SR.com Blogs | On The Air

Thoughts about Joseph Duncan, and our coverage...

Like many of you following the Joseph Duncan trial, I feel appalled by what we've heard in testimony and from Duncan himself. ( Full post )

The Fluoride Gap....

If you read reporter John Stucke's story on fluoride Sunday, you know it's still a very divided issue in Spokane...you're either for it, or against it. There doesn't seem to be much of a middle ground. ( Full post )

Are the airwaves fair and balanced?

Nearly 50 percent of American's feel the government should require radio and TV stations to offer a balanced amount of liberal and conservative commentary.
That's according to a study by Rasmussen Reports. 71 percent say it's still possible to hear any political view in the media today. ( Full post )

If you were elected President of radio....

I've been reading one of my favorite on-line radio trade publications, and come across the question "If you were elected President of Radio, what would you do during the first 100 days of your administration?" ( Full post )

First day "On the Record"

Today the Spokesman Review launched our one hour news and talk show "On The Record w/ Rebecca Mack."

Having been a part of several "launches" this one went off almost flawlessly�which has me kind of worried. Almost every new show experiences technical glitches, computers crashing�what we call "growing pains." Guess this means we'll have to be on our toes in the coming days and weeks. ( Full post )

New hour long SR show to debut Monday...call us.

We debut our new weekday news/talk show Monday, "On The Record w/ Rebecca Mack." It airs from 11a.m. till noon on 790 kjrb. ( Full post )

NBC hires Russert's son

NBC has hire Luke Russert as a correspondent. ( Full post )

Limbaugh an NFL owner?

Could talk show host Rush Limbaugh be the next owner of the St. Louis Rams football team? ( Full post )

SR radio goes "On The Record"

August 4th we launch "On The Record w/ Rebecca Mack." The hour long program will air weekdays at 11am on 790 kjrb, and will be a mix of news, talk, listener interaction and segments with columnists from the Spokesman Review.

Rebecca is well known in the community, having been the producer and fill in host of "The Mark Fuhrman Show." She also writes a weekly "Hard 7" column for the Spokesman. But this isn't a one person "I'm right, you're wrong" type of talk show. In fact, I'm hesitant to even call it a talk show (at least in the traditional sense). It's more like a community forum....with a chance to talk about the issues, bring you in depth reporting from our news staff.... and have a little fun along the way. ( Full post )

Radio Bites....

Odds and ends from the world of radio: ( Full post )

Host off air for autism remarks

Talk show host Michael Savage has been pulled off seven stations in Mississippi after making some controversial comments about autism. ( Full post )

Product placement on the news desk

A FOX station in Las Vegas has found a very nontraditional way to generate some extra dough. ( Full post )

Local radio station to power down nighttime signal

From "Inside Radio" ( Full post )

Getting information on the air first, or getting it on the air right?

There's an immediacy to radio you can't get anywhere else�that includes TV and the web.
Covering a fire�.or any natural disaster is challenging in best of times, and the past 24 hours have had their share of challenges. But I think, all things considered, we've done a good job. Of course there's always room for improvement�and we'll never just settle for "good enough."
One thing concerns me though�with TV, cable, radio, and the web all 24/7, there's this need to "feed the machine," and for reporters and news directors to get information on the air, before it's been confirmed, or checked out. I noticed that today on several local web sites and TV stations. Reporting facts about homes that burned that just wasn't true at the time (I know, because we talked to the same public information officer).
When a natural disaster hits, it's our job to bring you the information you need. But we need to get it right�which is more important than getting it on the air first (and getting it wrong).
Thoughts? ( Full post )

Radio downsizing...has it come to this?

OK, we all know there are cut backs going on in the radio, TV and newspaper business�.but things aren't this bad yet, are they? Sometimes you just have to laugh (our thanks to Snofla, via Flickr)
( Full post )

My 2 cents on this newsroom efficiency thing....

As you might have read online at the SR, there is an efficiency study underway in our newsroom. A group of 8, who are working on a proposal for editor Steve Smith on how we can restructure the newsroom�streamline the workflow�.while continuing to allow the Spokesman to do what it does best�.tell stories. ( Full post )

Hometown newspaper, TV news, just isn't what it used to be....

I just came back from spending the July 4th holiday in San Diego. The first thing I do when I go back home is to check out what local radio/TV and print are doing. It wasn't easy this time. Like many other cities across the country, layoffs and downsizing has hit my hometown...and it isn't pretty.

The familiar faces on television are not so familiar anymore. Management is replacing the veterans, and bringing in newbies who are willing to work for 25k and 300 days of sunshine a year. ( Full post )

Limbaugh signs new contract worth HOW much......

Talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who celebrates his 20th anniversary next month as the nations most listened to radio program, has reportedly signed a new long term contract worth 400-million dollars. ( Full post )

TV station in trouble for running Simpsons...so what did they run in its place?

OK Simpsons fans...what do you make of this. ( Full post )

Talk show host back on air

Talk show host Laura Ingraham is back behind the mic. ( Full post )