Diversity Czar

Mark Lloyd

A scary trend has emerged in the last six months since President Obama’s appointment of FCC Diversity Czar Mark Lloyd.  After his coronation, Lloyd suggested that stations offering a completely conservative format with nationally syndicated personalities like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh should be taxed at exurbanite rates to pay for other stations to broadcast alternate opinions.  This was all in the name of “Local Content”.  Ironically, it is that very local content that is being quietly extinguished. Local talk radio personalities (mostly on Clear Channel owned stations) are disappearing from the radio landscape with alarming frequency.

This trend throughout our country has gone virtually unnoticed and unreported by the national media.  The story goes like this; the station ends the local program with short or no notice.  The upset listeners then call the station with no response.  They call the liberal owned news paper in town who usually prints a piece cheering the downfall of another conservative voice.  As a last ditch effort, the listeners calls national programs, only to be told the “We’re not touching this one” after all if they did, the local station may drop our syndicated show for putting them on the spot.  Frustrated the listener gives up, and the loss of this important local forum creates a vacuum with no venue for public grievance.

Matt Patrick

When 30 year veteran DJ, Matt Patrick of WKDD in Akron, Ohio, began airing a second show on sister station AM 640 WHLO, the public didn’t know what to make of him.  Here was a guy known for making fart noises and telling off color jokes on the morning drive time.  His two hour afternoon show which focused on local politics from a conservative angle was the perfect follow up for WHLO’s loyal Rush Limbaugh audience.  Within a few months, the show was extended to three hours and moved to the 9 to 12 slot against the nationally syndicated Glenn Beck show on the substantially larger WTAM station out of Cleveland.

The show grew in popularity and ratings, chipping away at a larger and larger share of the Akron, Canton and Cleveland markets.  Matt’s interviews with local candidates, and elected officials from the listening area soon included representatives from Columbus and occasionally US Senators and Congressmen. Matt promoted and spoke at countless Tea Parties in the area, and even broadcasted live the Akron Tea Party; still one of the largest on record in the State.  When Congresswoman Michele Bachman organized her protest this fall in Washington DC, Matt Patrick was one of her first stops, triggering 10 bus loads of protesters from the listening area to make their way to the nation’s capital. 

Matt had found his calling, and purpose in conservative talk radio, and decided to retire from being a DJ on WKDD.  Upon doing so, he was shown the door, and told his show was not being renewed on WHLO. He was told he could work out his contract through Dec 17th.  Listeners went crazy, and the fever soon spread to Tea Party groups, Mayors, City Council members, State Senators and Congress members.  A rally to support Matt was slated to be held one week before his final show, that morning word got out that Senators and Congress members from Washington were also upset and wanted to voice their opinions.  When the station got wind, the plug was pulled a week early, stopping again any possibility of national coverage.

The event went on, and hundreds packed a local High School auditorium to give thanks for all Matt had done, and to let the world know a demand for him was still wanted by the public at large.  His listeners are drawing a line in the sand, and will stop at nothing to see his return to the air, and to stop this unreported war against local conservative talk radio.

Pick your Conspiracy   1. With the FCC preparing to change their fine structure, station owners are trimming their costs in preparation for new taxes.  Local Personalities cost far more than syndicated shows and are the first to go.   2. With the FCC working hand in hand with the administration and it’s progressive special interest groups, the new exposure to legal action is too much of a liability to sustain.  Airing syndicated shows rather than local personalities shifts the legal burden away from the station.   3. The FCC is “Nudging” stations to drop local conservative talk shows with quiet threats, taking out the little guys first before going after nationally syndicated shows.   4. Almost every local personality canceled in the last 4 months has spoken at one or more Tea Parties in their local community.  Being the highest profile, they are the first to be silenced and the best way to diminish the movement as a whole.

Conspiracies abound most with a common theme; allegations that if found to be true, very from legal and ethical concerns to the chilling of freedom of speech, a constitutional right.  This is under the jurisdictional review of the Senate, and investigative hearings should be held.  If it is confirmed that the irresponsible actions of an out of control FCC are to blame, the appropriate actions must be taken to reel them in.  Congress is on the verge of being made irrelevant by agencies like the FCC, EPA and countless more.  These agencies were created under the Constitutional authority of Congress, the same authority that obligates it to control, suspend or eliminate such agencies when they overstep their charter, and threaten the general welfare of this country.

Talk Radio should not go quietly into the night, nor should the legislative branch of our federal government.  This is yet another example that needs to be made, that needs to be seen, that needs to be corrected before represented national legislation is cast aside like so many other basic principals set forth on our constitution.  Where are our Senators?  Where are our Congressmen and Congresswomen when we need them most?

But Wait!  There's More! If one story wasn't enough, here are two more examples in the last 90 day, not the similarities.  I could post more, but after three you should get the idea.

September 16th – Tampa, FL, WFLA chooses not to renew their contract for Sharon Taylor, a ten year veteran with the station and a beloved talk show host.  Sharon, often known as the conservative voice of reason on the show, was also a public supporter of the Florida Tea Party movement.  One day  listeners tuned in and she was simply not there.  Management was questioned at the Clear Channel owned station but the only comment was that the decision was “not a cost cutting measure”.     November 7th – Dallas, TX, KTRH chooses not to renew their contract for Chris Baker, an eight year veteran with the station and host of the extremely popular talk show focusing on local politics.  Along with top ratings and advertising revenue for the station, he had an avid listener base.  He had also spoken at several Tea Parties this year.  One day listeners tuned in and he was simply not there.  Management was questioned at the Clear Channel owned station but the inquiries simply went unanswered.