Baltimore talk radio earns good grades on Dixon trial
The note from jurors Friday saying that deliberations were getting a "little overheated" in the trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon probably came as no surprise to those who have been listening to talk radio in Baltimore the past two weeks.
From "The Larry Young Morning Show" (WOLB), to "The Anthony McCarthy Show" (WEAA), radio talk shows here have been filled with no shortage of passion, debate, and disagreement about the guilt or innocence of the mayor in her use of gift cards from developers -- as well as the larger issues of government ethics and the realpolitique of power in Baltimore City government. With the jury resuming deliberations Monday morning, the conversation should be all the more spirited and intense in the next fews days.
Overall, the level of radio talk has been solidly impressive, and I have to believe that anyone who has been tuning into any of the shows discussed in this piece is better informed about city government, city leadership and how city hall is being run these days by Mayor Dixon. Talk radio, which is often maligned for its most strident voices or noticed only when a host crosses a line, is serving an important civic function responsibly and well in Baltimore right now -- and the stations and hosts deserve praise. (Larry Young photo by Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)
As a media critic, one aspect of talk radio that I am most interested with is the way that some program hosts who have expressed their support for Mayor Dixon have neverthless allowed for a diversity of voices and points of view to be heard on their shows without trying to steer the conversation one way or the other. Former State Senator Larry Young is a case in point.
While Young was constantly urging listeners last week to "let the process play out" before making a decision about Dixon based only on what the prosecution had to say, he gave full play to those who were unwilling to wait.
"If the assessment would be made in terms of what we're hearing from out callers, the mayor would be in the deficit by about 60 to 40," Young said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "Perhaps, only four out of every 10 would be supportive, and I'm sure that's discouraging."
But Thursday morning on-air, he said the calls were running "about 50-50," and I am eager to hear how they are coming in Monday morning. (His show airs from 6 to 10:15 a.m. at 1010 on the AM dial.)
While the debate among callers has been spirited, the one between Young and Coach Butch McAdams, a member of the show's morning team, has been just as intense. There is an engaging rapport between the two with McAdams playing a kind of on-air prosecuting attorney of Dixon, while Young constantly admonishes patience, fairness, restraint and balance.
Some callers on WOLB and other stations seem to want anything but restraint and balance. They have strong feelings and want to make them known -- and Young let's them have their say on his show. There is a real energy and chemistry to this program. Give it 10 minutes, and I guarantee you'll be hooked for an hour. I now find myself tuning in every day, not just for the Dixon debate but the wider-ranging and ongoing discussion about the ways in which power flows in this city. Everything from parking lot fees not being paid to variations in garbage pickup and school funds depending on zip codes are fair game for Young, McAdams and the callers.
Doni Glover, founder of the Web site bmorenews.com and host of the "Empower Hour" on WOLB, is also trying to keep his Web site and radio show open to a variety of opinions and a larger discussion about the role of government in our daily lives, he says.
Glover, who said in an interview last week that his "heart goes out to Mayor Dixon," nevertheless, refused to state a position when one of his guests last week asked for his view of her case.
"I'm just here to be the host today," he said.
Anthony McCarthy, a former director of communications for Dixon who now hosts "The Anthony McCarthy Show" on Morgan State University's WEAA-FM radio station, says there are divisions within divisions when it comes to the opinions on the mayor that he is hearing.
"There's a clear divide in my callers in support for the mayor, or a belief that the mayor has done something wrong and should be punished," McCarthy says, citing one level of commentary from his audience.
And then, there is a kind of hybrid of the two: "And it's very clear to me that some people can actually like the mayor and think she is doing a good job, but believe she did something inappropriate with those gift cards," McCarthy says. "Then, there is the question that's constantly raised caller after caller about the relationship of developers... to Sheila Dixon when she was City Council president and when she was mayor."
Mark Miller, the longtime news director at WBAL, says what he has heard on talk shows at his station and others does seem to be in synch with what we think we know about the conversations in the jury room: "We know feelings are very divided and it can get a little heated at times," he says.
"The bottom line to all of this, of course, is guilty or not guilty," Miller concludes. "But a veil has been lifted in the courtroom and media discussions on a new form of currency at city hall with the gift cards. A new definition of what business as usual at city hall means has been offered, and it's important that listeners and voters are getting a chance to talk about that."
Talk radio plays a major role in high-visibility civic stories like this one. So far, so good. Let's hope the folks behind the microphones stay on the high road once we have a verdict.
(Full disclosure: I appear on WYPR once a week with a TV commentary and have been a guest on the station's "Midday" show.)
Comments
Living in Fla I have been following this trial from a far but I am curious if the Mayor has gone out on her own to purchase more gift cards and distribute them to families that could use them?
Posted by: jffaz | November 23, 2009 11:44 AM
ZZZZZZ!!!! It's interesting that you did not get any response from Baltimore's most popular news-talk station-WCBM!
The stations you listen to lean to the left of Lennon on so many issues-now we know where which side of the fence you lean. (WOLB, WEAA, etc.)
As to the charge that I only spoke to stations with a so-called "left" lean, that is probably going to be news to WBAL and its veteran news director, Mark Miller, who is quoted in the story. By the way, I think you mean Lenin, not Lennon. But I have ben accused of being both right and left of the one-time Beatles band member. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Clinton Moores | November 23, 2009 1:23 PM
Z, I think the blogger Clinton might be mistaken this blog for the another blog. Last time I checked we leaned to the fairness and equality of the freedom of Speech and the press.
Posted by: Irene | November 23, 2009 2:39 PM
Hi Z, Lennon/Lenin, that gave me quite a laugh!
Tell me something. Is it common practice for companies to give politicians gift cards back there in Maryland? Sounds strange to me.
Posted by: Aly | November 23, 2009 2:54 PM
if you listen to WOLB long enough you'll hear that all white people are racist and the root of all problems in this country. i like to listen to it during the commercial break of another channel during my morning commute. WOLB is wonderful comedy.
I have to tell you that has not been my experience with listening to WOLB. I heard none of that on Larry Young's daily show or Doni Glover's weekly show. OI can only tell you what I heard. Z
Posted by: brandon | November 23, 2009 3:00 PM
I read that Lennon got kicked out of the country by President Nixon because of his anti-war activities. It was kind of funny. I hadn't known about that. Don't worry Z your not lean'in.
I read a little about that Dixon trial, I guess that could happen in any state. Maybe these gift cards should be mailed directly to the people they are going to instead of going to the government agencies to begin with. That would prevent the problems?
Posted by: Sherry T. | November 23, 2009 3:50 PM
I'm to the right of McCartney but to the left of Ringo.
Now that's funny. Much better than mine. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Eric | November 23, 2009 5:15 PM
Eric I nominate you for Blogger of the Day.
That comment made me smile for the 1st time today. :-)
Posted by: Irene | November 23, 2009 6:09 PM
I agree with Irene. BOTD for Eric.
Better get a copyright on that comment Eric that was too funny. :)
Posted by: Sherry T. | November 23, 2009 6:23 PM
"As to the charge that I only spoke to stations with a so-called "left" lean, that is probably going to be news to WBAL and its veteran news director, Mark Miller, who is quoted in the story."
Mr. Z,
You are an intellectually dishonest partisan. In the article above you state, "Overall, the level of radio talk has been solidly impressive, and I have to believe that anyone who has been tuning into any of the shows discussed in this piece is better informed about city government, city leadership and how city hall is being run these days by Mayor Dixon." When accused of bias, you then throw out your WBAL reference, but you did not reference "any of the shows" on WBAL in your articles. You only quoted a station manager.
You can prove me wrong though. Just confirm that WBAL's coverage is also "solidly impressive" and its listeners "better informed" just like the other two stations for which you specifically mentioned programs. Then let us know which programs you've heard to lead you to such conclusions.
WBAL's coverage is solidly impressive, and I listened to and interviewed C4. I also listened to Ron Smith, and was, in fact, on his show a couple of weeks ago. We had a nice time together. I had a nice time with Bill O'Reilly the night before that on Fox. Please go look at the video online. Think of it as an educational experience. And the guy I quoted in the post, Mark Miller, is news director and one of the best and hardest working newsmen in the city. He also has one of the longest views of trial coverage in Baltimore of any radio journalist I know. Plus, I respect his work and consider his a starightshooter in answering questions. So, Joe, let's leave it right there. But if you think I am left wing, do a two second search of Zurawik and Olbermann. And then, do Zurawik and O'Reilly. And then, please come back and tell me if you still think you know what you are talking about. Thanks. Z
Posted by: Joe | November 23, 2009 7:51 PM
Z,
Thank you for clearly pointing out your "right wing bias" to Joe.
Clinton,
PPM numbers show WBAL to be ahead of WCBM. WCBM, therefore, cannot be Baltimore's most popular news-talk station.
Hi howie: thanks for checking the ratings, and sharing that fact with us. Keith Olbermann says I am a "right wing ideologue," Bill O'Reilly says I am a "left wing ideologue." You could look it up online. Pay your money and take your choice. Thanks. Z
Posted by: howie | November 24, 2009 8:46 AM
I can only speak for the one person I listen to all the time - Anthony McCarthy. He worked for Sheila Dixon and you would expect that he would be cutting her lots of slack or defending her but each week he is fair and points out things good and bad. I listen to WCBM every now and then and you know what you're going to get - biased and uninformed opinions. Go WEAA!
Posted by: Joi James | November 24, 2009 11:50 AM
WBAL has been outstanding with their coverage of this trial. There instant twitter feedback has been on my laptop, in my office throughout the day. My hat is off to the news staff at WBAL. Great coverage.
Hi Kelly, I did not know you were from the Baltimore area! Z
Posted by: Kelly | November 24, 2009 8:55 PM
"WBAL's coverage is solidly impressive, and I listened to and interviewed C4. I also listened to Ron Smith, and was, in fact, on his show a couple of weeks ago."
Fair enough Mr. Z, as you answered my question the way it was phrased. But just to clarify the difference between WBAL's news coverage and a particular show, do you mean to say that the Ron Smith Show has been solidly impressive and has better informed viewers just like the other particular radio shows you mentioned in the article?
Posted by: Joe | November 24, 2009 10:01 PM