Why is left wing talk radio bankrupt (Air America) while right wing radio flourishes?

Question

There are plenty of liberals -- why the difference?

Answer 1

Generally, I think the left-wing has a number of diverse interests, thus they don't tend to gather in a single place or listen to the same things as much.

I think liberals generally watch Keith Olberman (whose ratings are up 65% over last year) and John Stewart (who still has one of the highest rated shows in all of cable tv) because those guys can make you laugh at the absurdities of the right (and the left from time to time) and still give you a capsule of the day's news.

While "The Daily Show" is not true journalism, a recent study by the Indiana University's Ernie Pyle School of Journalism proves that the Daily Show covers as many - or more - hard news events than the networks and cable news programs do. They first exposed the footage of Tom Reynolds surrounding himself with kids to avoid being asked questions about the Foley scandal.

The right like to listen to talk radio much more than the left. It also leads to things like "ditto-heads" and the way you see the right express things with the exact same phrasology (which Stewart always catches and points out really well). So, personally, I've never gotten into the whole talk radio thing in general. I'll listen to a little NPR from time to time, but I prefer the news programming to the call-in shows.

Answer 2

My friend, I believe you have some labels in your question that are wrong.

Try this, why is the socialist media failing whereas the moderate unbiased road media is thriving? Phrased that way the reason is crystal clear, Americans reject socialism.

The left has gone so far left that the center looks right wing anymore.

You did forget to mention the precipitous decline in shareholder value of the NYT over the past six years, it is probably going to be the next bankruptcy.

The link below clearly shows the decline and it has been most severe since 1993 when clitoon was elected and then progressed more when America rejected the socialist congress in 1994 and then of course once the hate bush mantra of the socialists began, it became the death knell for the socialist media.

Answer 3

It is because of NPR and those that receive public money. Why listen to a talk radio station with commercials when you can listen to NPR for free. They have the same programming. Also a lot of liberals and moderates listen to talk radio. It is no just the people on the right.

Answer 4

Maybe the conservatives contribute more than the liberals. Or maybe the liberals aren't too entertaining so nobody listens to them.

Answer 5

that question is more complex than it appears on the surface, for one Limbaugh filled a void in a.m. radio and to his credit revived it. ownership is another factor, clear Chanel dictates the programing on big stations in big markets, Ed Schultz & Stephanie Miller are doing well in many markets on inferior signals so this tells us their is an audience for left wing progessive radio, air america does suffer from a lack of talent and they never understood that radio has to be more than factual it has to be entertaining, Schultz & Miller are succesful because they are good at it.

Answer 6

Perhaps it was financial, which has nothing to do with their politics. Perhaps Rush Limbaugh can sell a bunch of drugs, then LOAN them the money to stay on the air? Perhaps Foley can start a gay brothel, and use the funds to help keep Air America on the air. Pehaps if Bush's administration had'nt taxed this country into oblivion, there would have been funds available, but then Bush is a traitor to the U.S. so, that could never happen.

Answer 7

Faux ALSO seems to be having its own troubles. But how much truth is told does not necessarily correlate with financial success.
As long as AAR is on the air, which it is, it is doing its job and the First Amendment lives.

Answer 8

To be young and not a liberal a man has no heart. To be old not a conservative, a man has no brain. Who is the likeliest ages to listen to talk radio anyway? In a Debate of knowlege versus emotion knowlege will win everytime.

Answer 9

Liberals are better educated as a whole? I thought all us rich Republicans got that way from higher education all in an effort to make us richer and you poorer!

Besides, don't you all know that Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem are going to save liberal radio. Apparently they are playing what I want to hear. There the liberals go again - telling me what's good for me.

Right radio (minus a few whackos) bases their arguements on logic, reason and sound debate. Left radio resorts to name calling and liar liar pants on fire when you say something contrary to their beliefs.

Answer 10

It's not true what Chris J said about callers, liberal talk radio was recently rated much better than conservative for NOT screening callers and taking calls from the "opposition".