Radical Russ is the next "Progressive Talk Radio Star"

Congratulations are in order for "Radical" Russ Belville of Portland, OR, who has won a national contest to find America's next Progressive Talk Radio Star.

The contest was sponsored by Clear Channel Radio, The Center for American Progress Action Fund, Jones Radio Networks, and Media Syndication Services, Inc.

Belville, who won a local contest sponsored by Clear Channel progressive talker KPOJ (620AM) in Portland, went on to defeat Curtis Hannum of Boulder, Colo., in the finals of the contest, a two-hour broadcast in Washington, D.C. hosted by veteran television broadcaster and nationally syndicated radio host Bill Press.

Judges for the final broadcast included Product First syndicated talker Ed Schultz, Melody Barnes, executive VP for Policy at the Center for American Progress; Paul Woodhull, founder and president of Media Syndication Services; Jessica Sherman, VP of Affiliate Sales for Jones Radio Networks, and Bill Hess, program director for Clear Channel talk WWRC (1260AM) in Washington, DC.

As the winner, Belville will now get an opportunity to develop and host his own syndicated radio show in conjunction with the contest's sponsors.

"The Next Progressive Talk Radio Star"

SAN ANTONIO, WASHINGTON DC, and CENTENNIAL Colo. – October 6, 2006 - Clear Channel Radio, The Center for American Progress Action Fund, Jones Radio Networks, and MSS, Inc, announced today a collaboration to launch a nationwide search for the next Progressive Talk Radio Star. The groups announced the contest will begin on Monday, October 9 with local promotions at participating stations and culminate in a final broadcast in front of a live studio audience in Washington, DC on Thursday, November 16. Entries will be judged by an expert panel including one of the highest-rated progressive talk hosts on the airwaves, Ed Schultz.

A national at-large contest will be held at the same time as the local promotions at TalkProgress.com, a website designed by Nakea LLC. “TalkProgress.com will combine the topical heat of top blogs like Think Progress with the cool media richness of YouTube. TalkProgress promises to be one of the most dynamic interactive communities for the online user,” said Chris Nakea, President and CEO of Nakea, LLC. In addition to holding the At Large contest, the site will follow contestants’ progress and provide behind-the-scenes interviews, candid moments, and other elements of a contest that’s sure to enhance the experience of the audience.

The Progressive Talk Format was born in March 2004 in Portland, OR, when Clear Channel Radio’s 50,000 watt AM radio station changed its call letters to KPOJ and became the first major market talk radio station to program all Progressive Talk. To demonstrate the popularity and scope of the Progressive talk format, KPOJ skyrocketed up the charts from #23 to #1 (Adults 25-54) based on the first full ratings evaluation period, according to Arbitron. Since that time, nearly 100 radio stations nationwide (including 8 out of the top 10 markets) have programmed Ed Schultz and other progressive talkers.

Center for American Progress Action Fund President John Podesta said, “Talk radio has emerged as a potent force for driving the national debate. We’re working towards a return to a balance in the airwaves by supporting this initiative to bring more progressive voices to the microphone.” “

Progressive Talk has grown so big, so fast, that all of us in the industry are searching high and low for more great Progressive Talk radio talent,” observed MSS president and radio entrepreneur Paul “Woody” Woodhull. “Great talkers like Ed Schultz, Bill Press, and Al Franken are hard to find.”

“Clear Channel has championed Progressive Talk by committing 23 great radio stations to the format,” commented Clear Channel VP of AM programming Gabe Hobbs. “We need to follow that commitment with finding and training the next generation of great talkers.”

Amy Bolton, 2005 and 2006 Talk Radio Industry Executive of the Year and Vice President/General Manager of the Talk Radio division of Jones Radio Networks, predicted, “This national talent search will be the ideal training ground for many local talkers to break into the national arena,” and added, “From the beginning, Jones Radio Networks has pioneered the discovery and syndication of new Progressive Talk talent and we’ve only just begun!”

The local winners and an at-large winner, who will each receive a $1,000 cash prize, will proceed to the next phase of the competition when a panel of judges announces the final eight participants on Saturday, November 4 during the inaugural broadcast of the network program, Progressive Talk Radio Star. The contestants will be narrowed down through quarterfinal and semifinal broadcasts, with two finalists winning an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC to participate in the final broadcast on Thursday, November 16. These final two contestants, competing for a nationally syndicated radio show, will perform live before the judges, the media, and a studio audience at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Air America Radio acknowledges some layoffs, cash problems

UPDATED 9/15/06

Financially strapped Air America Radio acknowledged Thursday, after star commentator Al Franken said publicly that his paycheck had stopped coming, that it had suffered a small number of layoffs but insisted there were no plans for the liberal talk show network to declare bankruptcy.

Spokeswoman Jaime Horn, without getting specific, said there were "a handful of layoffs" that followed a move of the network's New York outlet from WLIB-AM to WWRL-AM, a station with a less powerful signal. The network launched in March 2004.

Franken, broadcasting Thursday from New York, said he was aware of the bankruptcy rumors. "We may or may not, that's what I'm hearing," Franken said at the start of his noon broadcast. But he assured listeners that the financial problems wouldn't silence the network.

"Let me say one thing, if we do go into bankruptcy: I've flown on United (Airlines)," he said. "They went into bankruptcy."

United operated for more than three years before it came out of bankruptcy last February.

In a recent interview, Franken admitted that Air America was suffering from a "cash-flow problem," and that he was not paid last week.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Air America is "one paycheck" late to him:

"How late are they on the paycheck? Not very," said Franken, who claimed he was making a joke when he told Radar online reporter John Cook that he knew the network was having cash-flow problems because "there's no cash flowing to me."

The last time the network missed a paycheck to Franken (and others) was in 2004, shortly after it launched. It was discovered that then-chairman Evan Cohen hadn't raised as much money for the network as he claimed.

Franken referred questions about his company's health to Air America officials, saying, "I'm not involved on a management level."

Air America has made "no decision to make any filing of any kind," a spokeswoman said Thursday. "We continue to operate, we just announced our fall schedule and are doing everything we can to move forward." She would not comment on Franken's missing paycheck.

The AP article touches on the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club controversy, which happened during Cohen's brief involvement with Air America. Ironically, the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club is perhaps the only inner-city non-profit organization that conservatives really seem to give a rip about. Gee, I wonder why...

You can read more of the Associated Press article here.

NOTE: ThinkProgress has retracted the story. Right-wing bloggers can stop masturbating now. Here's their update:

On Wednesday, ThinkProgress reported “Air America Radio will announce a major restructuring on Friday, which is expected to include a bankruptcy filing.” We made a judgment that our sources were knowledgeable and reliable. We regret the error.
We wish Air America a long and successful future.