If you think right wing talk is dangerous now, here's a new format that is potentially even worse.
It's a new network, America's Radio News that is selling itself as an Impartial commercial alternative to NPR. It's format sounds like a straight news radio station (like WCBS or WINS) with news interspersed with short interviews.
It is being sold to stations as a safe, "objective" filler programming that can be integrated with any format.
But although they don't have fire breathing reactionaries like Rush or Hannity, it IS right wing radio in a much more insidious form. It's backers include the Washington Times, and their hosts and staff come from pLaces like Fox News.
And even though it sounds "fair and balanced" on the surface, it's stories and news sources are heavily skewed to stories critical of Democrats and liberal positions, and pushing conservative crapola.
It is worth keeping an eye on, as it is slick enough to seem like straight news while actually advancing the right wing agenda.
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From their Website:
http://www.americasradionewsnetwork.comAmericas Radio News Network’s first block of news only radio delivers non-partisan news reporting to affiliates nationwide, which proves to be “completely compatible” and “complimentary” with all forms of spoken-word radio programming available today. The innovative radio reporting news block is the first of five scheduled 3-hour news only blocks planned and is now available to affiliates nationwide airing live mid-days, from Noon to 3 p.m. EST (9 a.m.-Noon PST), Monday through Friday and streaming live online free of charge at www.americasradionewsnetwork.com.
Mark Masters, CEO of America’s Radio News Network, and its representative Talk Radio Network Syndications, Ltd. says, “The best part about syndicated long-form news blocks – either on a stand-alone basis within an opinion talk station lineup or back-to-back up to 15 hours in an entire news only format – is that they are beautifully produced, highly informative, fast paced and a 'safe island' for revenue in the midst of a talk lineup or as part of an entire news only lineup for both the local and institutional advertising marketplace. Opinion radio can be, in rare cases, a boycott-laden space of 'super sensitivities' for certain agency buyers. Because our anchors are just reporting the news, breaking news stories or interviewing news makers, they won‟t be offering opinions, just great energy and focus on the important topics of the day. News radio is a 'safe buy environment,' the type of environment which is usually bought by music or top of the hour news buyers, making it the best of both worlds for our affiliated stations‟ revenue needs.”