Comments on: More clamors for WVTF to carry ‘Democracy Now!’

By: jo rosewood

jo rosewood — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:42:22 +0000

“So few comments from a group that fancies itself as progressive?”
this quote from a comment by Dave pretty much says it all. I notice that this discussion has dropped dead, and I fear, so has any chance of this town ever hearing DN on the radio. Even VTF were *required to have a community advisory board – and as a government entity it is not – it would not happen. consider the source (ew) and fire up the computer.

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:36:23 +0000

According to Glenn Gleixner, They are “very aware of the program and have reviewed it many times during the past few years. However, we have concluded that it is not a good fit for our schedule. Generally considered to be advocacy journalism, DN works much better as an Internet and pod cast program”.

We are not alone in this decision. Out of the nearly 300 NPR member stations in the country, only 17 air Democracy Now. There are many shows available to us that we do not carry; We just cannot air them all. ”

In the area of public radio, you would think the public would have some say in programming. You’d be wrong and that is a doggone shame.

By: John

John — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:59:15 +0000

Warren, the possibility that functional reasons are keeping WVTF from trying Democracy Now seems pretty slim, especially since the program’s producers offer a free trial run. As with many Republicans, WVTF’s management appears to be intelligent enough to appreciate All Things Considered over Fox News, for example, but not principled enough to stand up for a program with all viewpoints considered. You appear to be on track with the comparison to the homophobic fit that resulted in temporarily discontinuing Fresh Air in the 1990s.

By: jo rosewood

jo rosewood — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:50:22 +0000

the notion that npr is some kind of “happy medium” is off base. it is quite conservative, albeit sneakily disguised (much like wvtf). lots of npr news listeners really disapprove of (fear) DN (much like wvtf). it appears that the trial run might result in a clamor for the program, and this backward station is fighting suspiciously hard to prevent that.

By: stephen sivonda

stephen sivonda — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:41:25 +0000

I’m waiting WVTF…do it!

By: Warren

Warren — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:01:18 +0000

We’ll recall back in the ’90′s that WVTF’s previous management removed “Fresh Air” for years because tolerant treatment of gay subjects occured too frequently for management’s comfort. Refusing “Democracy Now” may be driven by reluctance to alienate some listeners, board members, or financial contributors, but there are likely also functional reasons, like cost, programming times, download schedules, or others. But I’d love for them to add it, too.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:39:59 +0000

WVTF’s programming leans toward the conservative, I feel. It would be a breath of fresh air to have Amy Goodman’s program air. I watched it both in NY and in SF when I lived in those towns, would love to have it here. What’s holding management back? Does a little discussion and dissention upset the corporate managers? Good! Let’s have some Amy Goodman!

By: Dave Gresham

Dave Gresham — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:15:10 +0000

I saw Amy’s presentation at Tech last year and liked her, too, Phyllis. (Her group seemed a little bit surprised that Tech has essentially banned her broadcast, but she’s used to such things.)

She’s an honest person, and brave, too, even interviewing soldiers and civilians on the front line. Of course, mainstream news is all sanitized now, so they never showed any of the 1,000,000 dead Iraqis or 4,000 soldiers, but she did. (Odd how we killed so many of Iraqis over what Saudi Arabians did.)

PS. 4,000 dead Americans is a 250 to 1 kill ratio, so you know we bombed the hell out of civilians. But our government says we barely killed any. Ha! We leveled every building in some towns.

And now we have to listen to crap about drones and how they almost never kill civilians. And why? Because our government has reclassified every male over the age of puberty, in locales they bomb… wait for it…. as a terrorist. Yup. And the people killed with them are classified as terrorist’s ‘known associates.” LOL for our demon Pentagram/Pentagon.

I’m ranting, so I’ll end by noting that more soldiers are committing suicide now, than are being killed by the “enemy”. And why? They can’t live with the guilt of killing innocents. That’s why.

By: Phyllis T Albritton

Phyllis T Albritton — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:19:31 +0000

“Democracy Now” STILL not on local public radio, WVTF! I wonder who is behind our not getting it? Having heard Amy at Tech has me wondering if I should continue contributing to WVTF, which I have done for years. She was truly AWESOME!!!!

By: wilbert

wilbert — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:05:36 +0000

I think WVTF is wise to pass on the Democracy Now! offer. Of course they have an enthusiastic following, but then again so does Fox News. “News” programming that is intentionally slanted would hurt the WVTF brand. NPR programming already takes heat as being liberally slanted. I like my news and information straight with no bias and it seems like that keeps getting harder to find these days.