Another nail in the coffin

According to today's San Diego UT, there will be an official announcement next week that KLSD, San Diego's only progressive talk radio station, will switch to an all sports format in the coming weeks. Rumor was that there had been delays in the flip because they were having trouble hiring talent for a fourth sports station in the area, but apparantly that became a moot point when Chris Ello decided to leave XX Sports and signed a multi year contract with Clear Channel yesterday.

I've heard some say that it doesn't matter that San Diego will have multiple sports radio stations and multiple conservative talk radio stations, and no progressive format, because radio is the format for conservatives, and we have a huge advantage in our use of the internet. There's a kernal of truth there, but I'm a strong advocate of having diversity of opinion on our public airwaves. Yes, we do a great job of communicating on the net, but that doesn't mean we should just give up on access to our airwaves.

With the likely assumption that KLSD is flipping to sports, what's next? It's a wee bit pricey to buy a station. There's been some recent talk (and action) about a low power alternative. Not the ideal solution, but it's a positive development. Locally oriented Internet radio and podcasts? It could happen.

As of now, we can't count on being able to hear LA's Radio Pacifica because the FCC assigned the same spot on the dial to powerful signals from both LA (KPFK 90.7) and Tijuana/San Diego (90.7 XLNC1) so they walk all over one another. XLNC1 has formally requested they be given a new frequency. If that happens, we should be able to get Radio Pacifica in San Diego, which would include Amy Goodman's Democracy Now. In the meantime, we can listen to Radio Pacifica online, and maybe we can find a way to join the Pacifica affiliate network and bring progressive/liberal radio back to the San Diego region.

Obviously, I don't know the answer, but I do know there are possibilities. None of the suggestions above are ideal solutions, but I think it's time to think outside the box. No matter how many protests are held, no matter how many calls made and emails sent, it sounds to me that KLSD is dead. Clear Channel has said they hear us, but that doesn't mean they're listening. It's time to figure out viable alternatives, as our voices are being increasingly shut out from traditional media channels.

(edit)- KLSD has an update on their website that says:

All of your feedback has had a positive impact and you can expect a formal announcement in the next few days about the future of our Progressive Talk format in San Diego!

Curiouser and curiouser. I think the sports talk is a done deal, so what are they getting at w/r/t the positive impact and the future of the format? Hmmmmmm......

Rally at KLSD radio

As of today, KLSD San Diego is still progressive talk, but that's still subject to change at any time. The station is rumored to be scheduled to flip to sports talk within the next few weeks, and fans of KLSD are going to rally to save progressive talk radio in San Diego again this coming Friday.

WHAT: Save KLSD / Progressive Talk Radio Rally

WHEN: Friday, October 12, 6:00 to 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Intersection of Aero Drive & Ruffin Road, near Clear Channel offices at 9660 Granite Ridge Dr., San Diego (92123) (see update below)

More info: Save KLSD or jon@saveklsd.com

We don't need a fourth sports talk station in San Diego. We need KLSD. I don't think I can overstate the importance of this radio station to grassroots activists in San Diego. KLSD has been vital in connecting local activists in a city where for a very long time there were very few places to connect with other liberals, Democrats, social justice advocates, and other politically oriented activists. KLSD provides that space in a very unique way.

Updated 10/11: Here's some updated "where" information about tomorrow's rally.

WHERE: Intersection of Aero Drive and Ruffin Road, (the main cross
streets near Clear Channel Offices, 9660 Granite Ridge Drive, Suite
100, San Diego, CA 92123) At 8:15, we will make the short walk up
to Clear Channel's offices to finish our rally in the Clear Channel
parking lot.

CAR PROCESSION: Some of your fellow activists plan to meet in the
southwest corner of the Walmart parking lot located at 3382 Murphy
Canyon Road at 6:30 to form a car caravan up to the rally site. We
will put signs on our car and do one or two passes by Clear
Channel's offices honking our horns before dropping passengers off
at Aero Drive and Ruffin Road. If you would like to be a part of
the car procession, please rsvp to saveklsd@gmail.com.

Awwwww

Brad thought of us here in San Diego while he was on vacation!



Which reminds me to remind you that you can still sign the Save KLSD petition. They're still on the air. We still have progressive talk radio in San Diego. Let's keep it that way.

Pics from today's rally

Here are a few photos, videos and news blips about today's rally at San Diego's KLSD radion.

KUSI - Dozens Rally to Save Radio Station. Unfortunately the people at KUSI can't judge crowds very well. Over the course of the two hours, there were certainly more than "dozens". More like a few hundred. KLSD is saying 300-400. That sounds more realistic than dozens. That's all I've seen on the news though. They overwhelmingly chose to not cover a story that mobilized all these people to get out there at 7:30 this morning, and generated 900 emails to the station in four days.

Lucky for you, you've got me! ;-)

You can see the crowd in some of the other pictures and video.


by Carl Manaster.

This link is to a set of pictures on KLSD's web page.

Here's a very short video too.

Miriam Raftery's excellent post at Brad Blog.

And as always, Peter provides photos.



A few other tidbits: Jon Elliott (The Most Dangerous Liberal in America) MC'd the rally. First, civil rights attorney and author Marjorie Cohn spoke to the crowd. Then Jon read letters from a broad spectrum of supporters including La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, Senator Mike Gravel, Ambassador Joe Wilson, Aldous Tyler of NonStop Radio, and Jim Dean from Democracy for America. After the event, they also received letters of support from Senator Bernie Sanders and Bob Borosage from Campaign for America's Future.

Stay tuned to see what's next.

I just heard KLSD is going to flip to an all sports format at 7:30 am tomorrow. It's not confirmed, but I'll let you know.

Edit - that would be a weird time of day to do it...but you never know.

7:40 am....they're still there, and Stacy Taylor says a good size crowd is building, but he wants 500 more people there. A couple of the people he mentioned that are there are City Attorney Micke Aguirre, civil rights attorney and author Marjorie Cohn, and Miriam Raftery.

Wah!!! I can't be there, but I'm there in spirit.

More radio news....

from SDRadio.net:

San Diego’s AM 1360 is slated to change programming direction, most likely at the start of the SDSU football season. Currently known as KLSD, the station broadcasts at 1360 AM and has applied to move the transmitter to Santee and increase the power to 50,000 watts day and night (highly directional).

They also say there are plans to keep Air America programming in the market.

Whatever happens, I hope that's true. It's important they (whoever "they" end up being) will also keep a local news/talk program. It's in the public interest to have local media with a diversity of opinions. It's a democracy thing.

On a related note, tonight's Bill Moyer's Journal was about radio and media consolidation. The video and podcasts will be on the website, and it's worth checking it out. The first half was about low-power, community oriented radio. The second half was an excellent discussion with FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps on the detrimental effect media consolidation is having on public discourse in general, and more specifically, on our democracy.

Rally on Monday! Are we losing progressive talk radio in San Diego?

Not if we have anything to say about it.

You may have heard by now that KLSD, San Diego's only liberal talk radio station is planning to change their format from Progressive talk to 24 hour sports. There are three other stations in San Diego that host a talk format and that feature hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Dr Laura, Michael Savage and Sean Hannity. If you define yourself as a liberal, a Democrat and/or a Progressive, the only talk radio station in town is KLSD and we're in danger of losing that lone voice. In addition to being the local outlet for Air America, KLSD provides a public service of great value by airing local radio shows such as The Stacy Taylor Show and The Rant which reports on local political issues that are covered no where else.

We are organizing a rally for Monday morning at 7:30 am, and it needs to be huge. Please join us.

There are a few things you can do to help.

1. Write to KLSD and tell them you want the current progressive talk format to remain as it is, and let them know how important KLSD is to you. (well, it would be nice if they'd add Democracy Now!)

2. Spread the word. You can print and share this flyer.

4. Contact their advertisers and tell them how much you support them for advertising on KLSD. This morning, Stacy Taylor said he would get a list of them up on their website.

5. Come to the planning meeting for Monday's rally in the KLSD parking lot on Saturday at 9 am. There will be a small rally after the meeting.

6. Most importantly, COME TO THE RALLY on Monday, August 27, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. outside the Clear Channel building at 9660 Granite Ridge Drive in San Diego.

If you're part of a business, club or organization that has a banner or sign, bring it! If not, bring a small sign. We want to show we have the support of a wide range of individuals and organizations who don't want to lose their radio voice in San Diego. Miriam Raftery guest blogged at Brad Blog about what's happening, and has includes other ways to stay informed and involved.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.

(edit)- Here's some additional information posted in the comments:
Sign the online petition to Clear Channel.

Questions:
www.saveklsd.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saveklsd/
www.nonstopradio.com/sandiego.html
or email Kate: kate@jontalk.com

Is San Diego losing progressive talk radio?

What's going on with KLSD? Is San Diego's progressive talk radio station and Air America affiliate about to disappear from San Diego's airwaves? I've heard this from FOUR different people today, and all four of them had been told that the current format of KLSD will be replaced with sports talk radio.

Say it ain't so!

Then someone forwarded this from their "What's Happening" page. It looks like they want people to pledge to listen and to ask friends to do the same. There's another ominous sign.

Hmmm. The subject just came up on Jon Elliott's show, and he says he's not heard anything from the management, but the station manager, Cliff Albert is also on vacation this week.

KLSD and Progressive talk radio have been vitally important to San Diego. I just can't overstate the role they've played here in connecting, supporting, and encouraging progressive, grassroots activism, as well as providing invaluable, clear news and views on politics and world events.

You can take action against this terrible development by Signing the pledge or contacting the station. Send Cliff Albert a note telling him how important the current format of KLSD is to you. Then this coming Saturday (8/25/07), show up at the station at 10:00 am to join San Diego's Progressive Democrats of America and many others in rallying to show support for KLSD. I'll even provide a link to the directions. On Jon Elliott's show someone mentioned a rally on Monday too. I'll update as I learn more.

EDIT - That was fast...here's an update about the rally on Monday at 7:30 am at KLSD in San Diego. The guy talking to Jon Elliott a bit ago was from NonStop Radio and he's already thrown together a flyer announcing the rally.

(edit- on Saturday there will be a planning meeting at 9 am, and a smaller rally will follow at 10:00. There will be a BIG rally on Monday morning at 7:30.)