In the world of media types that we have today, it can somewhat be overbearing as to which one you should choose to base your information on. Many people still choose to watch the evening news to get their daily updates. However, with the onset of the Internet, the world of information technology was changed forever. Many people use this medium to get news that may have occured just minutes ago, reading brief exerpts on a developing story. Talk radio is one media that I believe goes overlooked today. If you ask anyone in my generation if they listen to talk radio, they will most likely reply with Z100 or 95.5, or any FM station that offers news and music. Talk radio has always been something that I took as a very influential part in my views on the world today.
Especially with Rush Limbaugh, whom I would definitely catagorize as a right wing conservative, has impacted my life. In high school, my father would pick me up and on the way home, every day, we listened to Rush, and also Michael Savage. It was through Rush's uncensored view on the daily news that really was influential. The evening news seems to just give you the main facts behind a story, but talk radio allows for the host to completely dedicate his/her entire show on one issue if they chose. This lets the listener get a deeper understanding to what's going on, something I hold to be very valuable. Even listening to hosts that may be on the opposite spectrum with left wing ideas intrigues me. I feel like I can get a more rounded view on issues, rather than pretend to know just one side of the story.
However, I think th most valuable part of talk radio would be the listener interaction that they can have. Many times, a host will give a number to call for listeners to give their opinion on what is being talked about. The best is how the host seems to have a free range as to what he can say to these opinions, either agreeing or completely opposing to a view and starting a debate. Rush is definitely one of the least aggressive when it comes to viewer's calls, but other hosts will completely cut a listener's opinion down if they wanted to.
I think, especially in these times, listening to all types of media for information is very important. The best way to stay ahead and protect your future is to be knowledgable, and the ability to form your own opinions through this information is key. Talk radio gives you a chance to listen in, and either agree or disagree. Either way, it's calling an individual to question, which still gives me hope that we haven't been brainwashed into believing everything we hear or say.
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I really like what Mike had to say in his blog, and I agree with a lot of it which is why I am commenting on it.. The first and most important thing I liked was when he stated that talk shows give you the chance to question what is being discussed and to disagree and/or agree, which shows that we really do still have a valid opinion... He also said that listening to talk show keeps you in the "now" with what is going on in our lives. Finally, he commented on how the listener can call up the host,in this case Rush Limbaugh, and give their opinions on what is being discussed and actually listen to what the caller has to say instead of just cutting them off like most hosts do.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Mike's blog. My father and I also listen to Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. Any long car ride usually includes listening to The Savage Nation. I don't usually listen to it unless i'm with my dad but it's interesting to hear what he has to say and how he says whatever he wants. Sometimes things he says are actually funny and sometimes they're so ridiculous that you have to laugh. I also like Rush Limbaugh because he also causes controversy by saying whatever he wants.
ReplyDeleteI always like when Savage takes callers because he tends to get into pretty heated arguments. I feel like he does a good job at validating and justifying what he says even though I don't always agree with what he says.
I also feel like you get a different idea and different view of the news when you listen to the radio because it's not like TV or the internet or the newspaper when you can put a picture to what's being talked about so it allows you to use your imagination and you can also give feedback and voice your opinion