Where Will We Get the Next Rachel Maddow?

[babylonsister]

Where Will We Get the Next Rachel Maddow?

The folding of Air America seems a grim omen for progressive media. It's not all dire -- three strategies for keeping progressive media makers flourishing.

Jessica Clark and Tracy Van Slyke | February 9, 2010 | web only

Where Will We Get the Next Rachel Maddow?


(Air America)


The progressive media sector has suffered a few sharp blows in recent weeks. On Jan. 21, Air America Media unceremoniously folded, citing a "perfect storm" in the media industry. Just a few days later, a survey from Public Policy Polling revealed Fox News to be the most trusted television news source -- echoing Fox's continued ratings domination over CNN and MSNBC. Even old "crash the gates" Markos challenged progressive media's power to influence Democrats or inspire newly disillusioned voters in a recent blog post. "Our media machine is tiny," he wrote. "We don't have the power to move our base around."

None of this negates the tremendous impact that progressive media makers and outlets -- from straight journalism organizations, to blogs, to citizen activists swarming social networks -- have made. Growing in force, visibility, and organization over the past decade, networked progressive media efforts have steadily been winning victories against the right's behemoth noise machine. Together, progressive blogs, sites, magazines, radio and TV programs, documentary films, and Web 2.0 projects reach millions of engaged, active users. Progressive media has led the way in using a combination of traditional and social media platforms and campaigns to drive stories into the mainstream discussion and affect local and national policy.

These victories, large and small, will continue to build -- but only if progressive media makers and funders commit to funding and supporting ongoing innovation. What's more, they need to invest in systematic evaluation of what has worked, how best to collaborate, and what risks to take next. Based on the research we conducted for our book, Beyond the Echo Chamber: Reshaping Politics Through Networked Progressive Media, here are three suggestions for strategies that progressive media makers -- large and small -- should pursue over the next year.

more...

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=where_will_we_get_the_next_rachel_maddow

[rocktivity]

1. Stephanie Miller, Mike Malloy, and Randi Rhodes are still in business

Air America was a badly run business, not a bad idea for a radio station.


rocktivity

[ChicagoSuz219]

2. I'd like Ron Reagan, Jr. to get his own show... n/t