Tennessean

Local media coverage responsible for increase in conservative radio talk shows

For the reason why radio talk hosts are gaining credibility, look no further than media coverage of the Capitol protest the past few days.

Coverage led with political spin from the governor's office that anti-tax protesters are a threat and need to be controlled with metal detectors and other precautions.

No outlet asked whether protesters Tuesday would receive the same treatment that state trooper Harold Gooding gave Steve Rogers on July 12. The trooper dragged the protester on his head and by his heel.

''Sgt. Gooding's actions are not typical of behavior in any situation'' by a trooper, said Dana Keeton of the Tennessee Department of Safety.

Her office will not be telling troopers to refrain from such tactics because ''they already understand that was not proper behavior by a trooper.'' Still, the department has yet to officially discipline or fire Gooding. He won't be at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Michael Alford in Hermitage says he worries that area residents aren't getting all the information they need on issues and in stories: ''This leaves me personally with a question of who the media is representing ... themselves, their opinion, or are they just trying to keep from losing their lines of communication to the legislature?''

He was among 44 conservative to moderate readers who responded to my survey on local media, protest coverage and whether the media are in touch with an increasingly conservative state.

Even the Metro Police joined in the spin campaign against protesters. But they want to know from Metro if their grandfathers and mothers are going to be handcuffed by police — as they say they were on July 12 — for asking for badge numbers and names of officers allegedly abusing authority.

The media haven't asked. That's why most readers say they listen to talk radio hosts — to get answers to questions important to them besides the other side to stories. They credit talk host Phil Valentine with knowing the state budget. Readers say the media have portrayed the budget passed July 12 as ''bare bones,'' despite it calling for a 5% increase in spending.

They credit talk hosts with admitting their programs are ''editorial'' with opinions and facts that express a conservative viewpoint. They say the media should admit liberal bias in the news.

Then there's the hypocrisy. The media establishment that sued lawmakers last year for closing the budget process now is elevating them as victims of citizens challenging a stealth income tax vote. The media that jump on stories of police abuse of minorities have virtually ignored the story of Gooding, a black trooper who was caught on videotape dragging Rogers, a white protester. Gooding's defenders say wait for all the facts. Who in the media waited in coverage and commentary after the Rodney King videotape was aired?

Will the media that decry violation of their rights challenge a governor who on Friday put out guidelines for protesters? Direction from an elected official on how citizens should exercise First Amendment rights is chilling.

Janice Johnson of Nashville is active in causes and says the Internet is a godsend. The national media realize that conservatives no longer have to accept the liberal slant, says Kevin Clark of Franklin.

''Talk radio, Fox News, the Internet are all responses to liberal media dominance,'' Clark said. ''... CNN is reaching out to Republican congressmen and trying to change its reputation as the 'Clinton News Network.' ''

Here the media have made the rise of talk radio hosts so easy — and so necessary.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2001