Local Talk Radio: Who Do You Trust?
One of our bloggers suggested a good question. Comments indicate that some of you listen to local talk radio programs. Evaluating the content and quality of talk radio is important. Some programs are good and some not so good. We would like to have you share your point of view concerning the local talk radio programs that are available to our bloggers. Here is our question for March:
If you listen to talk radio, who do you like, and more important, who do you trust to provide accurate and objective information on the local scene?
Let’s hear from you.
posted by Blog Master @ 7:18 AM
82 Comments:
The Best: Chip Morris and Bob Rose
The Worst: "Little John" Lund
I have pretty much stopped listening to all talk radio. There are now so many other good sources.
Bobby D without a doubt is the most trusted and listened to program in Marion County.
Easy question, Rush Limbaugh.
Not sure about Bobby. Frankly, he is least trusted among non-Catholics I know, because of his tirades against officials and individuals. Lund destroys his credibility with rants against anyone who disagrees with him. Limbaugh has a good lecture series if you want to enroll in his class, Hannity reminds me of a banty rooster. Savage is properly named -- savage.
Michael Reagan is a pretty level headed host, as is Bob Rose for politics. Chip things his jokes are funny when they usually are not. PC on Chip's show is very informative. Generally, AM Ocala on WOCA is interesting until 10 when the rebroadcast starts, and then I try to get busy and not listen for an hour.
My favorite on my way home from work each night is the Drive Time Happy Hour. It’s the number one rated talk radio show in central Florida with Chip and PC. They are great!
Local talk radio and the Star Banner are in the same category, can't trust what they say and ain't worth wasting time on them.
Let me defend the Star Banner. Yes, they do focus negative articles on Republicans. However, that’s because Republicans hold most all key elected offices and are also the most actively involved in community activities that can draw criticism. It is just a plain and simple fact of life in Marion. Democrats are just not in the main stream to get “targeted”. They just sit on the slide line and throw the darts.
Also, the few times I have listened to people like Lund and Bobby D, they have also been focused on tearing into fellow Republicans much more than Democrats. Especially Republicans who don’t toe the Party line in the way Lund and Bobby D feel they should.
Otherwise, I agree with what Night Owl has said.
None of these local talk radio shows has any real impact in shaping public opinion. The number of listeners is way too small. Even the Star Banner has a declining influence. People don't have much faith in what is said. I sure don't.
How about somebody giving us the station numbers to tune in some of the talk shows mentioned?
Bobby D. has the best most authentic show on-air..He allows listeners to have a real "Voice" and he takes on the tough issues.
Also he sponsors the broadcast of local highschool sports and other programs like the saturday morning gospel music show on daystar 89.5FM.
This is impacting the community in many ways..This is not rating driven radio-but rather community driven radio.
i have only listened to three local talk radio shows over the years. my grade 1-10….
bob rose 9
bobby d 3
j.lund 2
bob rose is far above the other two. it’s like comparing the nfl to pop warner.
If you want good talk radio, tune in when Randy Harris is filling in on the Big Bad John show. I don't like his politics but he does do a good job on the radio.
Agree, Harris is a good talk radio host. He's much better at that then he is as a County Commissioner.
9-3-2 sounds about right to me.
Do you want accurate, credible and trustworthy radio programs? Then don’t listen to any of the local talk radio shows!
If I gave you $1 for every listener to John or Bobby above about 200 listeners a day, you would have any more money then you have now. Local talk radio does not have good listenership other than Bob Rose and to a lesser extent, Chip.
Lund will be lucky to have 100 listeners -- bad time of day, and you get tired of his distain for anyone who doesn't agree with him and that's 99.9999 percent of the people.
I have no idea how many people listen to these shows??I do think that the local Ocala people tend to be pretty apathetic regarding politics etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum..This is a problem of the people,not the talk show hosts.
One of the things I like about the Bobby D. Show is that he takes on the issues head on and doesnt pull any punches regardless of who may be offended.This is good radio.He says alot of things that get under alot of folks skin, and does it with a New York accent to boot..
Find the Chip and PC show to be very "Lightweight" and "Fluffy" but dont see what impact this is having on the community???
Bobby D. Shakes it up a bit and this is why its appealing-even though some will hate the tone and content.When you take on the tough issues head on and name names-some will get mad!!
I LOVE IT!!
Elton, you're a hoot. Bobby D offensive and fluffy---"and that's the truth"!
I like Al Franken, Adam Carolla, and Loveline.
Bobby D. May be considered offencive by some liberals/pro-aborts/homosexual types and by some anti-catholic christians, but "Fluffy" is not a word that fits his show at all!!
He certainly doesnt kiss the local "Booty that be"..This is what makes his show different..
Give us a break!!!
Bobby D is the biggest "suck up" to Randy Harris there is. Maybe even more than John Lund.
John Lund’s show is OK if you don’t mind listening to him preaching the virtues of Randy Harris and how much of an idiot any other politician (or citizen) is that disagrees with him. Very one sided and out of touch. As many have said about Lund, he is a member and probably local founder of the CAVE society, Citizens Against Virtually Everything.
Bobby D gives you a bit more variety of subjects. However, he mixes politics and religion too much for my tastes. He attracts more interesting guests and guest hosts than Lund. I enjoy when Sue Mosley is on. More frequent use of guest hosts to fill in for Bobby D would be good and provide some newness to the show.
What time and on which station locally is Al Franken's show available? I used to listen to him up north, but haven't since we moved here last year.
Since Lund is against everything there is involving government spending, I wonder if he has renounced his Social Security and Medicare. NOT!!!!!
Its important to note that Bobby D. Has disagreed with Randy Harris on a number of occasions.Once he picketed a fundraiser where Randy brought in Charlie Crist to speak,and another time he blasted a fundraiser where Randy was the MC because he didnt like the fact that a pro-abort(Neal Bortz) was brought in to raise money.
Bobbys Show stands alone as the only one that doesnt kiss anyones Butt!!Definitely not "Fluffy"..
It you look at the ratings, Chip and PC and Bob Rose have about ten times the audience of Bobby or John. Drive Time Happy Hour has a rating of from 9 to 10, each point representing about 1,000 listeners. WOCA (Lund's station) gets about a 1 when Limbaugh is on, and then it's all down hill.
Bobby D wasn't disagreeing with Randy Harris. He was disagreeing with the pro-abort positions of Crist and Bortz. Let's get the facts staight. Harris was just doing what the other Rs asked him to concerning "hosting" the appearance of these two people in Ocala. You have provided a weak example of Bobby disageeing with Harris.
Al Franken. Isn’t he the guy on Air America, the station that is just about to bite the dust? Left wing radio seems just about as hopeless as the couple of peanut size right wing shows we have in Ocala.
Bobby D. Didnt just disagree with the Pro-aborts at the fundraiser,but also disagreed with any republican who would support this type of guest being the speaker at the fundraiser.He picketed an event being supported by Randy Harris.I dont know how this can be construed as agreeing with Randy on this issue??He did say on-air that Randy should not have been at this event in his opinion.
Bobby probably agrees with Randy on most political issues-but this is not kissing anyones butt..
As for ratings-I dont know how one would decipher who is listening to these shows??The arbitron ratings available online refer to a "Station" and not a "Show".Chip,PC and Bob Rose are all on the "Sky" which is a highly rated station according to arbitron,but they are not a real "Big" station and dont "Get out" that far.
Bobbys audience is more "GRASSROOTS" and he gets callers from all over the county as well as out of county calls.Its more word of mouth type of marketing compared to "SKY" which spends alot of cash to market its shows.
I personally have been listening to radio for about 30 years and have never been polled by Arbitron, and come to think of it,I dont know of anyone else that has.I wonder if this rating system is even accurate,when it comes to measuring the listenership of a particular show??
The politicians come on Bobby D.'s show because they want to be "HEARD" and they "know" that people are listening!!!
Cutting Edge,Real,Controversial local radio at its best!!
Why don't you sign on as Bobby's PR person. You sure do a good job of "spinning". He could use all the help he can get. I used to listen to the show, but don't anymore. I'm also a Republican and find him so far out of the mainline of our Party that it is sickening. If his show is cutting edge, then talk radio is in bigger trouble than I thought. You need to really take a look at what "grassroots" means in this county. I'm part of the county's grassroots (have been for over 45 years) and I don't embrace any of Bobby's bull!
Agree with you.
I like the Drive Time Happy Hour show. More interesting than the other radio programs. Plus, I like Chip Morris.
You want good radio beyond Bob, Chip and PC tune in to a music station 88.1, 92.9 or 107.7 FM. You also get some intelligent conversation between songs.
WANT REAL TALK RADIO: TONY SNOW WILL BE BACK ON SIRIUS RADIO again starting March 14 on channel 145.
On March 14, the FOX News Channel will also return to Sirius. It will be available on channel 131.
Skip these local amateurs and go with the pro!
I have given up on local talk radio, just as I am about to give up on my own Republican Party. I'm becoming more and more an Independent every day. I'm sick and tired of the far right nut cases!
give up on local talk radio. but don't give up on the republican party yet.
Bobby D is the best talk radio you will find. Too bad all the liberals on the blog don't understand that. They are probably afraid of his influence.
if bobbyd is so good, why does he have to buy the two hours a day he is on radio? maybe it says something about the station -- but then they allow hucksters with a bible buy time on there too. if you want real religious radio, go to bible broadcasting network.
If he is buying time on the station,then his convictions must be strong.Wonder if any of the other Jockeys care enough to buy time?
Doubt it has anything to do with convictions.
Convictions as in "Strong beliefs,unshakable",not as in "Criminal record".TEE HE HE
When you listen to some of the callers to local talk radio it does make you wonder about “convictions” relating to criminal records! Wouldn’t be surprised if some of the callers have a close acquaintance with law enforcement.
Understand the pius, pompus school board member has backed off David Alvarez (or is it vice versa.) Kelly was catching sao much flack for recruiting a candidate against Mosley and for his stupid comment that Catholics aren't Christians that he is runing scared. Sure hope he gets an opponent and has to spend some of those big bucks he claims he says he makes.
So what does Bobby D think about Kelly? Is he going to "endorse" him for school board? I'm waiting to see what happens
let me get this straight. kelly says catholics aren't christian, which to him means they are all doomed to go to hell, and bobby d has to consider endorsing him. i'd give a dime to read bobby's mind as he works thru this one.
Won't it be interesting to see what Bobby D does. We'll see how "tough" he is.
If Alvarez dumped being part of the Kelly clan he just might get my vote.
Bobby D will endorse anyone who comes on his show and sucks up to him!!
SLLUUURRRPPP...........A GIANT SUCKING SOUND
Local politicians know they can't get elected if they avoid Bobby D's show. Check how many are on during election time.
They know they had better SSLLUURRPP!
They go on his show because we have a bunch of wimps as politicians who won't stand up for what they really believe.
not sure who told you local pols can't get elected without going on Bobby d's show. wud be intersting to go back and check last couple ballots and see what it shows.
Never on any local radio shows and it didn't hurt me.
Politico-What elected office have you held??
Blogger Master,
How about the same question you asked for talk radio for the local newspapers like the Star Banner?
I just read about a survey that said the general public believes most of the news is slanted. 72% saying journalists favor one side or the other. Republicans and conservatives are even more apt to feel this way than Democrats and liberals.
Let’s see if bloggers feel the local newspapers are in touch with the community, or slanted like the newspaper industry in general. How about it?
Blogmaster,
Rejector of BS has a good point.
As an old newspaperman, it pains me to read the column in the Banner this past week where the young reporter apparently made a serious goof, and then the editor's column today. I think it might be interesting to take a poll and see what people read and what they believe. We all hear the national pundits, especially Rush, Sean and the folks on Fox, talk about how little newspapers are raed today, and how biased they are but I would prefer to read the Banner and then verify than to read one of the blogs and not know where they got their information so I can check it out. So please go to work and try and put together a question that can be answered . . . do your bloggers in Marion County (1) take the Banner, (2) is it biased (3) do they believe it over the local talk show hosts etc . . .
Your work is cut out for you!
And thanks for running the blog where ever you are . . .
--pwf
Moving and Shaking comments about radio ratings etc . . . go back and read his posting . . . This the first time I have had the change to really read the blog.
Let me see if I can help a bit. Movin', when you read the "internals" of the overall Arbitron ratings (and my family and I were once asked to participate in one of their in depth studies) , you find they are done for various time considerations . . . you can get the projected number of listeners for each time of day. If I remember corectly, they are done in 15 minute segments. Years ago, back when I had access (and the interest) to that kind of stuff, you could find out how many projected people listened to Limbaugh at 1 pm in Ocala, Florida.
The problem Radio has always had is they have to pay for the studies and they are expensive. The Banner, to qualify for national advertising, has their circulation audited at various, regular times during the year and spot audits to verify the figures are accurate. Years ago, the Times Union in Jax had to drop thousands of "subscribers" when the Audit Bureau of Circulation discovered papers by the truck load being shipped to Ocala and then the Salvation Army truck would pick them up and take to the recycle place back in Jax . . . It was interesting in those days when there was tough circulation battles in Ocala in the early 1960's between the Banner, Orlando Sentinel, Times Union and Tampa Trib.
But Movin . . . Arbitron ratings are what most of the industry goes by, and surprisingly, the stations will admit to their accuracy when you are off the record with them.
--pwf
I meant to say this is the first time I have had a chanCe to read the blog in sometime . . . not the first time I have had the chanGe . . .
sorry about that. That's is why we used to have proof readers . . .
--pwf
M & S,
You asked: “Politico-What elected office have you held??”
Former elected city official. You’ll have to speculate which local city government.
Damn . .. You sound so sane I had hoped you were still in office.
Now I will have to figure out your true identity!
--pwf
Politico . . . any chance ofo you coming back? We need good people in office.
Blogmaster, thanks for your blog. I enjoy reading them across the country. Someday, you might give the names of the ones you like.
i would also like to see a section on local newspapers.
I'll tell you about the Star Banner in two words: liberal and hypocrites. They are really on a roll lately to justify the name Star Blunder!
Let Politico have his/her own section of the blog.
Just distribute the Local and State section of the Star Banner and that would be all the news I ever need. The rest is useless, I get it on the national TV.
Back to the subject: Bob Rose is the man on talk radio.
I would also go with Bob Rose. Don't know anything about Ocala talk shows.
Heard Randy Harris as the host of the Lund show. He is pretty good.
Just tuned in to the blog for the first time. How could anyone miss Larry Whitler? His show is on WOCA in the early morning. It’s much better than Lund’s late afternoon show on the same station and the others mentioned here like Bobby D.
Great Choice! He is good. Seems we are only remembering the awful ones.
I never heard of any of these radio guys. Must be some small scale radio operations.
someone mentioned endorsements. a politician going on the bobby d or john lund shows is about as useful as an endorsement from the star banner.
what has happened to moving and shaking, have not heard from you in awhile?
The difference between the starbanner newspaper and talk radio is that live radio is more "engaging"..You see; guys like Bobby D. are not hiding behind a type writer, but can be challenged regarding their views.Its only after really examining an issue that you can get to understand it better..Most talk show hosts cut you off when you give them a difficult arguement but Bobby D. does allow differeing opinions to be heard and takes them on straight ahead.This makes for good listening.
As for influence,Talk radio in Ocala has as much influence as anything else in this sleepy old town.On this blog alone, it seems like you folks tune into the Bobby D show often even though you like to blast it.People ought to tune into local radio just as much,if not moore,as the national guys..
Lets support our local talk radio personalities.No need to idolize the Neal Bortzes and Rush Limbaughs of the world.Tune into the local guys and get involved!!!
I'll give you a point on your comment. Talk radio is much better than the Star Banner. S-B is on a down hill run. They need new life and they sure aren't bringing it in.
Michelle Wie, the young, female golfing sensation was recently told that Rush Limbaugh had called her a “triumph of marketing”.
Her response: who is Rush Limbaugh?
Doesn’t that just about sum it up for talk radio, local and national?
Ain't it the truth!
If you take Rush, who is a marketing sensation himself, and look at the market figures, he is heard by approximately 2% of the potential listening audience nationally about 4.5 million listeners nationwide in any 15 minute segment or about 1.,5% of America hears him and that is a tremendous number!
. . . so give him 2% of (more conservative) Marion County and has about 6,000 potential listeners on a given day. Take away all the kids from our population, and he may get 10,000 to 12,000 adult listeners -- a huge audience -- and it is free.
Hannity is considerably less in MC, Boortz (good) but less etc . . .
But advertisers like to know for sure their audience, so they look at the competing media -- newspapers, and they see approximately 50,000 copies of the Star Banner, bad as you may think it is, irritating as you may think, and liberal as you may think, 50,000 copies of the Star Banner bought and paid for means about 50% of all households think enough of it to buy it, and that's why they are filled with ads.
Newspapers do not control as they once did when I was in the business, but they are still a huge force in the marketplace. And yes, I get as frustrated as you do at them!
--pwf
So Blog Master, how about my suggestion to do a question about how people feel about newspapers?
PWF-What newspaper have you worked for??
Rejecter,
We will start a new thread on the question you suggested. Look for it on Saturday.
Thanks for a good suggestion and keep on blogging!
". . . What Newspaper did I work for . . ."
Well, in my earlier life, I managed the Orlando Sentinel's Ocala Office from 1958 to 1968 with 12 to 16 people on the staff), then the Florida Times Union Office in Ocala until 1977 (I think), then owned a weekly (or was it weakly) until I had lost all I could afford to lose, and retreated back to the printing business my wife and I had started in 1968. Even earlier, I worked for the Daytona Beach News Jorunal and the DeLand Sun News in Deland for a couple of years.
From 1958 to 1977 were exciting times in Ocala, and the competition was fierce. The Sentinel give me as many reporters as the Banner had and we covered Chamber Committee meetings, Little League ball games, church meetings, reunions -- anything that happened we were there with notebook and camera.
Unfortunately, the concept of Local News has given way to what makes a good looking layout.
It was not uncommon for my staff to work 60-65 hours a week cause there was stuff to do and it was exciting --nothing better than seeing your work in print and even better when it had a byline on it!
Then the wage and hour people came by to remind me that I could not work someone 60 hours and only pay them for 40 hours, and the "good ole days" of newspapering went bye-bye to a 40 hour week, and one story every three or four days instead of three or four stories a day!
It's even fun now to remember those days! Thanks for asking.
--pwf
PWF:
Great background!
Big Bad John show is extremely misguided wih it come to the Hospitals. He has not got a clue about non-profits should operate.
But then most people do not either.
Rush Limbag is how I see it. I get tired of his bashing everyone..especially women. Too pious. He overdoes a good thing and message gets lost. Love Hannity.
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