The Personal Is Political: The Political Economy of Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting in the United States

Robert W. McChesney

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

In this essay, I look at the problems facing progressives and those on the political left in the United States in participating in political analysis and debate in mainstream journalism and the news media. I focus on radio broadcasting, as this is where much of political discussion takes place in the United States. Radio broadcasting is the least expensive of the media for production and reception, is ubiquitous, has adapted itself to the Internet, and is uniquely suited for locally based programming.… I look specifically at my own experience hosting a weekly public affairs program on an NPR (National Public Radio)-affiliated radio station in Illinois from 2002–2012. This was, to my knowledge, the only NPR series hosted by a socialist in the network's history.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)47-58
Number of pages12
JournalMonthly Review
Volume66
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2015

Keywords

  • Media
  • Political Economy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies
  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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