The bloggers (and the 21st century) invade KUOW!

Life forms stirred Monday morning on public radio KUOW's Weekday with Steve Scher, (m-f, 9a-12p) as a few area bloggers came in to talk politics.

Yes! Public radio listeners finally got a taste of real-time political debate, and some actual partisan friction.

Bloggers were lefty David Goldstein from Horsesass; and righties Eric Earling of Sound Politics; Eastern Washington's Tom Forbes from Palousitics; and non-partisan blogger Liz Burlingame, a recent UW poli sci grad who blogs at Seattlepoliticore.

(photo: Weekday's hottie, Steve Scher).

We're always complaining that public radio KUOW, the leading talk station in Seattle leaves political talk to a few revolving newspaper harrumphers, whose tedious room temperature opining are restricted on-air by their journalism jobs, and their hypotension. Their comments are often their columns regurgitated and delivered in soporific tones that threaten drivers' wakefulness even in the crack of the morning. (Maybe it's OK they re-deliver their columns on the radio since so who few actually read them in their typeset and inky glory.)

We've often kvetched about rarely hearing conservatives on KUOW. This is a liberal town, but unless a rightie is a viable candidate, or in the news in a way that can't be ignored, they must stay in the woodwork they call home.

Here, today, were two, with their sticky, out-of-the-Seattle-box Republican talking points; heard usually  in Seattle screamed at the moon or on one of the few live and local talk stations left.

(photo: David Goldstein, Eric Earling by Carmen Santos)

Eric Earling is a thoughtful conservative who makes larger points than just talking points; and he does it with none of the pathological meanness of his co-blogger, Stefan Sharkansky. Tom Forbes is a clonservative talking point machine, but he spews them well, and there was a place for at least one of those in today's conversation. Burlingame, who's traveling around the country with campaigns might have been a little cowed by the seasoned and more verbally aggressive company -- she didn't much get into the partisan fray.

It's good for Seattleites to hear this stuff, but more important, it was great radio!

Kudos and accolades to producers Katy Sewall, and Jenny Asarnow. [We originally wrote incorrectly that a producer on the show was David Hyde. while he's still producing at KUOW, he is no longer at Weekday].  

We do a have a crochit or two. It was a bit out of balance -- Goldy, as the liberal, was outnumbered; though with his famous... er, loquaciousness, he made up for it. And, did we have to take our medicine with this historic show, giving up some of the precious time to the pledge drive, which, because of lagging donations is going into its second week?

Goldy tells us that this is the first time he's appeared in studio at KUOW. Here's to that it won't be the last time for any of these and other bloggers to get onto the public airwaves in the election months ahead.

Steve Scher knows a lot about a lot of things. He has to. But he's clearly not up with new media. He asked the bloggers if they considered themselves "part of the blogosphere." That took these active bloggers by surprise -- it was like maybe he thought the "sphere" part was an attainment to be reached, or possibly a pejorative or unhip cliche or stereotype. He also showed surprise and delight at the terms, "dead tree" or "legacy" media -- had obviously never heard these, the chestnuttiest of new media slangos.

He treated the bloggers a little condescendingly as if they were albino lemurs -- cute but rare -- a flavor of the month that the "real" media must cover (and endure) until they fade so the "real" media can go back to being boring and terminally "objective." (albino lemurs, have been given considerably more air time on NPR than have bloggers over the years, as well they should).

(photo: albino lemur & his agent)

(We kid Steve Scher, and have known and liked him for years. We could never understand the forces he must contend with in the dynamics of KUOW station politics; or the learning curves he must scale on a weekdaily basis to do his job as well as he does it. He's also "a towering hunk" and sexually-objectified in the community-at-large and must work hard to both maintain that and yet appear to disdain it. Although he's an intellectual and fantasized superman to so many, he can't know everything, and we understand that. It's not easy to be Steve Scher).

But his ignorance of what is happening, Mr. Jones is endemic of KUOW, and it's no more obvious than it is on their website which was last updated in the late 20th century. It's celebrated as the least interactive site this side of the Sheriff's sexual predators list. (which we think the county should open up as an online dating site, and make it earn its keep. you'd be surprised at how many Puget Sounders would love to meet nice, single men who love children).

There are no blogs on the KUOW site; there are no comments threads; there's no way to voice an opinion other than call in to the show, or send a check.

This top-down approach is another reason why they're not getting younger listeners any more than is AM radio.

We, for one wish they'd allow staff blogs. Then they'd begin to get it. We've heard at one point this was discussed -- permission was granted for a blog or two, but then reneged upon. Maybe they're afraid somebody might be exposed as actually HAVING A POINT OF VIEW!!!

We'd like to hear what Ross Reynolds might opine; what Steve Scher's irks might be; what Marcie Sillman or Dave Beck really think.What are some outtakes from the shows? Which guest said what to another during the break? What wasn't there time for to talk about? What it's like when someone like Al Gore walks in?

Why can't listeners continue the discussions online after the show? You know, basic fucking Internet 101?

We're sure there are others around KUOW who could distinguish themselves add to the discussion and voice some less-than-objective POVs' that might sprinkle a soupçon of salt into the oft-times bland slumgullion.

Great examples of show and station blogs can be found at the 710KIRO site or NPR's Bryant Park Project.

How about creating an up-to-date online platform that would complement the old? And you know what? In the process, KUOW might challenge a new audience, and reinvigorate the rest of us.

Comments

[Canuckophile]

Kudos to KUOW for bringing in some discussion.

I'd love a more interactive Web site - I wonder why all the NPR stations can't pick it up. They seem to be stuck with the generic "PublicBroadcasting.org" mainframe - from KUOW, to KXOT (duh), to KPLU to those outside western Washington - NW Public Radio, Boise State Radio, KUER.

At least OPB (especially as opbnews dot org) and KCPW in Salt Lake City has several of the features you mention above- have for years.

[sparky]

I have my favorite NPR shows but get most of them on KUOW...but both feature shows that tend toward old hippie..not that there's anything wrong with that! Seems they could get a UW tech student to update their website for a bit of workstudy credit.

[Duffman]

My impression of the show: A non-event.

Goldy obviously had the most 'on-air presence' with his ease and talk show host experience. [Sounded like host 'cringed' and lowered his voice whenever he had to idendify Goldy with 'Horsesass.Com'] Eric came across as a typical academic, very articulate and University-versed. The other blogger (from Whitman County) and lady who was a recent UW grad were almost indescernible. I would suggest KUOW invest more of their coffers in audio enhancement for phone-line guests. Bottom-line: I should have remained on the Dave Ross Show.

[joanie hussein for obama]

Doesn't adding site amenities require paing for a webmaster or two?

I also wonder to what degree the on-air personalities may not want the extra job of keeping up with blog duties. Takes time.

As a teacher, I've been encouraged to start putting a lot more online and I need another couple of hours a day to do what everybody would like me to do.

Seems to me that for the money and perhaps for the energy level I currently hear on KUOW, they may be just fine with the status quo.

Besides, seems like public radio should be a little stuffy. Their mission isn't to rile people up or blow the socks of anyone but to deliver an intellectually stimulating and informative product. I think they might be doing that.

Although, most people I know that listen to KUOW seem more proud of the fact that they listen to public radio than that they have a clue about what's going on anywhere else...

[joanie hussein for obama]

Well, Randi's hot today. She's right on target. Glad she's back.

Isn't it funny that a man who grew up in a family with a single mom is being described as an elitist?

Such propaganda. And it works.

I wonder if KUOW is going to talk about it? (Just trying to stay on topic, Michael.)

[howie in seattle]

Why does Scher usually sound like he's on downers? Is he bored, or just not that interested? Maybe it's Seattle cool. Maybe his audience of bored house-spouses like that. Maybe he's just too damn comfortable.

[joanie hussein for obama]

Scher looks like Kevin McCarthy, ne'er-do-well actor and brother of noted novelist, Mary McCarthy.

[J.Hova]

I thought that was Leonard Cohen

[joanie hussein for obama]

Are you serious? No, Cohen was Suzanne's lover. Remember?

Besides, McCarthy was born in Seattle. Check out Wiki - I just did. She's related to "Preston" of Preston, Gates, et al. I didn't know that.

Cohen was Canadian. I did know that.

C'mon, J'Hove, aren't you enjoying a premier performance by Malloy tonight? He should be mandatory listening by the bitter rightwingers on this blog.

Just read an autopsy report on one of our torture victims.

Unbelievable.

[joanie hussein for obama]

I just heard Dana Perino say that Bush has established a bond with the Pope.

The head torturer has bonded with the head of the predator church.

Perfect.

[mercifurious]

Hmmmmmmm... Could it be?
Compare/Contrast:

Bla'Ms shot of Goldy and Herr Earling

and

Earling as Bill O'Reilly's podcast mannequin?

[David Albright]

Steve Scher is a terrible host. Every show he asks at least one stupid question like the 'blogoshpere' one you mentioned. He never follows up interesting comments with relevent questions, and he doesn't seems to know much about any of the topics they discuss on the show. I don't know his name but the guy who hosts 'the conversation' is a million times better.

[FREMONT]

MF: HA! (As Chris Matthews would say...)
And for any "old hippie" types (thanks, Sparklette) "dead tree" media is newspapers, magazines, books, etc. and "legacy media" is media that is considered "old," such as radio, television, and especially newspapers. With legacy media, the receiver does not contribute or interact with the content and remains totally passive.

[AuthenticAndrew]

Luke Burbank's gay overture towards Shawn is getting realy annoying, even if they were out of the closet gays and loud and proud I'd still ask politely that Luke not refer to Shawn as Shawnie and that he not constantly tell him how "amazing" he looks. Luke purports to have a girlfriend so it's all very awkward to hear.