Pacifica radio is running its semi-regular Local Station Board elections. If you subscribe to a Pacifica station, you should be getting a ballot soon for listener or staff candidates for your signal’s respective board. Here at Pacifica outlet KPFA-FM in Berkeley, to which I donate money, there are two big slates running: SaveKPFA and Independents […]
Archive | Op-Ed
Opinions, editorials and fun stuff.
Live365, now with prizes
Live365 radio is celebrating its 11th year of operation by offering a “prize-a-day” sweepstakes to listeners through September. The top prizes will include an iPad, Canon PowerShot digital camera, Flip Camcorder, C. Crane WiFi Internet Radio, Michael Jackson’s CD Box Set, Apple/iTunes/Amazon gift cards, and other stuff. I’m trying to decide whether this prize business […]
Wireless industry blasts FM receiver mandate for mobiles
Six wireless industry related trade associations sent Congress a letter on Monday that goes ballistic on the idea of mandating FM receivers in mobile handsets. The groups wrote in opposition to a reported deal between the National Association of Broadcasters and the Recording Industry Association of America in which the former would agree to the […]
Inside the Droid X FM radio
Everybody is in a dither over whether the National Association of Broadcasters and the Recording Industry Association of America are going to cut a deal in which they both agree to the Performance Rights Act, if Congress mandates that all mobiles have to include FM radios. I can’t see why lawmakers would want to do […]
Radio One endorses Comcast/NBCU merger
Radio One, the nation’s biggest African American oriented radio network, has endorsed the proposed Comcast/NBC Universal merger, now being evaluated by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice. Its CEO Alfred Liggins III praised Comcast for helping Radio One develop its TV One cable channel. “The result is that today, as one of […]
Will Ferrell tells Fresh Air why he's better than Supercuts
What do Will Ferrell’s snotty comments about Marshalls and Supercuts on a liberal show like Fresh Air tell us about the state of politics today?
Should "male thickening" ads be on the radio?
As a regular listener to commercial radio stations, I often hear radio ads that I really wish weren’t broadcast, especially later at night. With this post I begin an ongoing series on these spots, my least favorite being the Prolixus “male thickening” product. The radio script runs as follows: Hey guys, does size really matter? […]
Pacifica radio board elections – count me out
Opinion: It’s election season again at the Pacifica radio network. A historian of the organization explains why he’s not voting.
FCC Workshop To Explore Noncommercial Media in the Digital Era
Continuing its series of workshops–which are more informal than hearings–on a variety of important topics, the FCC will hold one on the topic of “Public and Other Noncommercial Media in the Digital Era.” This workshop is part of the Commission’s project on the Future of Media and the Information Needs of Communities. This day-long workshop […]
Trying to have an intelligent discussion about health care on KPFA (and not succeeding)
If you think the above title is long, here’s the one I suggested to Radio Survivor’s editors: Dr. Michael LeNoir tries to have an intelligent discussion of Health Reform on the KPFA airwaves, and is mercilessly pummeled: A Case Study of the Left’s vilification of Obama and its dismissal of Partial Reforms Last week, respected […]