Rituals and stereotypes of talk radio. After much analysis and thinking about the rituals and stereotypes that you find in talk radio especially the format of news/talk radio it was kind of disturbing. More so with the stereotypes found than rituals performed by the talk radio hosts and listeners.
On most news/talk radio shows Friday seems to be the day to call into any particularly show because it is devoted to the listener. From Limbaugh to Hannity and everyone in between have what they call “open line” Friday where the caller gets to chose what topic is discussed for the few seconds or minutes that they get air time. Or if you go over to the more popular culture radio and the shock jocks the rituals are a little more risqué. For example the shock jocks, Opie and Anthony, have dedicated their Wednesday’s to what they like to call Whip’em Out Wednesdays (WOW). It’s like a mardi gras every Wednesday on their show. Female fans of the show will call in a give there location, so that male fans can come to the location and see the female fans flash body parts. A lot of “shock jocks” have their rituals that seem to be sexual in nature and labeled as entertainment.
Some people believe that conservative talk radio is what inspired the Tea Party movement along with some key leaders in the Republican Party. And indirectly had maybe some influence on the “Occupy Wall Street” movement as a counter measure to the Tea Party movement.
What has been really disturbing is the stereotype or label of “racist” being given to any conservative or Republican who disagree with any actions of President Obama. For all I know you can be an independent and still be labeled one if you disagree in any way with the president. Conservative talk radio hosts are labeled as angry white males that do not believe in big government.
I’m sure rituals will change as new hosts hit the airwaves or those that have been doing it for years find it more profitable to change and do something else. As the political winds change, so will the stereotypes of those that host and listen to talk radio.
Although I am not a big fan of talk radio, I see your point. For example, many people know who Howard Stern is and I bet many of those people have also never listened to his show. I am hooked to Pandora. It is always playing in my house.
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