Oklahoma loses the last conservative talk radio station. Internet technologies and innovations have led to the death of legacy broadcasting platforms such as the radio stations, newspapers, and televisions stations. Legacy media outlets are shutting down or moving to formats with no local programming or news coverage. Exhibit A 1170KFAQ just announced their immediate move to sports talk. They started nearly 20 years ago when talk radio was exploding. It became Tulsa's top-rated station in the talk genre for much of the programming day. Nearly half the weekday schedule was local programming, and a good portion of the weekend lineup was, as well. Michael Del Giorno, Gwen Freeman, Chris Medlock, Elvis Polo, Pat Campbell, Eddie Huff, and so many guest contributors were leading the information era which gave a bigger 'megaphone' to the Tea Party which transformed politics about a decade ago. Oklahoma's legislature and all statewide elective offices turned Republican in the first decade of our century. |  Top 23 reasons why folks aren't listening to radio. |
The old talk radio king (KRMG) revamped their on-air personalities. Ann Williams & John Erling were very dominant in the previous decade, but not in the new century. Yet KRMG had better monetizing and wrestled the Fox News affiliation back from KFAQ. Another factor was that Cox Communications bought KRMG and weathered out the ratings battle. Multiple buyers tried to make KFAQ work, but the paradigm shift would not be deterred. It's likely that Pat Campbell's own podcast actually helped end the radio days for conservative talk.
The format of local conservative talk requires monetizing of about 1 minute of paid commercials for every 2 minutes of content. But podcasts like Pat Campbell's were largely stripped of the commercials, leaving digital audiences with free content. Pat Campbell's station was paying Campbell for content that Pat was giving away on the side. Well, almost giving away. Pat did have some sponsorship of his podcast, but not nearly what the station listeners had to pay (in the form of commercials endured). Some of this was because of advertising contracts which sometimes require payments to 3rd parties when advertising is heard on podcasts.
The format of local conservative talk requires monetizing of about 1 minute of paid commercials for every 2 minutes of content. But podcasts like Pat Campbell's were largely stripped of the commercials, leaving digital audiences with free content. Pat Campbell's station was paying Campbell for content that Pat was giving away on the side. Well, almost giving away. Pat did have some sponsorship of his podcast, but not nearly what the station listeners had to pay (in the form of commercials endured). Some of this was because of advertising contracts which sometimes require payments to 3rd parties when advertising is heard on podcasts.
The New Media
Yesterday we talked about some new podcasting outlets in Oklahoma. Radio veteran, Eddie Huff is launching a weekly show. SoonerPolitics has collaborated with Eddie & several others in the citizen-media effort. Blogging is replacing the newspaper's editorial/opinion sections, as well as many breaking news scoops. The reporter staff at any Oklahoma newspaper is greatly diminished. This leaves govt agencies & newsmakers having to publish their own content. State Agencies now post social media reports to the public instead of issuing press releases to media.
But consumers are being deprived of a lot of important news, because it's no longer commercially viable to run a full news operation. The old community newspaper is reduced to an advertising dept. with mostly sales circulars for the box stores and national chains in their town.
Several citizen journalists are also launching video blogs and channels. Some are devoted to civics education while others are straight forward activism tools for impacting lawmakers and other govt officials.
The citizen activist is not motivated by money, because their is no path to monetization for the local or state level content. The local content is going to be at the mercy of the person's dedication and discipline for the cause. the reporting is going to be full of opinion and advocacy, even to the detriment of balance in reporting facts.
Change is an inevitability. It always was. But this change requires a diligent citizen to be a leader, or support others who can lead. Our expectations will need some adjusting, because good journalism takes skill & experience. That's something no one has enough of.
Sooner Politics is collaborating with several others to further develop citizen journalism in print, audio, & video formats. Contact us if you wish to collaborate.
But consumers are being deprived of a lot of important news, because it's no longer commercially viable to run a full news operation. The old community newspaper is reduced to an advertising dept. with mostly sales circulars for the box stores and national chains in their town.
Several citizen journalists are also launching video blogs and channels. Some are devoted to civics education while others are straight forward activism tools for impacting lawmakers and other govt officials.
The citizen activist is not motivated by money, because their is no path to monetization for the local or state level content. The local content is going to be at the mercy of the person's dedication and discipline for the cause. the reporting is going to be full of opinion and advocacy, even to the detriment of balance in reporting facts.
Change is an inevitability. It always was. But this change requires a diligent citizen to be a leader, or support others who can lead. Our expectations will need some adjusting, because good journalism takes skill & experience. That's something no one has enough of.
Sooner Politics is collaborating with several others to further develop citizen journalism in print, audio, & video formats. Contact us if you wish to collaborate.
