Free Advice

OK, free advice is worth its price.

Still I want to say a few things about David Goldstein's new career as a radio host.

His station, KIRO, has just gone through a reprogramming. Relatively minor changes were made because KIRO is doing well. However, Goldie's airtime did not increase and last Tuesday at DL he seemed very much disappointed. Me too.

KIRO's decision is likely a reflection of ratings showing that KPTK, the syndicated liberal radio station in Seattle is NOT doing well. However, those same data show that conservative syndication at KVI is failing. There may be a message here that is NOT about lib vs con but about LOCAL content vs. SHRILL . See Mike Hood's blog, Blatherwatch.

All of the gains Mike mentions are by people with a strong Seattle flavor. Losers including Hannity and KPTK share a kabuki/vaudeville like approach that may be becoming passe. Locals like Dori, Medved, Ross, and yes Goldie, share a complexity of ideas, and manners that make the ore interesting. ALL the successful names share .... BREADTH. Take Medeved (please), he riffs about culture and movies. Listening to Ross or Dori is like going to dinner with an old friend ... Bush/Gregoire is only one topic.

I mention this because I am disappointed that KIRO did not choose to increase Goldy's role. I think I know why. I think they (and then listeners) see him only through the lens of Goldy's political activism.

So, from my extensive demographic analysis of our household of two, I would like to suggest that Goldy enrich his air time by exploring the broader context of Seattle, still liberal but not limited to elective office.

Here are some ideas for Goldie .. again free advice but lovingly offered.

1. SLU ... this will be a new city of 100,000 souls.n Whos is building it? How does this affect Seattle's tax base? Who will live there? Schools ?????

2. Seattle Public Schools ... nuff said, but why not FOCUS on specific programs and personalities? Seattle DOES have some ass kicking programs that get to little attention.

3. Bumbershoot, etc. What is planned?

4. Seattle's Black leadership ... we NEVER hear from these folks.

5. Is Seattle becoming a suburb of Redmond?

6. Microsoft. Why not devote an evening to MS?

7. The Discovery Institute. I hear so much bullshit about this place, bring the smelly stuff into the light!

8. The Seattle music scene.

9. Daybreak Star's future.

10. Kid's nite. Katie is great!

Goldy, I know there are too many ideas here, but I think your audience ... at least tyhe potential audience, both the pro-Goldy and anti-Goldy people, see the elective process as only one aspect of their ideas.

I hear from Mike and you that the number one demographic in Seattle is NPR. Why not commercialize some of their market?