Petition grows to bring back liberal radio
By Cari Hachmann/ The Portland Observer
A petition to bring back KPOJ’s progressive talk radio reached 13,000 signatures Monday, including endorsements from Oregon’s entire Democratic congressional delegation.
Without warning or explanation, Clear Channel Media, partly owned by investment firm Bain Capital, decided late Friday, Nov. 9 to replace the left wing talk radio station 620 AM with “Fox Sports Radio 620.”
Some fans suspect political motives behind the change which leaves Portland with only conservative talk stations.
When KPOJ morning host Carl Wolfson of Portland, a voice of progressive causes in Oregon and the nation for the past six years, announced the decision on his Facebook page, listeners were shocked and responded with disappointment and outrage.
Following the change in format, Kari Chisholm, Portland political consultant and co-creator of the BlueOregon blog, started an online petition to ”Save KPOJ.”
The campaign is asking for the public’s support in a petition to Clear Channel Management that urges the station’s owner to bring back progressive talk radio in Portland. The left-leaning line-up also included nationally syndicated talk radio hosts such as Thom Hartmann (who formerly lived in Portland), Randi Rhodes, and Ed Schultz.
“620 KPOJ was a respected and profitable station with dedicated listeners and advertisers,” reads the online petition that people can sign by a quick click of the mouse. “KPOJ’s local programming also played an important role in our community, connecting elected officials and advocates with listeners across the region.”
In a joint-statement, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Congressman Earl Blumenauer released their thoughts on the KPOJ situation, “We are disappointed to learn that the lively conversation in Portland talk radio has lost one of its most interesting and thought-provoking voices. KPOJ was not only a home for progressives, but an important watchdog for government. We encourage Clear Channel to reconsider this decision and revive the progressive talk radio format in the Portland market.”
If anyone thinks that bring Fox to KOPJ was not politically motivated, they are on drugs. Broadcast licenses are to be renewed if the station meets the “public interest, convenience, or necessity” Clear channel needs to know that the next time KOPJ’s license comes up for renewal, Portlanders should fight it. If they do not give us back progressive talk, shut them down.
I am hopeful that something good can rise from the ashes of this terrible decision by Clear Channel. The hosts of the radio shows on KPOJ were truthful and respectful and thoughtful and informative, contrast this with Lars Larson and Rush and Beck. We need progressive talk radio back!
I am both bereft and outraged. KPOJ’s dedicated listeners were shat upon, make no mistake about it. The WAY in which this was done tells the whole story about the intentions. I went through this in San Francisco. They are shutting them down all over the country, what few we had. Seattle, same thing, just since the election. This was about retaliation and media control not a business decision. I hope they tank big time. Clear Channel has been losing money. Gee, I wonder why? Perhaps actions like this might have something to do with it. WHAT JERKS!
done
The answer is to publically confront any sponsor of KPOJ if they continue support
No Local supporters will have some effect. Then find another outlet who is looking for support.. Pour the effort into this as the alternative is mindless gruel and worse.
Yes, the way Republicans choose to “play” is by trying to shut down people voting, and to shut down people becoming educated and informed about what really goes on in this nation of ours. It never occurs to them to try to play fairly and examine their own policies. I am feeling, tho, that with the vast new benefits of technology, we can easily work around their outdated ways of existing. I hope and believe we’re coming to the end of their rule, both of the airways, and their corporate control of our government!
Are there any other radio stations in the area that could host this show?”
Pirate Radio is the solution…..it can be done
The FCC does not step in re: format disputes. As long as stations follow the rules (which have been relaxed, incl. in an Act signed in 1996 by Clinton) they can run what they want whether they’re commercial or non-commercial. Granted, even the latter category has upset some people–some NPR/public stations dropped jazz or classical music in favor of news/talk.
We are guaranteed freedom of speech/the press (expression), etc. Stations can run what they think is profitable etc. That means sports. Even cons. talk stations have been killed off (WXKS Boston) due to low ratings or billing.
Some left-leaning views can be found on NPR, the Net, TV, newspapers, magazines, music, and so on. If it can’t make it in the free market, so be it. Sports is money and they need to sell Budweiser.
>>Broadcast licenses are to be renewed if the station meets the “public interest, convenience, or necessity”
They will, for sports fans. Or religious people, rock fans, etc.
>> If they do not give us back progressive talk, shut them down.
Sounds a bit fascist. I prefer the free market. In Boston prog talk on local radio has struggled while conservative talk–
in the blue-est state of the nation–
does OK. So be it…”fight the powers that be”.
Reliable sources report that Progressive Talk AM 1090 will FLIP to sports talk radio at the first of the year, January, 2013! We can’t lose our progressive talkers/teachers! Please forward to all your friends and contacts ASAP!
Hello!
We have started the petition “Save Progressive Talk radio AM 1090 KPTK (CBS radio) Seattle: Keep AM 1090 KPTK Progressive talk radio on the free airwaves!” and need your help to get it off the ground.
Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here’s the link:
http://www.change.org/petitions/save-progressive-talk-radio-am-1090-kptk-cbs-radio-seattle-keep-am-1090-kptk-progressive-talk-radio-on-the-free-airwaves
Here’s why it’s important:
Please do not take AM 1090 KPTK off the public airwaves! We need more progressive talk radio stations in America, not less. We AM 1090 listeners are very loyal to the advertisers and we “pledge” to continue to be! I was told by one advertiser (electric cars, Seattle) that advertising on AM 1090 brought them the best return on their advertising dollars of any advertising they had ever done!
Here in America we have very few progressive talk stations compared to conservative talkers! Please do not limit our ability to hear progressive opinions and learn the FACTS, including science! America needs AM 1090 KPTK! Thank you!
You can sign this important petition by clicking here.
Remember: Please forward to all your friends and contacts ASAP!
Thanks!
Julia Chase
West Seattle
I was sent an email from Kari Chisholm to sign a petition to have Congressman Greg Walden hold a hearing in Portland on the topic of media consolidation and the responsibility of broadcasters to offer diverse
public-interest programming over the publicly-owned airwaves. However the site, http://www.savekpoj.com/, will not allow me to sign the petition. Does anyone know how I can sign it?
Thanks
Found it by going to the Facebook page “Save KPOJ.”
As one of the “starry eyed” progressives that helped launch Air America on the AM waves, I attended a rally at the Governor Hotel, leading up to it’s first affirmation!
For Portland listeners, Carl wasn’t first, and while they played nice with one another for a while, Thomm Hartmann wasn’t the first either!
Congressman Al Franken held the first (morning) spot on KPOJ, before the bankster conspiracy revealed itself as opposed to this kind of talk.
“David E. Cowlishaw” (search term in quotes), 10:10 PM, Thursday 29 November 2012
Very happy to see this tripe simply go away. It is not interesting and does not sell.
I was so sorry to hear about the loss of Mr. Washington. Over the past 15 years I’ve always have brought my productions to town Gods Trying To Tell You Something, Things AInt What They Use To Be, The Tour of Life Somebody Oughta Tell God Thank You, and Emerge 7Women 7Stools. The Observer was always a wonderful source for advertisement. It was always a pleasure working with Mark and Charles. This news saddens my heart and I want them to know that my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.. What a great loss but lets thank God for the time that he was on this earth because he surely made a difference Thinking of you in California
God Speed and Perfect Peace
Delilah Rashell writer-producer-director
The following left-wing walkers on KPOJ – Randi Rhodes, Mike malloy, Ed Schultz, Bill Press – have all spewed death-wish comments on the air against conservatives. Rhodes and Malloy both aimed their death-wish comments against former President Bush. In fact, one week after KPOJ dropped this loser format, Malloy fantasized about an avenging angel descending from the heavens and decapitating Tea Party supporters. This kind of talk is just wicked and evil.
KPOZ was hate radio. Good riddance to it.
Oops. Meant to say “KPOJ was wicked and evil.”
How Sad! Now I just tune in to KPOJ, when I want information, rather than just bobbing my head to music I’ve already grokked!
At least I have my garden in early this year, YEAY GLOBLAL CLIMATE CHANGE! (warming here in Oregon)!
DavidC – 9:52 PM, Sunday, 5 May 2013 … Cinco De Mayo! Woo Hoo! Chalupas, rather than El Chupa Cabre attacks!