Imitation Is Flattering

The City Pages runs interference for Air America Minnesota, in an interesting but moderately puffy piece by the generally-excellent Paul Demko.

I haven't paid much any attention to AAo'M since Wild Wendy hit the turnstiles. The national shows mostly stink, the network is circling the drain, and without local programming (bad as Nick Coleman and Wild Wendy were), what's the point?

Of course, they do apparently have a local show, of sorts, now - Minnesota Matters.

And I noticed this bit here, with emphasis added:

When 'Minnesota Matters' was started in February, for instance, there were initially five volunteer hosts. The idea was to try out an array of personalities and figure out what would work best for the long term. Among those hosting the show was Hamline University political science professor David Schultz.

Dave Schultz? It'd be like having the Center for Science in the Public Interest locked in your glove box, hectoring away at you.

But go back a minute; volunteer hosts, local petty luminaries from the local Democrat scene.

Where have we heard this before? I mean, besides here?

The NARN, of course.

A couple of key differences; Janet Robert has apprently been able to find liberal "hosts" with nothing to do during the day but host a prime-time (afternoon drive) talk show for free. We NARN guys all have day jobs and families, so it's not an option...

...but it'd sure be fun to go head-to-head with Mark Heaney and Bob Hill.

Oh, and by the way, when Paul Demko recites station propaganda like "According to a survey conducted earlier this year by the Media Audit, 91 percent of the station's audience is Caucasian, while 83 percent is male. Roughly 70 percent of Air America's listeners are at least 45 years old, and 60 percent have household incomes of greater than $75,000", you might ask yourself when the station plans on running some advertising that'd appeal to that demographic?

Because it's not on the station now. If AAo'M is such a desirable demographic, why aren't the sponsors queueing up - the way they do at the Patriot, whose demographics are similar to slightly more upmarket?

(Hat tip to Nancy @ PW)

Posted by Mitch at August 24, 2006 07:56 AM | TrackBack