Citizen Wausau

AM 55’s one-way blogs… the way the right-wing likes it.

by Mike Wall on February 19th, 2009

 AM 55’s one-way blogs… the way the right-wing likes it.

If you look up the definition of “Blog” it suggests “The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs”, and that’s what I like about “Bloging” and CitizenWausau especially.   

However, when you look at our own right-wing area media zeliots, AM 55, WSAU their “blog” offers only one way communitcation with no way of posting comments, suggestions or concerns – just the way right-wingers like it.  Like their radio “mute’ button, they don’t even pretend they want a dialog, only a dietribe.   

As station manager Cris Conley has pointed out numerous times, AM 55, WSAU is a private institution that is about making money for their owners.  True enough.   

I do find it odd that Conley never mentioned the public trust that radio stations, specifically am ones are given to be a beacon of information to the people.  Instead the jaded and cynical radio man talked about money, and profit.

The American people, through congress and through the FCC give the airwaves to these people as an act of public trust, specifically for the intent of giving us information, to make sure that the things that we need, the information that is out there is conveyed to the people in a timely and positive manner.

Not to make money.

Well, okay some of it is to make money too.

But it is significant that he did not talk about the good his station does for the community, its public works, it public role in creating a dialogue and increasing civic involvement.
 
Is AM55 failing that trust?  Are they not delivering on the promise of the free protected airwaves?

We give them the chance to make millions, to employ hundreds, to put forth a message…and what do we get?

Mike Savage spewing venomous hate, and Pat Snyder misinformed spin. Their new “blog” is just more of the same, with no way of dialog with them or other concerned community members for that matter.   

With the ease of Tech these days, allowing comments and a true two-way blog (like CitWazoo) would be so easy, especially since AM 55 has “the most listen to” (therefore I presume profitable) “morning show.”  Money would not be the problem since they have a half a blog up anyway…

 The funniest part of all, it probably would support and get them more listeners.   However, right-wingers (as demonstrated time and time again on their Rush like one-way rant shows) are all about the message – the propaganda – and the money and not a real discussion. 

And the funniest thing of all is that the host of true blogs don’t even need to do anything and can ignore whatever is posted anyway…    

At least AM 55 is being honest about what they really are all about and demonstrate it time and time again.