Do talk radio hosts (left or right) have any real influence?

Question

... or are they just preaching to the choir?

"I heard 10,000 talkers whose tongues were all broken."
- Bob Dylan

Answer 1

I say probably not, because most of the people that listen to them already agree with them. And the one's that don't agree just listen to get their anger up.

Julie

Answer 2

This is a hard one. I would say the Radio host on the Right are only preaching to the choir. As for the left most of their beliefs are discussed fully on television. Therefore no need for radio.

Answer 3

Nah, I think they do because they are controversial. I tend to lean to the left, yet I catch myself listening to Rush Limballess every so often, just to hear the other side, and bithch back into the radio. I think it depends on the broadcast area too. If you notice, in the farmlands in the midwest, there isn't a liberal voice to be heard on the radio - unless you have satillite. Yes I do think there is an effect - if you only hwere one thing all the time, you'll tend to beleive it.

Answer 4

I would say that the more conservative ones have much more influence than the more liberal ones. What do you think of when you hear the name Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity? Both of these men are in-your-face shock jocks of talk radio. Thier shows are controversial and high energy. Even if you don't like them you have to admit they are entertaining. I even know liberals who listen to Rush because they get a kick out of him.

Now think of liberal talk radio (NPR is the best example of successful liberal talk radio). It is quiet, subdued, and a forum for intellectual discussion. This is not very entertaining or exciting.

The conservative talk radio hosts have mastered entertainment and getting thier message out and they clearly have some influence, at least more than their liberal counterparts.

Answer 5

there are a lot of people whose only source of information is these radio shows. It shows in a lot of the answers on yahoo. In that way, they are influential. The problem is that it is not a good influence. These guys are actually a danger to America.

Answer 6

Because of individual talk show's limited audience they do little in the way of persuading the crowd or having any real influence but merely stroking the flames of their own choir...

Answer 7

I think that ANYONE who has the outlet to spread their opinions to thousands or millions of people have potential to have influence, especially if it is to an audience of "followers". THis can of course be good or bad...depending on the topic and the true intentions of the person with the influence.

Answer 8

None whatsoever. They major in blather. If choirs or churches are any indication, even less. Bob Dylan. Blather.

Answer 9

They have tons of influence.
They have influence to cause thousands of people to call and support the radio host through commercials and endorsements.

Answer 10

They do with the dumb and ignorant. Guess it helps to have a brain and be a free-thinker, not a clone like the sheep who are influenced by the fashion statement of the week.

Answer 11

They influence that certain kind of person who is easily persuaded. Really, a lot of them just convince themselves/eachother of what they believe when they begin to doubt (right wing comes to mind). So really, I think there's little or no effect... Because none of it is anything "Brand New" :)