC prof. He's such a thorn in big radio's side that #1 biggie Clear Channel created a website to make fun of him called InsideInsideRadio.com -- which doesn't seem to exist anymore...
Anyway make sure to check out RadioSurvivor.com's post about Jerry and his correct prediction about Citadel's fall. including their own view that the Citadel situation is a fallout from the Telecom Act 1996 which opened the door for massive radio consolidation...

Jerry says look out for CC layoffs around Christmas and for similar action from #2 radio owner, Cumulus, also facing financially tough times:
“Cumulus will continue its methodical execution of broadcast careers and work around-the-clock if necessary to get the company to become a simple series of towers and transmitters that can be virtually programmed by Atlanta, marketed through Harvard-style new age cockamamie radio sales logic and run on the cheap by the few, the shamed, the Dickeys.”

On a lighter note, see RadioSurvivor.com holiday list for radio lovers -- think my daughter Genevieve might like the Hello Kitty Radio -- too bad there's no radio stations for toddlers, and for my ear, only schlock and right-wing rabble-rousing to listen to... there's always 88.3 jazz for comfort. and 89.5/KPBS is decent sometimes.

Also see the Golden Turkey radio award winners /losers. it's the CEO's for #1, #2 & #3 radio corps mentioned above -- for dragging their companies into the gutter. lots of great comments there too.

NEW MEGA MEDIA MERGER -- furthers dangerous road to media oligopoly

2009-12-01T10:10:00.000-08:00

Is it a done deal ? The nation's largest cable and broadband provider (Comcast) is merging with NBC Universal. What is the Obama adminsitration about? will it start enforcing anti-trust laws as promised, will the FCC impose conditions for approval (will that matter?) or the status quo of more and more ginormous behemoths owning the public airvwaves. Not opposing this merger and seemingly uninterested in repealing the 1996 Telecom Act which allowed -- no encouraged -- media consolidation to create large, well-capitalized companies that could own multiple media platforms. Just great... that's exactly what's happened here --an unprecedented merger across media platforms: cable, broadccast TV, and Internet, anda corresponding explosion of power to control what people see and hear and what they PAY for that right.

Que sera sera... at least no radio radio stations are involved, and (after GE spins off NBC/Universal) - weapons builder GE will no longer own a controlling interest in media.

Josh Silver of free press.net, writing on huff post
Mega-Media Era Begins: GE-Vivendi Deal Clears Way for Comcast-NBC Merger
December 1.2009
French media giant Vivendi and General Electric agreed to terms that clear the way for cable giant Comcast to take a controlling stake in NBC Universal. The proposed merger would create a media behemoth, and clear the way for an unprecedented era of media consolidation across cable, the Internet and broadcast television. Consumers should be afraid ...
[use link for entire article] .

[Excerpt from Silver article]:
The merged Comcast would be to media what Goldman Sachs is to Wall Street: "a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money," as Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi once described the latter.

excellent discussion of the merger at
http://www.democraticunderground.org/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x27223#27422

SaveKLSD Trailer and Broadcast Blues Screening Nov. 20 at USD

2009-11-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

Footage shot for "Save KLSD" -- the media reform film I am co-producing with Jon Monday of Monday Media -- is being shown again before anaudience. Earlier this year, soundbites from the interview we did with SD Congressman Bob Filner were shown at the Democratic Party Grassroots Convention, and on Nov. 20, one of our trailers will be shown at USD -- see my Facebook blurb below.

"What's happened to diversity and localism in radio? Why should we care that mass media has been deregulated and is owned overwhelmingly by a handful of large corporations? (hmm, what happened to financial services when it was deregulated?). Find out Nov. 20 -- See a preview of "Save KLSD", a film (co-produced by Monday Media and Jennifer Douglas) about the grassroots effort to save San Diego's KLSD radio and the larger media reform effort it inspired. Then, watch a screening of "Broadcast Blues", a documentary about how media policy is hurting our democracy. Also learn about a new progressive talk radio station in San Diego, coming soon from Liberty One Media.

Event sponsored by Common Cause, Campaign for Press Reform (CPR), and Democracy Matters (USD chapter).

Save KLSD: http://saveklsd.com/

Broadcast Blues: http://www.broadcastblues.tv/

Location: USD Campus, Serra Hall #204Directions: http://www.sandiego.edu/about/directions/

CPR changes Name to CPR + New Media Watchdog at SDSU

2009-11-17T15:08:00.000-08:00

CPR (Campaign for Progressive Radio) is now CPR (Campaign for Press Reform), reflecting the broader media reform approach CPR is taking, though still focused on radio. The CPR Website has not been updated yet with the new name... CPR remains a fitting abbreviation as San Diego media (esp. radio) still needs resuscitation. CPR met last night and I was there -- an upcoming post here will give more info.

So, to the rescue... The new Watchdog instititute at SDSU, led by SD Union Tribune "senior editor for metro and watchdog journalism" Lorie Heard. The mission: "To provide data-driven investigative journalism to residents of San Diego and Imperial counties, And to help develop new investigative journalists through SDSU for metro and watchdog journalism." . So far, the WI Website is just a splash page, though VOSD said on Oct. 29 that it has has moved into SDSU offices and published its first story. The VOSD article was written by Randy Dotinga, who also writes on radio for the North County Times.

Perhaps the endeavor was spurred along by the success of investigative up-and-comer VOSD, VoiceofSandiego.org, and the UT's need to shore-up their investigative shop. In any case, I wish them well. We need serious investigative news, that's for sure. The UT of course runs right but I really don't know much about Heard except for the official bio -- do any of you?

The SD Reader has an interesting take -- is Watchdog a way for the UT's new finance firm owners to "pare the payroll" or a "tax manuever for certain donors?"

And the EditorsWeblog says Watchdog and the UT are separate entities with the former being a nonprofit, but the UT has made "financial commitments" and will "collaborate closely".

The American Journalism Review says the UT is the largest contributor and that Heard is "converting the newspaper's investigative team into a nonprofit organization that seeks to form partnerships with various San Diego media outlets"

Hmmm. This is something to watch unfold... I have been wondering if some kind of a new nonprofit journalism model would emerge, considering media consolidation (and resulting lack of diversity in content; latest merger push is Comcast and NBC) and the implosion of newspapers due to loss of revenue from advertisers in turn due to the economic downturn and dollars (and eyeballs) migrating to the Net. One more link -- see the fabulous media reform group Free Press's ideas for revitalizing media via their new project: SavetheNews.org

Stay tuned: an upcoming blog post will be an update on the Local Community Radio Act in Congress.

GONE: Ed from DC and prog talk from Missoula

2009-11-10T14:31:00.000-08:00

See today's Liberal Talk Radio blog to learn that Ed Schultz has been dropped from his DC radio affiliate and the progressive talk station in Missoula, Montana flipped suddenly to the one thing worse than yet another sports talk format -- yes, it has flipped to conservative talk.

Some better news: Ed fill-in Norman Goldman has launched a show that's been picked up by a syndicator. See Liberal Talk Radio and scroll down to Oct. 28.

Liberty One Radio Kicks Off Training as San Diego Awaits On-Air Launch

2009-11-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

COUNTDOWN Time. Only 2 months to go before Liberty One Radio plans to start broadcasting in San Diego -- bringing back the first locally produced progressive talk to San Diego since the end of Jon Elliott's show on AM1700 in September. In addition to legendary local talker Stacy Taylor and big-time talkers Ed Schultz, Mike Malloy and others, programming plans include a "morning militatary show" on topics of interest to the large military population here. Adequate funding is the tough goal, while sweat equity has come forth -- I know Sal and others at Liberty One have been working hard to get on-air, are producing podcasts already and training members. Next training is November 20. I saw Sal and crew when I videotaped recently at the Media Reform "Radio Dayz" forum (for the Save KLSD documentary), and I see them around town doing interviews.

I am seeking an update about the efforts of Activist San Diego to start a community FM radio station after winning approval from the FCC. Please comment here if you have any new info.

Miriam Raftery has an excellent story from July on the two radio projects at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/1613

BTW: In case you didn't read it -- here's the Voice of San Diego's article from early 2008 about the decline of talk radio in San Diego: http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/01/14/economics/864radio011309.txt

San Diego -- New Media Reform Center of the Universe?

2009-10-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, maybe not the center of the media reform universe (that's always reserved by my buddies in my adopted home city/state of WDC) but San Diego hosted 2 media reform panels recently. One I helped organize in late Sept. at the San Diego Democratic Party Grassroots convention -- panelists included Marti Emerald (former Ch. 10 reporter and new SD City Council member), TV/radio veteran Bree Walker, and liberal Blogger Brad Friedman of bradblog.com. Interestingly, all 3 advocate a return of the Fairness Doctrine which required broadcasters to air opposing views... whereas all 3 panelists at the early October media reform panel at La Mesa Foothills Dem Club -- were against bringing back the FD. Those panelists: former KLSD/AM1360 prog talkers Stacy Taylor and Jon Elliott, and veteran radio newsman (and out of closet liberal) Wade Douglas. So much more to say, but by 2 and 4 year old are jumping on my lap. See ya!

Fix the Media! Media Reform Panel Sept. 26

2009-09-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

Media reform activism is reviving in San Diego -- activists are gathering here Sept. 26 for discuss what can be done about the lack of diverse voices in the mass media.

It's timely, as earlier this month, 50 groups expressed support for the Obama's media diversity czar Mark Lloyd – under attack by conservative broadcast hosts.

Questions to consider: Over 90% of political talk radio in American is from the conservative viewpoint, so it is not shocking that San Diego has an ad naseum list of righty talkers on the air (think Rush, Glenn, Sean, Michael, Dennis P. and M. and Rodger of course), while at the moment, we have ZERO progressives on the air, since Jon Elliott's show went off AM1700 on Sept. 17.

The answer is that the mass media is now owned by a handful of companies -- and that is a threat to democracy. So, what can be done? The FIX THE MEDIA! Panel will examine such questions at the San Diego Grassroots Democratic Convention on Sept. 26, 2-3pm at the NTC Promenade in Point Loma.

San Diego City Council member (and former journalist at Channel 10) Marti Emerald will be joined by TV/radio host Bree Walker and Brad Friedman of bradblog.com. Mike Thaller, Chair of Campaign for Progressive Radio (CPR) and Chair of media relations for the SDCDP is the moderater. I helped organize this panel and am hopeful it will raise attention about the need for media reform.

The convention at the NTC Promendad in Point Loma is being jointly held by the San Diego County Democratic Party (representing more than a half-million registered Democrats) and the California Democratic Council, an association of Democratic clubs from throughout the state. The Party expects at least 400 Democratic volunteers, community activists, elected officials, and candidates. More information at http://www.cdc_ca.org/.

The panel will use the "Resolution for Media Diversification” approved by the San Diego County Democratic Party" in March. The resolution says, in part,
...the San Diego County Democratic Party adopts a position in favor of diverse media ownership as well as improved and increased journalism by encouraging media reform and promoting activism in furtherance of this position...

The resolution was drafted by CPR, a grassroots outgrowth of the effort to save KLSD/AM1360 progressive talk radio in 2007. The story of KLSD and larger issues of media concentration are explored in a forthcoming locally-produced documentary, “SaveKLSD” (SaveKLSD.com).

More on the Van Jones-like witch hunt of the media diversity czar: On September 16th, more than 50 public interest and civil rights groups sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission and congressional leaders in support of Mark Lloyd, the associate general counsel and chief diversity officer of the FCC. This, in response to comments by broadcasters Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, and Lou Dobbs, that media localism and diversity is something to fear. See huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/what-beck-dobbs-and-limba_b_288480.html.

Jon Elliott Show Ends + Liberty One Station To Launch?

2009-09-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

Jon Elliott's show on AM1700 in San Diego has come to an end - now, SD has no progressive talk. Jon was hoping to raise more money via $10/month donations from listeners and from advertising. Tough to do that in this economy. The station is to be sold or leased.

Meanwhile, some San Diegans have started a company called Liberty One Radio and they hope to launch a station with primarily progressive programming in January 2010. I wish them the best,but again, very tough to pull it off in this recessing, depressing economy.

Broadcast Blues screening in SD and Jon Elliott's new radio show in San Diego

2009-05-26T18:21:00.000-07:00

We in the progressive movement in San Diego have been spreading the word about Jon Elliott's new prog talk show on AM1700, M-F, 3-6pm... I will hear reaction in a moment as I am about to see a private screening of Broadcast Blues, a film on media concentration -- similar theme to the film I am co-producing, but we include the local angle -- the demise of prog talk KLSD. I know some of the prog radio fans in the audience and I will ask them their opinion of Jon's show -- same show (This is America with Jon Elliott) that he had on Air America -- with a national focus. The show continues to be produced in San Diego -- I like the show. He gets some good guest and has good policy topics but, I do wish there was some time spent on local issues. He does have local guests of ours like bonafide liberal Rep. Bob Filner and 50th Congressional candidate forf 2010 Francine Busby (go, Francine go!) members of Congress. I am happy Jon is on the air and I know he plans to jumpstart prog stations around the country with a franchise approach and get his show on across the country. I do miss local content though -- we are so bereft of it now. KPBS is about it. (written 5/26; posted 5/27)

jon-elliott-debut.3GP

2009-05-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Prog Talk Returns to San Diego Today! AM1700, 3-6pm

2009-05-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Jon Elliott's show hits the San Diego airwaves today 3-6pm on AM1700. Jon's show was formerly on Air America, but was always recorded here in San Diego. He spoke to our Campaign for Progressive Radio (CPR group) two days ago and gave us details -- he plans to make it a success by going after advertisers who appeal to a progressive audience -- think Henry's, REI, and independent cafes and bookshops, NOT car dealers, mortgage companies, mattress stores, and pest control -- those are standard advertisers for standard audiences, the advertisers Clear Channel goes for, even for its former prog talk station KLSD. Jon Elliott will also raise money via memberships at $10/month -- NPR style sort of. He plans to fill AM1700 airtime with prog talk shows from other hosts, one by one. For more details go to Jon's Website.

We are videotaping today's debut show for our "SaveKLSD" documentary about the rise and fall of KLSD radio and of radio in general. SaveKLSD film Website.

BTW: Jon 's producer (not sure of her title actually) Jill Richardson came to our meeting too... she is a star in her own right with LaVidaLocavore.org, a blog about food and politics... (see her posting from May 16 about the Elliott show). Food politics is a subject near and dear to my heart -- I used to work for an advocacy group in DC that focuses on nutrition, food safety, sustainable agriculture. It is called Center for Science in the Public Interest and it is quite effective and truly works in the public interest (CSPI does not accept government or industry funding)

SD Gets New Prog Talk Show May 18 -- Hosted by Jon Elliott

2009-05-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

It really is happening, folks! Progressive talker Jon Elliott hosts a new afternoon drive time show on AM1700 starting May 18, 3-6pm. Listen in, call in -- Prospective 2010 Democratic Congressional candidate Francine Busby (San Diego County's 50th CD) will appear on the Elliott show at 5pm on May 21. Her Website: http://busbyforcongress.com.

So, we have a progressive voice back on the air in San Diego, see the AM1700 Website . If you see any mention of the Elliott show, please leave a comment here with the Web address. Apparently, the show will be "This is America with Jon Elliott", which had been on Air America stations.

"Censorship" book author speaks in San Diego - says Obama's FCC has socialistic goals. Hedgecock is There too!

2009-05-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

Does Obama want to silence conservative talkers? Micromanage radio content? Yes, according to the author of "Censorship; The Threat to Silence Talk Radio". About 30 people showed up today at the Mira Mesa Barnes and Noble bookstore in San Diego to hear conservative and ex-Citadel Broadcasting exec Brian Jennings talk about his new book. Jennings says that Obama wants to bring back the Fairness Doctrine -- if not in name, in principle -- that is, require broadcasters to air divergent viewpoints, not just right or left view, for example. Except for Mikey -- who was a regular caller to KLSD/AM1360's progressive talk show hosted by Stacy Taylor -- virtually all often the questions appeared to come from fellow conservatives. Francine Busby media person Madeleine Falco was there too. Jennings credits the elimination of the Fairnesss Doctrine with the rise of (conservative) talk radio... Most all political talk radio now is conservative, but Jennings says progressive viewpoints are well represented by NPR and other forms of media and that prog talk is to blame for its own failure. Interesting that did not bring up the Telecom Act of 1996 which relaxes ownership rules, including the elimination of national caps on the number of TV and radio stations one company could own. That has led to concentrated power in the broadcasting world. Diversity of views is slim. Ownership by women and minorities is tiny. Anyway, when I interviewed him on videotape just before his talk today, he did not say he was opposed to a return of ownership caps, but clearly, his focus is on stoking fears of censorship, government control of media content, and that bogeyman "socialism" under Obama's new FCC. I videotaped Jennings and his talk for inclusion in the documentary I am co-producer of, SAVE KLSD. Mikey asked lots of challening questions from a progressive perspective and at one point, engaged in a heated exchange with former San Diego Mayor/conservative talker Roger Hedgecock about KLSD and its demise.... More later. I am now going up to Jon Monday's (our film's executive producer) studio in Fallbrook to review the tape and continue editing the film.

Censorship author Brian Jennings and me at his reading May 12, 2009 in San Diego

2009-05-12T18:17:00.001-07:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Apologist for Right-wing Radio in San Diego May 12 -- Speaking about New "Censorship" book

2009-05-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

Brian Jennings, the author of the new book -- Censorship; The Threat to Silence Talk Radio -- will appear at the Mira Mesa Barnes and Noble store on May 12 at noon. The book claims that liberals -- via new regulation -- want to squash conservative voices on the radio -- HA! Conservatives dominate the airwaves -- with barely a sideways glance of the FCC or policymakers -- no one wants to offend the big media companies... I encourage those who care about the state of media in our democracy to attend and ask smart, pointed questions. Jennings is a former executive with Citadel -- 3rd largest over 200, plus providing content for 4,000 stations. Guess who the book's foreward is by - none other than super rightie TV/radio host Sean Hannity. The book has been endorsed by none other than de facto GOP chief Rush Limbaugh -- so you know how fair and balanced it is. See the Democratic Underground's postings.

And to get really riled up, read the transcript of Glenn Beck's May 7th interview with Jennings - you will learn that, see, it's the liberals' evil plot to destroy right-wingers on the air via localism and diversity. oh, the horror, the horror!

The book's tour coincides with the May 7 kickoff hearings of the FCC's new diversity committee, which the likes of Jennings see as a major threat to the free press, specifically, that the committee is "marginalizing conservative talk." The committee seems to have a great diversity itself -- reps from telecom companies, government, and media advocate superstar Andrew Schwartzman of the Media Access Project. The charter of the diversity committee says (sorry to get bogged down in policy wonk stuff, but this is important -- you will see how ridiculous the Censorship book is... bottom line is that a small number of companies own and control media in this country. That oligopoly damages the public interest and does not meet the FCC's responsibilities a stated below; Some people think companies should not be allowed to own so many radio and tv stations and want to reverse the TeleCom Act of 1996 which created this mess... anyway, here is an excerpt from the FCC diversity committee charter:

One of the FCC’s responsibilities under the Communications Act is “...
47 U.S.C. § 257, directing the FCC to work toward elimination of market entry barriers in order “to promote the policies and purposes of this Act favoring diversity of media voices, vigorous economic competition, technological advancement, and promotion of the public interest, convenience and necessity.” These goals can best be achieved by ensuring that as broad a cross-section of the public as possible has the opportunity to own and/or manage communications and communications related
companies. Consequently, the Commission is forming this Diversity Committee to ensure that it regulates the communications industry in a manner consistent with these goals."

Gentle readers -- if you love this media reform stuff, you will want to see the forthcoming SaveKLSD film (I am one of the producers), which explores the topics discussed here through the story of the rise and fall of KLSD prog talk radio in San Diego. Broadcast Blues is another documentary worth seeing.

Jon Elliott Bringing Local Prog Talk Back to SD? CA Dems Consider Media Reform, SAVE KLSD Film Update. And Good Radio Haps.

2009-05-07T16:34:00.000-07:00

Lots going on in the progressive talk world... These are tidbits -- I will post more details as they come in and as I have time.

First, I am a bit confused... San Diego-based Air America radio host Jon Elliott in recent days has told people that he will have a local morning show on AM1700 starting May 18... with plans to take over the station's programming at some point. I am surprised, since AM1700 just launched a new local morning show a few weeks ago -- see my April 28 post. I hear Elliott's show will use somewhat of a NPR model with donations from listeners (since the demise of our beloved prog talk KLSD, I have thought that was a great idea). I can't find any mention of Elliott's new show on any radio Websites including his own Website, but that does not mean it's not true. I will continue to track this story.

Joe Vecchio, who is involved with efforts to bring prog talk back to SD, does not put much faith in AM1700, saying in an email that AM1700's signal can only be heard in a 40-mile radius from Tecate, and
" In any case...rest assured, there is methodical movement afoot to secure
a strong signal reaching all of our county with a fully-dedicated
progressive format etc. So hang in there."

So, some intriguing talk around SD, meanwhile, four good radio happenings we know for sure --
1. Prog talk is back on the air in Boston on a big, honk'in 50k watt station! See revolutionBoston.com.

2. Prog talker Randi Rhodes returns to the air on May 11 -- via the same syndicator (owned by Clear Channel!) of right-wing nuts like Rush, Sean, and Glen. See Huffington Post's take on it.

3. A Media Reform resolution is being considered by the California Democratic Party -- the resolution was put together by our very own Campaign for Progressive Radio.

4. SAVE KLSD FILM nearing completion. The media reform documentary by Jon Monday, Drew Reiff, and myself has posted a new film trailer. MORE ON THAT REAL SOON.

Clear Channel in Financial trouble says NYT

2009-04-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

The New York Times says the largest owner of radio stations in the U.S. is having financial difficulties... and so are other radio companies... maybe CC will sell the former progressive talk version of KLSD (K-Liberal San Diego) to me in a fire sale. See article - click on title of this post. Knew CC was cutting costs again -- since it had another round of layoffs this week (see my post from April 28)

Prog talker Montel Williams gone SD from in a flash; replaced by pablum

2009-04-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

meant to post this the other day -- montel williams was on AM1700 in san diego for a week or so (replacing the lionel show) before being replaced by a humdrum infotainment show on april 24. i heard a bit of it the other day and it seemed not my style. i will give it another try...M_F, 6-9am see http://www.cash1700.com/pages/main.

AM1700 only has dennis miller from the right, other dull stuff, and lots of CNN.

AM540 -- after flirting with prog talker Stephanie Miller on the air for a while -- continues to be stocked with right-wingers like laura ingraham, michael savage, glen beck, and others.

So san diego is back to no progressive talk -- when will ed schultz or another prog talker return to our parched airwaves? Wouldn't it be great to have Stacy Taylor back -- LOCAL PROG TALK is what we really need. Will the new Obama FCC live up to the FCC's mandate to ensure localism, diversity, and competition?

Clear Channel layoffs in SD and nationally

2009-04-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

layoffs are not too surprising, had heard big bad old cc was feeling recessionary pain... now we have it officially -- layoffs at clear channel's san diego radio stations and elsewhere. see

http://sdradio.net and http://www.twirlit.com/2009/04/28/clear-channel-layoffs/

Busby to announce 2010 candidacy on April 16

2009-04-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

Democrat Francine Busby is running again in the 50th Congressional District and could take it this time -- since she is a good candidate and this year -- the GOP is in the gutter, Obama is flying high, and GOP incumbant Brian Billbray has linked his fortunes to the former -- and since GOP registrations are down locally.

I have supported Busby and would like her to articulate her views on media reform issues -- considering the lack of FCC regulation, and consolidation by large media companies, and the virtual non-existence of progressive views on the radio waves in San Diego.

I will be at her candidacy announcement event this week:
Official Announcement from Busby: I will make my official announcement at Cottonwood Creek Park in Encinitas at 12:00 this Thursday, April 16. The Park is located at 95 N. Vulcan Ave at the corner of Encinitas Blvd. two block west of I-5. You are welcome to join us for the announcement. Light refreshments will be provided by "Moms for Busby" or bring your own picnic lunch!

State of San Diego Radio -- yuck! But prog talker Lionel on morn drive time now

2009-04-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

San Diego has virtually no progressive talk radio now -- it is dismal. gone are stephanie miller, ed schultz, stacy taylor and the rest... there is still talk that a new prog talk station is in the works, but in this economy, i am skeptical... and evenually the nonprofit ActivistSanDiego.org will have a low-power FM community station.

the one exception is the The Lionel Show (via Air America) -- And surprise, I just checked and now it on AM1700, 5-9am, M-F (formerly it was on in the middle of the night). i see that AM1700 has dropped some conservative talk show but blowhard dennis miller is still there.

silver lining -- ED has a new TV show on MSNBC at 3pm Pacific.

and i didn't realize that the VoiceofSanDiego.org folks have a radio show at 12pm Sunday on the otherwise all-conservative KOGO, AM600. See the right-hand column for link to latest episode and to subscribe to the postcast.

gigi-mbay-feb5-09. 3 second vid

2009-02-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Family pizza port'ing

2009-01-13T16:12:00.001-08:00

Family pizza port'ing
Originally uploaded by jennifercdouglas

CPR Debate party. Obama knocks out McCain

2008-10-15T18:52:00.001-07:00

San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre and Obama supporter Madeleine Falco at the CPR Debate Party, Oct. 15

Fw: Mad and sis jen

2008-10-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

Madeleine Falco and sister Jennifer; Oct. 15, 2008, Campaign for Progressive Radio (CPR) debate party at trophy's restaurant in san diego.

Fw: Debate party aguirre and durfee

2008-10-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

Oct. 15, 2008, Campaign for Progressive Radio (CPR) debate party at Trophy's restaurant in San Diego. City attorney Mike Aguirre (right; turned toward TV) and County dem party chair Jess Durfee (left).

1st Presidential Debate

2008-09-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

See typical mccainites -- old men stuck in the past -- Watching 1st debate at local italian restaurant, filippi's. Thank goodness my parents are for progress

Announced: Oct. 15 Debate Watch Party with Free Press Theme

2008-09-20T11:14:00.000-07:00

At its Sept. 20 meeting, the Campaign for Progressive Radio (CPR) - San Diego, passed a motion to host Oct. 15 debate watching party at Trophy's restaurant in Mission Valley (area of San Diego) with a Free Press theme. If interested, there will be more info soon at the CPR Website.

Stephanie Miller dropped from AM540 after only a couple of months!

2008-09-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

AM540 has dropped stephanie miller for the odious laura ingraham. the latter started today and it was positively nauseating to listen to her, esp. after our wonderful stephanie returned from vacation and was on top of her game yesterday. also ed was regularly on from 9-12pm recently (10am-12pm michael jackson was dropped), but now ed is 9-11 and the god-awful glenn beck 11-1pm. there are other changes too. see http://www.540.am/programming/

our campaign for progressive radio (cpr) in san diego meets this saturday, sept. 20 and i'm hoping we consider doing basic advocacy work like letter writing -- we were previously thinking of sending a letter to AM540, maybe that is a good idea about all of their progressive talk programming, but instead, this letter expressing disappointment

hoping also to have an update on the 3 local efforts for new radio stations with prog and community programming 1. activist san diego. 2. joe vecchio who is a member of cpr; 3. prog talk host jon elliott: he is speaking before the dem prof club on sept. 23; info below:

Tuesday, September 23rd, 5:00 to 6:45 pm. Democratic Professional Club meeting. Just back from the Democratic Convention, Jon Elliott, political commentator and talk show host, will speak about this year’s nominating process, where we go from here, and San Diego’s new progressive radio; he will also answer questions. Appetizers and Beverages will be served. Non-members $10.00. RSVP to Gail Butler ggdbtlr@yahoo.com. At the home of Pat Zaharopoulos at 4250 Sierra Vista, in Mission Hills (off Fort Stockton Drive) 92103.

IMG00684.jpg

2008-09-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

Another photo I took at obama's speech.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Obamaspeech.jpg

2008-09-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

My View
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Barakscreen.jpg

2008-08-31T17:32:00.000-07:00

Thank heaven for large screens
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Barakspeech.jpg

2008-08-31T17:31:00.000-07:00

Our view - directly behind - of barak's big speech. Better if u were there! Especially after 2 1/2 hour wait. More at http://jennifercdouglas.blogspot.com
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DNC + Dem Platform

2008-08-30T11:16:00.001-07:00

Scroll down for photos and text about Jen and Jeff's trip to Denver for the Democratic National Convention (DNC). I just got back yesterday so don't have definitive answer to what happened, if anything, regarding the Dem party's platform on media reform. Reportedly, it includes increasing the diversity of media ownership. Click here for Common Cause's blog write-up.

Marsha.jpg

2008-08-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Aug 29: San diego activist marsha johnston at the denver airport after the dnc. More at http://jennifercdouglas.blogspot.com
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Dorothy-invesco.jpg

2008-08-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Aug. 28: San diego delegate and media reformer dorothy gesick on the way to invesco field for obama acceptance speech.
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Gigi-Obama.jpg

2008-08-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Back to reality: after the dnc, Gigi and Plush Obama meeting mom Jen at the san diego airport. More at http://jennifercdouglas.blogspot.com.
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Barak-jojo.jpg

2008-08-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Tiny Barak and Jojo
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Jeff-harry.jpg

2008-08-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Aug. 29. Our own san diego activist jeff benesch hang'in with senate leader harry reid on the denver airport shuttle after the dnc
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Jen-invesco.jpg

2008-08-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

Jen at invesco field for obama speech 5:30pm mtn time. Took 2 1/2 hours to get in
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IMG00681.jpg

2008-08-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

The line for obama's speech
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Gregjoandavid.jpg

2008-08-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

San Diego activists greg bolian, joan and david little -- on the way to Invesco field for Obama's acceptance speech Aug 28. More at http://jennifercdouglas.blogspot.com
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Obama-uwear.jpg

2008-08-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

I am working hard at the dem convention. More at jennifercdouglas.blogspot.com
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Jen-Jane.jpg

2008-08-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Aug 27. Jen and Jane at the Third Way dem convention bash
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IMG00665.jpg

2008-08-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

Again today, tiny obama did breakfast with us at the windy saddle cafwe in golden, outside of denver. We are off to the convention today
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IMG00659.jpg

2008-08-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Russell Oliver Nevison Baker and friends in Denver
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Beth-at-DNC.jpg

2008-08-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I just ran into beth mendellsohn of the voice of america at the dem convention. Beth knows mutual friend and healthy cookbook author Lynn Fischer. We are here videotaping for a documentary on media reform, see SaveKLSD.com.
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Beth-at-DNC.jpg

2008-08-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

IMG00647.jpg

2008-08-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

Live from radio row iat the dnc it's prog talk host thom hartmann interviewing democrat ned lamont who ran for lieberman's senate seat in connecticut. More at jennifercdouglas.blogspot.com
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Jeff-ed.jpg

2008-08-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

Jeff shooting video of pro talk host ed schultz at the dem convention aug. 27 for our saveklsd.com film
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IMG00638.jpg

2008-08-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Free bikes to use in denver during dnc-how cool!
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WindysaddlecafeJen.jpg

2008-08-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

Jen and tiny Obama breaking bread this morn at the Windy Saddle Cafe in Golden, Colorado. More photos from my trip to the dem convention on my blog at http://www.jennifercdouglas.blogspot.com.
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Hang'in at Lime Restaurant before the etown.org radio taping at the DNC, guests included Robert F. Kenndy Jr, David Crosby, Ani DiFranco

2008-08-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

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Dave-tiny+obama.jpg

2008-08-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Dave hanging with tiny obama in denver at dem natl convention
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Obama-marquerita.jpg

2008-08-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

What luck-We ran into Obama in Denver at Lime restaurant!
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Gigi canvassing for Obama

2008-08-25T20:09:00.001-07:00

gigi-xmas2007 198
Originally uploaded by jennifercdouglas

I'll miss my baby Gigi while I'm at the Democratic Convention in Denver from tomorrow til Friday Aug. 29. She's a dedicated Baby for Barak -- here she is going door-to-door in our neighborhood in San Diego during primary season. She did the same in Las Vegas.

Mobile blogging during the DNC frenzy

2008-08-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

Just set up mobile blogging so I can write and post blog entries directly from my blackberry to this blog, especially convenient during the dem natl convention. Trying to twitter in the same fashion but there's a glitch.
Leaving for dnc in denver tomorrow morn and got so much to do. Right now my baby gigi is in the swing at home and getting cranky so more later...
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Big Tent Blogger Central at DNC

2008-08-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

The Internet is shaping up to play a big part at the Democratic National convention (dnc)-- Daily Kos and others have set up the Blogger Big Tent for new media journalists and bloggers, and the DNC will be on live internet tv too. Here is the Big Tent Website.

Here's some words from Jeff Benesch a Campaign for Progressive Radio activist who is coming to the DNC to help with the Save KLSD media reform documentary that I'm part of:

Jeff Benesch:
"It's Nico Pitney
>that went to Patrick Henry High School and UCSB with my son and
>daughter. He's now a National Editor with Huffington Post, and our
>best chance of interviewing him will be at Huff Po's Oasis at the
>DNC. Not sure we'll get in The Big Tent."
>
Back to Jennifer:

So, the tent may not be big enough for our humble enterprise... no matter, we have enough chutzpah to worm our way into interesting happenings...BTW: Nico used to be with the excellent Center for American Progress.

As I mentioned, we are taping the Ed Schultz and Jon Elliott prog talk shows at the DNC, AND we have learned that other prominent people who are in our "Save KLSD" documentary (to be released later this year) will be there too including Democratic FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. I know Jonathan from when I lived in DC 1987-1995 (and on-and-off 1985-86 during a string of college internships including CNN, WTTG-TV, Ralph Nader and Sam Simon's Telecommunications Research & Action Center, Dem. Rep. Bob Traxler). Anyhow, Jonathan is a real friend of media reform and received a standing ovation at the Free Press National Conference on Media Reform back in June.

Not sure yet if TV/radio star (and media reform activist) Bree Walker will be at the DNC; She is narrating our "SaveKLSD" film.

I'm going to Denver during the DNC + eTown radio taping

2008-08-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

It was a late decision and involved complicated childcare logistics, but I'm headed to Denver during the Democratic National Convention (without either child, so I can actually get things done and have some time off from the parenting gig). We don't have official press credentials or tickets, but we figure we'll get good footage for the documentary I'm working on with fellow co-producers Jon Monday and Drew Reiff, SaveKLSD, -- For example, looks like we'll videotape the prog talk radio shows of Ed Schultz, and Jon Elliott as they broadcast live from the convention. We have their permission, now we have to figure out how to get entry to "radio row" inside convention hall. There a whole bunch of San Diegans going, including several from our CPR (Campaign for Progressive Radio) group -- Joan Little (husband David is a delegate and Joan is an alternate), Jeff Benesch, and Jeanne Brown (representing Common Cause: San Diego). My friend Mary Niez, who is on the board of foundation4change.org, is going to the DNC and helping with press. And my friends in DC will be there: Jane Lueders (who is a political artist and does voiceovers for Moveon and other progressive causes/candidates) and her husband Jim Kessler, of the think tank, Third Wave.

Jeff and I have tickets to the "eTown" radio taping/event featuring political types and liberal-leaning musicians such as Graham Nash, David , James Taylor, Annie DiFranco and others.

Jeff and I intend to blog during the convention, so look here for that as well as the CPR Website.

We are really fortunate to be able to stay in Golden with NASA computer genius/brother of my good friend Sharyn Rosenbaum, who I've known since our college days at University of Michigan (we also roomed together when we did DC internships). Anyway, brother Dave is the one who told us about the eTown event -- thanks Dave! I am also planning to see friend Cindy Nevison, a scientist who moved from San Diego a few years ago and now lives in Boulder with hubby and baby son -- same age as my baby... another over-40 mom in my world.

Whew! This is gonna be a great trip!

ActivistSanDiego Wins Radio License

2008-08-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

As I'm writing this, Campaign for Progressive Radio - San Diego is meeting in the theater/community room next door to LeStat's coffee house in Normal Heights to discuss how to increase progressive talk radio in San Diego. Our guest is Martin Eder from ActivistSanDiego.org -- it just won FCC licenses for community radio in San Diego: which is great news! However there is some kind of a legal snag and ASD is now fundraising for an appeal. See below to donate.
From Martin at ActivistSanDiego: We will start with an Internet station and makes our mistakes there, get experience and get community based organizations involved. Our goal is a station that is not an ActivistSanDiego.org perspective but a whole spectrum of views and news. The main difference from an instititional-based station (based at a college or via the Pacifica radio network) is that we are community, grassroots based, just a handshake away from people involved in all sorts of causes; This is very healthy for democracy -- information connected to engagement.

To get involved (updates, volunteer, donate):

For Building ASD’s new Community FM Radio Station
o Radio Project Outreach
o Radio Technician (To help with antenna, microwave, and studio)
o Radio Legal Coordinator
o PR and Press Coordinator

LOCATION: ASD’s office is located at 4246 Wightman St, San Diego 92105
Contact us at (619) 528-8383 or info@ActivistSanDiego.org

Internet Radio Station based in San Diego -- Radio Active

2008-08-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

Just found this alternative Internet radio station in San Diego, Radio Active San Diego (RASD), which features Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! and Free Speech Radio News -- those shows you can get elsewhere on the Net but RASD has some local shows -- some music based and there's a locally created show, "What's Going On?" Saturday 1-2pm about local and national happenings that it says the corporate media does not cover and there's the "Communities of San Diego" show Sundays 8-9pm. The Website is RadioActiveRadio.org and here is an excerpt below from their mission. I plan to contact them regarding the documentary I'm working on about corporate media. Our activist group Campaign for Progressive Radio will be interested in this group's effort as well. I haven't listened to any RASD programs yet; Check it out and tell me what you think.

Mission: Radio Active San Diego (RASD) is a collective, non-hierarchical organization formed to pioneer a new internet radio station. We are building a model for the post-corporate, autonomous, community media of the future by offering revolutionary media production and distribution that creates positive social and economic change. RASD rejects the narrow formats of corporate-owned media and seeks to offer listeners a wide variety of styles and genres of media programming. We don’t just report events, we participate in them. It is this, more than anything else that separates RASD from the mainstream media.

Our collective, comprised of local DJ’s, activists, journalists, writers, and others who care about freedom, social justice and really good music, is dedicated to giving our audience a politically progressive point of view, with a special emphasis on topics of local concern. As a non-commercial radio station, we will concentrate on airing voices and viewpoints that are now almost totally excluded from the airwaves. These include local citizens and citizen groups opposed to domination and control of our city by national and multi-national corporations. We will also broadcast independent music, call-in talk shows, and uncensored news. The vast majority of shows will be produced locally by our staff.

Topics given special attention on our airwaves will include war and militarization, globalization, anti-capitalist resistance, police brutality, local and regional government issues, alternative health, border issues, environmental degradation, media censorship, racism, animal rights, equality and economic justice, queer issues and attacks on women and women's right to choice.

Cultural programming will also be a key ingredient in our daily broadcast schedule. We are especially sensitive to the difficulties faced by independent record labels. We believe a local community station such as ours has a special obligation to ensure that local poets, musicians and other artists have an opportunity to be heard.

BREE WALKER to Narrate Save KLSD documentary

2008-08-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Progressive talk host and all around cool person, Bree Walker (more below) has agreed to narrate "Save KLSD", our documentary about the demise of KLSD radio in San Diego and corporate media concentration. The producers (me, Jon Monday and Drew Reiff) are nearing completion of videotaping and scripting, and expect to release the film as a DVD and hold a screening event later this year.

More on Bree: Most of you have heard of the fabulous Bree Walker -- she worked as a news anchor/reporter in San Diego, LA, and New York; acted in film and TV; and now hosts a progressive talk show on KTLK in LA. Bree appeared at Save KLSD rallies last year and is a passionate advocate for media reform. BTW: She also is the owner of Camp Casey, Cindy Sheehan's former property next to President's Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas. Word has it that she has big plans for the location. To keep up with Bree, listen to her radio show and read her blog at http://breewalker.org/blog. We are thrilled that Bree will be the voice of Save KLSD, the film!

"KLSD Vanishes" from Liberal Talk Radio blog

2008-07-31T10:45:00.000-07:00

big lead article today about KLSD radio in the Liberal Talk Radio blog.

here is an excerpt:

The Station Vanishes

Hard to believe it's already been nine months since KLSD (1360AM) in San Diego ditched its successful liberal talk format to jump into the overcrowded sports radio shark tank. So far, the new format is a flop.

The San Diego Union-Tribune is the latest to take note of the woes of the new "XTRA Sports 1360." At least somebody is, since the station, since its format flip in November, has virtually dropped off the ratings map. They are almost a non-entity in the San Diego radio market.

And the biggest irony is that another Clear Channel-owned sports station, KLAC (570AM), located approximately 100 miles north in Los Angeles, does show up in the San Diego book. In other words, an out-of-market signal gets listeners, while the hometown station with the same format does not.

Let's crunch some numbers. In the Winter 2008 Arbitron book, the first full survey since KLSD ditched liberal talk, the station, which averaged a 1.5 share of the overall listening audience over the past year, has dropped off the charts. Essentially, that's a 75-80 percent listener drop. KLAC, which carried the Los Angeles Lakers and their deep playoff run, got enough listeners to account for a half share of the overall listening audience. Still, when local listeners would rather tune in an out-of-town sister station, that's got to be a sign of something bad.

In addition, at a time when Clear Channel is wiping out as much overhead as they possibly can, the new XTRA Sports 1360 is a more expensive operation than KLSD's liberal talk lineup was. The daytime roster currently consists of live and local talent - a much more expensive proposition than merely slotting in bartered syndicated programming like Air America or Ed Schultz (with a couple local talkers like Stacy Taylor and Jon Elliott). Therefore, Clear Channel is paying more money for fewer listeners. Is that something new they teach in business school?
The Union-Tribune column quotes one radio veteran, who calls the results of the bungled format flip unprecedented. He says people in the industry will be doing case studies for a long time:

“I don't care what the format is, I have never seen a station disappear that fast. Never,” said Ron Bain, a radio producer and former radio/TV executive who lives in North County. “And the few times that I've seen a station go down (like this), it will tend to go down slowly. . . . This is precedent-setting, that it just ended. It's like it went off the air – and one could say they have.”

New KLSD in the ratings gutter, Michael Savage, Clear Channel Buyout,

2008-07-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

My baby Genevieve and I are just back from Michigan where we went to see friends and family... and after about 6 months of little activity on the prog talk front, there is now a lot going on...

New KLSD in the ratings gutter: The latest Arbitron ratings are so low they do not even register for the "NEW KLSD" (sports format after flipping in 2007 from progressive talk). From Wikipedia: "During their first ratings period [4] since the format change to sports, KLSD ratings dropped below the minimum Arbitron standard of 0.3 for Winter 2008. As a comparison, the progressive radio format of KLSD last received a 1.6 for Fall 2007. This is the first time in San Diego's AM1360 history they have not met the minimum ratings threshold."

No wonder the ratings are so low -- San Diego already has other, all sports talk stations and the new KLSD has not been promoted that I have seen. Meanwhile, AM540 and AM1700 are fighting over the orphaned prog talk listeners... (see those stations' programming line-up in the left column)

Michael Savage Protests: This right wing host offends often but is losing advertisers such as AFLAC, Sears and Home Depot, as well as stations after pissing off the autism community. See this crooksandliars.com page. My favorite documentary producer robert greenwald has an anti-savage site. Locally, Campaign for Progressive Radio (CPR) is urging AM540 to drop Savage's program. The following was written by CPR's Jeff Benarsch:

Please contact the following stations that carry Savage Nation in San Diego and express your outrage.
Savage can be heard locally on KFMB Radio760 and XESURF AM540.
Contact KFMB by calling 858 571-8888. The General Manager is Gina Landau. (Try glandau@kfmb. com, or webmaster@kfmb. com). XESURF is operated by Mount Wilson Broadcasting, Inc., owned by Saul Levine. Saul recently added Progressive talker Stephanie Miller from 6-9AM and one hour of the Ed Schultz Show from 9 AM-10AM. When you call or email XESURF, ask that they replace Michael Savage with 2 more hours of big Eddie, or other progressives like Thom Hartmann, Rachel Maddow, or Amy Goodman, none of whom can be heard on San Diego radio. Call 310-478-5540 or email arobbins@mountwilso ninc.com and slevine@mountwilson inc.com. Saul has already proved he can separate the San Diego programming from sister station KGIL in LA.

Savage's name is actually Michael Weiner - and someone who has made a remarkable career change from ethnobotanist (and colleague of Timothy Leary's) to right wing nut, host, and author. His Wikipedia entry is fascinating. Jeff recommends reading David Gilson's excellent piece in Salon.com: Michael Savage's long, strange trip. The article is linked here:
http://dir.salon. com/story/ news/feature/ 2003/03/05/ savage/

Clear Channel: looks like it's finally going private in a $24 billion dollar deal. See article in The Washington Post from July 24 where CEO Lowry Mays says CC sold several hundred radio stations (and its TV division) to complete the deal, but does not plan to sell more). From Wikipedia: "On July 24, 2008, Clear Channel held a special shareholder meeting, during which the majority of shareholders accepted a revised $36-per-share offer from Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners. Clear Channel is expected to go private at or around July 30.^[6]" Upon news that shareholders had approved the highly leveraged buyout (according to MarketWatch.com), Fitching Ratings has downgraded CC.

An interesting aspect to the deal is the one of CC's buyers is Bain Capital, a firm co-founded by erstwhile Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney (I'll bet anyone out there a giant, strong mojito that McCain will hold his nose and pick Mitt as his running mate in order to help out in my home state of Michigan, where Romney is a native and son of a long-ago governor. ). BTW: check out this transcript from Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! program, where she interviews the LA Times reporter who wrote that Bain profited from off-shore tax havens, laying off U.S. workers, and closing U.S. factories.

Also, CC, along with the Katz Media Group, has started an online radio network with various programming including content from Air America. It appears that the big advantage is streamlined advertising purchasing... What effect will this have on Air American and other prog talk?? What do you think?

Like I said, lots going on...

BlogTalkRadio.com -- Anyone can do an online "Radio" talk show

2008-07-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

Just found BlogTalkRadio.com -- this is a very cool blend of a "radio" talk show that is online instead on the radio per se... Check it out at http://www.blogtalkradio.com. BlogTalkRadio's MyDD show (My Direct Democracy)from Netroots Nation is also in my list of blogs on the left nav. Netroots nation has a bunch of blog radio shows appealing to progressive -- there's one from DFA (Democracy for America, an organization that morphed from Dean for America, as in Howard Dean when he ran for president). BTW: Netroots Nation is a great nonprofit that seeks to use the Internet to advance progressive goals. http://www.netrootsnation.org/

BlogTalkRadio's "About Us" text:

Blogtalkradio is the social radio network that allows users to connect quickly and directly with their audience. Using an ordinary telephone and computer hosts can create free, live, call-in talk shows with unlimited participants that are automatically archived and made available as podcasts. No software download is required. Listeners can subscribe to shows via RSS into iTunes and other feed readers. Our network has produced tens of thousands of episodes since it launched in August of 2006.

CPR Meeting CPR July 19

2008-07-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

We just finished a meeting of our new group called CPR: Campaign for Progressive Radio - San Diego. We meet at a liberal bastion in Normal Heights -- LeStat's coffee bar on Adams Ave. Member Joe Vecchio has connections there and we can use the community room next door.

At the meeting we decided to send an email to our 4,000 name list about the current line-up of progressive talk in San Diego and to promote the CPR website: http://cprsandiego.org/.

The Current line-up of prog talk in San Diego:
M-F:
6-9am Stephanie Miller/AM540;
9-10am Ed Schultz/AM540;
10am-12pm Michael Jackson/AM540;
3-6pm Stacy Taylor (LOCAL)/AM1700;
7-10pm Alan Colmes/AM540
10pm-1am Lionel/AM1700;

That leaves the following time gaps with no prog talk: 4-6am; 12-3pm; 10pm-1am; weekends. CPR will work toward filling those gaps and/or pushing for a new all progressive talk station, similar to the former KLSD/AM1360.

We are still working on a listener party for Stacy Taylor but the station and location have not confirmed. We'll see what happens, it's getting a big frustrating...

BTW: A new book is a must read for prog talk folks is called Right of the Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel and the fall of commercial radio; Just google the title or follow this very long Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Right-Dial-Clear-Channel-Commercial/dp/0571211062/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216490143&sr=8-1

Local blog unearthed

2008-07-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Well I'm at Panera again this time in Irvine, where my parents live. they are watching the 2 kiddos while I furiously blog, email, facebook, blackberry, and occasionally breathe.

Check out this local blog i just unearthed which mentioned the rallies to Save KLSD progressive talk radio in San Diego: http://willblogforfood.typepad.com/will_blog_for_food/2007/08/san-diego-progr.html

Also found a post at the liberaltalkradio blog mentioning Stephanie Miller's arrival in SD among other things (emerging rivalry between AM1700 and AM540 to capture former listeners of KLSD who are starved for progressive talk): http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2008/07/saul-shuffle-sends-steph-to-san-diego.html

LiberalTalkRadio.com wiki site + Stacy Taylor Listener Party

2008-07-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

Didn't realize the "wiki" phenom was taking off so much, just learned that LTR.com (liberal talk radio) has started a wikipedia for itself, check it out at http://ltradio.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page. The site is editing over 100 pages and says it wants help.

Gotta go, I'm at Panera in Mira Mesa again (my home wireless network is still down -- help! i need a computer jockey to get it going again...) -- and it's lunchtime so they will kick me off soon for sure. My baby is at daycare so I'll pick her up then my husband will watch her while I get physical therapy to help my aging body recover from carrying her. Age 43 might be too old to have a baby! But don't tell that to our fertility clinic. They have great success with the over 40 want to be a mama crowd.

I'm posting this later in the day because in fact, Panera did boot me off the Net... now I'm back there again.

Stacy Taylor Listener Party: Was supposed to be July 10 but Dussini's bar downtown double-booked so now waiting for a new date. The goal was to have Stacy's show on AM1700 (3-6pm) do a live broadcast, mingle with fans during breaks, have local notables show up for interviews, then hang out until about 7pm. Stacy's former station in San Diego, KLSD, held several listener parties for him and it was a fun gathering of like-minded people... We'll see is Dussini's comes through or another locale...

Stephanie Miller show now airing in SD!

2008-07-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Got an email from progressive talk activist Aldous Tylor (see http://nonstopradio.com), saying that the radio show hosted progressive talker Stephanie Miller is now airing in San Diego on AM540/XHUR. That station nows airs quite a few progressive talk hours -- Ed Schultz from 9-10am PST, Michael Jackson, 10am-12pm, then Alan Colmes, 7-10pm.

The only locally hosted progressive talk show remains the excellent Stacy Taylor show from 3-6pm on AM1700. AM1700 also airs the Lionel show from Air America from 1-4am.

AM1700 and AM540) air mainly conservative talk, but both are increasing their progressive talk, presumably to pick off the loyal listeners who were left orphaned after Clear Channel's AM1360/KLSD flipped from progressive talk to sports talk back in November, 2007.

2008-07-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

here is a great way to find out the latest news about media reform, especially clear channel, go to http://www.alecfoege.com/, alec wrote a book about clear channel called "Right of the Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel and the Fall of Commercial Radio"

so about the documentary, we are looking to enter it into film festivals so if anyone knows of particular festivals that would be appropriate, let me know.

to find out about what's going in san diego re: progressive radio, go to the website of a new activist group, Campaign for Progressive Radio, http://cprsandiego.org/.

Jennifer Douglas

2008-07-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hi this is my new blog. I will generally be writing about media reform and the making of documentary film I am current producing called "Save KLSD: Media Concentration & Radio", due later this year. I may diverge into other topics both related and total non sequitars... (for example is it, non sequitar or non sequitur? a google search reveals both spellings; now, that is a non sequitar, meaning "it does not follow" the topic under discussion... )

Anyway, myself and two other activist/producers -- Jon Monday and Drew Reiff -- are producing the documentary -- you can see a 6 minute preview video at http://saveklsd.com. I am focused mainly on writing the script -- which is really complicated, since the topic is complex -- it tells the story of the demise of San Diego's only progressive talk radio station (and the resulting radio activism in San Diego) and delves into the wider issue -- the concentration of media ownership in the United States -- it's effects, history, possible cause and solutions and so forth. Clear Channel radio is part of the story since it is the largest owner of radio stations in the U.S. (including the former KLSD radio). The story keeps evolving and will continue to do so after our documentary is done, so this blog will keep up everyone up to date. For example, Clear Channel is supposed to go private any day now but it keeps getting delayed. It is also supposed to be (voluntarily) selling off some radio stations. (does anyone know how to find out when wikipedia updates particular pages?) Meanwhile, Congress may veto the Federal Communications Commission action to loosen media regulations -- the Senate has already done so and the House may too. see http://www.freepress.net/

As for me, I have a baby girl Genevieve who is almost one (she was born 7/27/07 /10:27pm) and a foster son who just turned three, so it's hard to find time for this project or anything else for that matter. My blog will find me whining about trying to keep my brain and body from totally atrophying while raising kids... I am actually doing physical therapy for chronic neck/shouler pain from carrying her -- even though she weigh less then 17 pounds. I'm fortunate though -- my husband is a huge help and I am not working a 9-5pm job, so you'd think I'd have more time but I don't...

I am doing this blog for an excellent class at UCSD extension on Marketing and New Media, which focuses on social marketing via blogs, facebook/myspace, etc.; It is taught by Becky Carroll, see her blog at http://customersrock.wordpress.com.

By for now -- I'm at Panera in Mira Mesa with my baby (my home wireless network is down -- help!) who will no doubt want me to bounce her on my knees any moment now. Good news on my tech front -- I have a blackberry now and can get and send email though i really don't know what i'm doing yet and its voice recognition has a problem with my day care provider whose name is "Mehrnaz"...