Posted on 01/17/2006 7:47:24 AM PST by holymoly
Felipe Luciano becomes vice president of news for the progressive radio network Air America (WLIB, 1190 AM) with several premises.
First, "All those years of talk about a 'liberal bias' in the media has pushed our national media to a right-wing slant.
"What was once an independent voice has become afraid to take a stand. Everyone is afraid what happened to Dan Rather will happen to them. That's why we see almost no investigative journalism."
To that timidity, says Luciano, Air America offers an essential alternative.
Second, "You should never talk down to your audience, because they're much more interested and aware than people think. I grew up a black Puerto Rican at Third Ave. and 112th St., and people were always saying, 'Stay in your community.' But I was interested in the whole world. Most people are the same."
When Luciano talks about media, it's not theoretical. He has worked at WNBC/Ch. 4, WCBS/Ch. 2 and Fox News. He's hosted radio shows at WRVR, WLIB and WWRL.
He's been equally busy outside the media. In the '60s, he was a founder of the Young Lords party and in recent years he has run for political office himself.
This lifetime of activism would seem to make Air America an ideal spot for him.
"One of the things I quickly found here is that the people are very smart," he says. "That means the newsmen like Bill Crowley and Wayne Gilman, the hosts and everyone else. You have to be informed and quick just to keep up."
Among the things he's after in the news department, he says, are "important stories neglected in the major media" and "subjective objectivity," meaning accurate information "with a point of view. When you see the bias of Fox News commentators, why shouldn't we have a balance?"
That lack of balance, he suggests, contributes to a dangerous and widening gap in America.
"You have the incredible generosity of the American people and the incredible callousness of the American government. We need to close that divide."
Luciano, who will also be doing on-air commentary, has an ambitious expansion of Air America's news mission in mind.
"We're working on big plans," he says. "We'd like to have a speakers' bureau. We'd like to have a TV presence. This is the beginning of a new CNN."
And yes, gypsy though he's sometimes been, he'd like to be around for it.
"I always wanted to find a place," he says, "where my radical background was an advantage, not a handicap."
Good idea. Just look how successful Al Gore and "Current" TV have been. </sarcasm>
Yup. If you lie and cheat, the blogosphere will catch you. Must suck to be a shill these days.
"That's why we see almost no investigative journalism."
Did not see it then either...
ie. you'll be visiting Saddam in prison and blowing him for "access"
Seriously, how is a faceless corporation like the US govt supposed to show it cares? In my view, it absolutely cannot, in this mans view, by sending along its check, but only if a Democrats signature is attached.
Either that, or night shift manager at the local McDonald's.
"What was once an independent voice has become afraid to take a stand. Everyone is afraid what happened to Dan Rather will happen to them. That's why we see almost no investigative journalism."
I have no problem with investigative journalism, as long as they truly investigate and vet their allegations, which Dan, Mary, and Co did not do. Most liberal reporters are lazy and not willing to do the leg work necessary to make sure their stories are correct.
It's hard not to talk down to an audience that is so low they have to look up to see whale crap.
"I always wanted to find a place," he says, "where my radical background was an advantage, not a handicap."
"and where my flirtation with lunacy would be seen as an asset."
Maybe Howard Dean needs a personal assistant ...
"subjective objectivity,"
Try to understand those two words which mean the exact opposite. There is no such thing as subjective objectivity. Only a lib can string words together that make no sense.
Standard talking point: all progressive liberals are uniformly brilliant.
Although I have heard this mantra espoused on Err Anerika, they are clearly delusional.
Although this a local station, you can get a feel for what typical sponsors are in local Err Amerika outlets and therefore you would know not where to shop Air America Phoenix Directory of Sponsors
Worry about the "right-wing bias" later, concentrate now on paying back the $850K you stole from the kids.
I didn't see where one of his conditions would be a regular paycheck, which is probably a good thing.
Isn't Phoenix dropping AA at the end of the month? Some libs report that the station isn't dropping AA until they find a new home for AA in Phoenix, but this may be just lib wishful thinking. Once AA goes away, hardly anybody wants it back, at least enough listeners to keep a station in business.
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