Do you consider talk radio to be news or entertainment or a combination of both?

Question

I'm speaking mainly of the political ones like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck. Do you think that they have any significant influence upon the voting public?

Answer 1

You mean biased talk entertainment.

Answer 2

Both.

Answer 3

Anyone who is influenced by them is a moron. Why do you think Rush calls his followers "ditto-heads'? Whatever he says, they repeat it like a parrot....ditto, ditto, etc.

Answer 4

Radio has become the sewer of right wing extremism.

Answer 5

The one I listen to on the way to work every morning at 5 am is all entertainment.

Answer 6

Neither.  It's all about making money & hitting a target audience for the ratings.  Radio is business.  Big business.  It's just like the supermarkets...they sell space for people & companies to get their product & agenda out to the public.

Answer 7

It's a big business and a successful one at that. It is also entertainment and information. Most of the big media only represent one portion of society and talk radio fills in the gap left.

Until AM radio talk shows became more prevalent, there was only the big half dozen or so "modern" opinions. Conservative and liberal talk shows are out there. It just happens that conservative ones are more popular. Liberal ones don't seem to be catching on.

Can they influence votes? Yes, in the sense that they are not going to hear all sides from any one station or channel. If they listen to a selection of choices they can hear all sides and make their own judgment. Then they are more informed and therefore "technically" can influence votes.

Keep in mind, blogs like Move-on and many others and movies by Michael Moore, also "influence votes". Depends on whose ox is getting gored at the moment. We have plenty of choices for information. Internet, print, radio, TV all can "influence votes". Seems like this question only comes up when " Conservative radio" is making big headway in election cycles. Nobody wants the others mentioned at that point. Kind of the same when people start touting, "equal time". Nothing stopping anyone from getting equal time if they can sell the program to a station. Government" equal time" is nothing more than propaganda from either or any side.

Answer 8

entertainment

Answer 9

Good question Olive. . .I feel that their audience is a variety of people. . .A Heinz 57 mixture . . .I pray to God that they are not all sheep that just follow along, believing all that crepe suzette !  If I listen, it is strictly for entertainment !  I love to laugh and look for humor everywhere ! ! !

By the way, welcome aboard ! ! !   You are a good girl Olive ! ! !  

Answer 10

It is entertainment... nothing more.

Answer 11

I listen to talk radio but it comes from London.

Answer 12

Your choices aren't broad enough.

Talk radio is not news nor is it entertainment.

It's noise, blather, and an annoyance.

People who consider it entertainment can have it.

Those who consider it news are to be feared and pitied.

Answer 13

It's mostly entertainment.

Answer 14

I don't consider talk radio at all.

Answer 15

I like to listen to talk radio when I am cooking or gardening.  It is both news and entertainment for me.  There are a lot of interesting programs on besides Right Wing.