This will be scoffed at by the usual codgerly defenders of talk radio, but consider this from AllAccess' Perry Michael Simon's weekly newsletter:
You know about Twitter and Facebook already, and you probably even use them, but it's fascinating how much they can behave like talk radio: Talk radio hosts bring up topics for conversation. So do Facebook and Twitter users. Anyone can call in to a talk show and voice their opinion. They can post comments on Facebook and Twitter, too.
And then there are the differences: On talk radio, the host controls the conversation, and calls are screened. With Facebook and Twitter, anything goes. Talk shows are limited, one caller at a time, one conversation at a time. On Facebook and Twitter, there are so many comments and "conversations" that it's sometimes hard to keep up with them. Unlike talk radio, you can go away and pop back in anytime and not miss a single word. More interesting to me is that the conversations aren't just disembodied voices of people you don't know, but instead are comments from your "friends" and others you choose to follow. If you want to find out what people are thinking about, say, Manny and his contract offer, you post something about it and watch the replies, or you search Twitter and watch the comments fly by in real time. It's addictive, and it is absolutely an alternative to talk radio, even in 140-character bites.
The end of talk radio? Some of us need more linear conversations. Maybe we're older, maybe not. I'm not ready to concede that a bunch of simultaneous conversations at once is either fun or interesting.
Posted by: joanie | March 03, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Roz, you got a facebook page? You guys should check out Seago, "Blindsided" on youtube. That young man - "the star" - was a first grader of mine.
Seems like everybody has a facebook page. That seems much too public for me.
Posted by: joanie | March 03, 2009 at 10:54 PM
I see our previous comments were erased. TypePad/Six Apart sucks so very hard. Those clowns make running a website look hard. There are so many things substandard about their programming that I don't even know where to begin. I hope you don't pay much for this shit service. Please tell me they are on the verge of bankruptcy at all times, I can't think of any other excuse for this.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | March 03, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Unlike listening to talk radio, nobody will ever be using facebook while operating a motor vehicle or doing any other kind of task that doesn't involve a computer. The argument is invalid and reasoning is poorly thought out.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | March 04, 2009 at 01:33 AM
Smart talk radio incorporates Twitter, Facebook et al into their conversations.
If you think people aren't using them while commuting, from their cell phones, etc, you're not paying attention.
Happy tweeting!
www.twitter.com/GrandyandAndy
www.twitter.com/AnnWog
Posted by: Ann Wog | March 04, 2009 at 02:39 AM
>>Smart talk radio incorporates Twitter, Facebook et al into their conversations.<<
It's not limited to talk radio. ANY format that doesn't incorporate social networking into their operations is missing the boat.
Posted by: RobP | March 04, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I don't agree, it's seems like a gimmick, especialy on CNN. The host says "log on and tweet with us on twitter", and they will read a few comments from there but aside from that there is not much interaction.
Does incorperating Twitter simply mean using it as a fancy "comcast inbox"? I think so.
Those radio and TV programs come off like an out of touch parent trying desperately to relate their children's youth culture. They simply don't understand that people have more than one way to get their current events fix. There is little to no operative overlap between radio and the internet.
When the TBTL people say "check out our wacky pics on or KIRO.com" the wacky pics really have nothing to do with the radio show, all they are doing is advertising for a website that they also happen to operate. One doesn't truely need the other.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | March 04, 2009 at 12:23 PM
"I see our previous comments were erased. TypePad/Six Apart sucks so very hard."
AA, you got any "long running trends" to back this up. Since visiting this blog for the last 2-3 years and reading thousands of posts this is the first time I've noticed this happening. You are acting like Al Gore. Is the BW going to go the way of the Dodo if B'lam keeps using typepad, you know, like planet Earth is going to die if we dont stop producing CO2.
Posted by: Nevets | March 04, 2009 at 05:57 PM
I'm not defending the idea that global warming is occuring, I'm attacking your idiotic belief that SNOW disproves global warming.
You've decided that no amount of proof can convince you anything is wrong BECAUSE THERES STILL SNOW!
I don't really care if global warming is occurring because I already know that destruction of the environment is a very bad thing regardless of weather it does or doesn't effect weather patterns. If it turns out to be true, all the more sad for us.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | March 04, 2009 at 10:20 PM
I loved the type ad commenting system very clean and very efficient.
Love to read more from you on the topic above
Posted by: watch west wing online | October 30, 2009 at 03:09 AM