What happens when America’s airwaves fill with hate? BILL MOYERS JOURNAL takes a tough look at the hostile industry of “Shock Jock” media with a hard-hitting examination of its effects on our nation’s political discourse –and interviews Rory O’Connor in the process.
Rory makes another appearance on Laura Flanders” GritTv web show, talking about “the rise of talk radio and its influence on the American electorate.”
Shock Jocks was just featured on FireDogLake’s Book Salon, where Ian Williams delivers a glowing endorsement:
Rory’s book is essential reading for those of whose stomachs are not strong enough to listen round the clock to this stuff.
This recent report from industry trade journal Broadcasting & Cable offers details on the media priorities officially limned in the Democratic Party platform for this fall’s election. As reporter John Eggerton notes, “It’s official, support for net neutrality, media diversity, public interest obligations, and free airtime for candidates are officially enshrined in the Democratic platform.” Not surprisingly, says Eggerton, the platform planks support the media priorities outlined previously by Barack Obama… and there’s no mention of that all-purpose right wing bete noir, the Fairness Doctrine!
The platform, which is the party’s official position on a variety of issues, includes a promise to “encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media, promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints, and clarify the public interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation’s spectrum.” But there is no mention of the secret Democratic plan to “Hush Rush!”
Meanwhile, at the Republican Party convention in St. Paul, police were busy literally pressbashing in the streets while the candidates were occupied verbally bashing the media inside the convention hall…
