What's the Frequency, Paul

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What's the Frequency, Paul This is the page for more information about "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?"... my "newsicals" consisting of narration music and soundbites .

Each program is 59 minutes long and sets the week's news to music. . Episodes air and stream on various Pacifica stations, The Public Radio Exchange (prx.org) and other non commercial outlets. This program is produced/hosted by Paul Fischer... former writer (24 years) for Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News and former News Director of 2 Pacifica Radio stations (WBAI NY and KPFA Berkeley). After retiring from CBS News, I have returned to my roots in public
radio.

The song that put WBAI on the map....first performed LIVE on Bob Fass's Radio Unnameable. The album came later
23/11/2024

The song that put WBAI on the map....first performed LIVE on Bob Fass's Radio Unnameable. The album came later

Alice Brock, whose Massachusetts-based eatery helped inspire Arlo Guthrie's deadpan Thanksgiving standard, "Alice's Restaurant," has died at age 83.

06/11/2024

This time, no one can say they didn't know. He won the electoral college vote. He won the popular vote. Senator Rubio notes he has a mandate and it's up to Congress to vote to support him and execute his policies. Does that include executing his generals...jailing his political opponents...mass deportations, etc?
Asking for a friend.

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31/10/2024

For no particular reason, this seems like a good day to mention a few things about Dan Rather (Well, Halloween is Dan's birthday and he turns 93 today)
Dan was an early, one-man-warning system on the dangers of Donald Trump.
He was alone for a long time.
Journalists don't do that sort of thing.
Except in Trump's case, we now have a term for journalists who don't do that sort of thing. It's called "sane-washing"...making Trump seem like he's just the republican running against the democrat.
He's not.
He's running against democracy.
Dan has spent a lifetime doing that sort of thing. From calling out presidential debates that weren't debates to lack of accountability for Iran-Contra and trying to get George Bush the elder to explain his role in it on live tv...
And of course, Nixon.
To put it simply, many describe Dan as Walter Cronkite's successor.
I think Dan would say he wanted to fill the vacancy left by Edward R. Murrow.
So, goodnight and good luck, Dan. And happy birthday.

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26/10/2024

Finally dawned on me...reading the latest media doings...that i've reached the age where i'm not just watching the changing of the guard, but a real change in the culture of news media.
Dan Rather, who'll be celebrating a birthday soon, started talking about the hollywoodization of the news and the impact of consolidation of media and job cuts in newsrooms decades ago. ( not to mention the growing influence of the radical right).
I'm also reminded that in his more dramatic moments...Dan would address a journalism ethics problem by saying out loud..."what would Katharine Graham do?"

No, really...he would say that.
Kate Graham, of course, was the owner of the Washington Post when it was still a family business and backed her editors and reporters ...Woodward and Bernstein...when it really counted in the Watergate years and beyond.
Meaningful today when word came that both the billionaire owner of the LA Times and The Washington Post ( the WaPois owned by Jeff Bezos)...both paper owners prevented their editorial staffs from endorsing Kamala Harris. High profile resignations ensued at both papers...because they know how this looks to the public.
And Trump must love it.
So when i read in the trade papers that yet another CBS News vet is leaving...talent recruiter Allison Pepper ... a young desk worker at evening news back when i was there who went on to better things...including recruiting Robert Costa to the network...it occured to me even the young ones from my time are now leaving the mothership.
But wait. In the midst of all this... i also noted that Trump's attack on CBS News and 60 Minutes did not cause my alma mater to shrink in terror.
Despite false claims of pro Kamala editing in a 60 Minutes profile ( Trump ducked out of the profile he had agreed to)..and despite Trump threats to pull CBS station broadcast licenses....CBS News rejected Trump's threats and stood by the piece and the editing process...the same editing process that Cronkite and Murrow stood by...and the bullies they stood up to.
So maybe the changing of the guard and the culture don't always result in lower standards... at least not when it comes to some news outlets.
( I would have to include ABC's David Muir too for fact check corrections during the debate)

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Each program is 59 minutes and devoted to the news of the week mixed with music. Episodes air and stream on various Pacifica stations, The Public Radio Exchange (prx.org) and other non commercial outlets. This program is produced/hosted by Paul Fischer... former writer (24 years) for Dan Rather on the CBS Evening News and former News Director of 2 Pacifica Radio stations (WBAI NY and KPFA Berkeley). After retiring from CBS News, I have returned to my roots in public radio.