Radio Gets A ‘C’ On News & Information Report Card…

Friday, October, 3, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

(Weekend Edition) 

A new survey shows that Americans consider television and daily newspapers the most credible sources of news and information.  On a one-to-ten scale, TV pulled a 6.6, followed by daily newspapers (6.3), radio (6.0), online (5.6), weekly community papers (5.2), magazines (4.6) and free shoppers (3.5).  The national study of 1,005 adults was conducted by Opinion Research Corp. and sponsored by ARAnet, which provides content to newspapers and Web sites, including two-thirds of the nation’s top-100 daily newspapers.  They must also supply weekly community papers since they pulled a  credible 5.2 and free shoppers a fairly credible 3.5…

Based on this survey, radio not only is not the major source for news and information but it trails newspapers that publish their news and information after the fact while radio is an ongoing and instantaneous news and information source.   That’s one surprise and there’s another.  How come online finished just barely in front of weekly community papers and behind daily news papers?  I would think that online would be at least second to TV with radio third but I wasn’t being surveyed…

Survey respondents assigned credibility scores ranging from one for “not at all credible” to 10 for “extremely credible” to seven types of media.  The survey was conducted by phone (yeah!) September 4-7, 2008.  I’d like to see a credibility survey done on the people that deliver news and information next…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1931] Premiered on this date: “Dick Tracy” makes its debut in the Detroit Daily Mirror (10/4)…1950] “You Bet Your Life“, hosted by the ‘one, the only’ Groucho Marx (10/5)…1954] “Father Knows Best” starring Robert Young begins a successful 8-year run (10/3)…1955] “Captain Kangaroo” starring Bob Keeshan debuts and will air 19 seasons and then in syndication (10/3)…1955] “The Mickey Mouse Club” airs orginal episodes until 1962 before being syndicated and then until 1977 (10/3). There was a revival of the show in 1989 that would run 5 seasons and starred Christina Aguilera, JC Chavez, Keri Russell, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake…1961] “The Dick Van Dyke Show” will run for 5 seasons (10/3)…
2. 1951] Shot heard round the world: The Giants’ Bobby Thomson hits a 3-run, walk-off home run beating the Brooklyn Dodgers in the third and deciding game of their playoffs. Russ Hodges said it best, over and over again: “The Giants win the pennant, The Giants win the pennant.” (10/3)…
3. 1957] The Space Age is launched: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first man-made satellite into orbit (10/4)…
4. 1970] “Happy Trails“: Janis Joplin’s body is found in a Hollywood hotel room. Janis, who had just finished her “Pearl” LP, died of a heroin overdose at 27 (10/4).  Janis in happier times…2000] Cars’ bass player Benjamin Orr, is the victim of pancreatic cancer at 53 (10/3).  Benjamin with The Cars…
5. 1986] What’s the frequency Kenneth?: That was the question posed to Dan Rather as he was about to be mugged (10/4)…
6. 1988] Shooting Quayle: Presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen makes his famous “I knew Jack Kennedy” retort to Dan Quayle (10/5). Quayle replied, at least I know how to spell potatoe…
7. 1992] The Pope is ripped: Sinead O’Connor tears up a picture of the Pope during her “Saturday Night Live” appearance. We’re not quite sure why??? (10/3)…
8. 1995] O.J. walks: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the 1994 murders of wife Nicole Brown and Ronald L. Goldman (10/3). Justice will prevail in the civil trial…
9. 2003] At the maul: Roy Horn (Siegfried & Roy) is mauled by Montecord, a 7-year old tiger during a stage performance in Las Vegas. Horn was celebrating his 59th birthday while Montecord was celebrating lunch (10/3)…
10. 2005] Whips and chains: Defying the House, the Senate votes 90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” against anyone in U.S. government custody. This was a result of what transpired at Abu Ghraib (10/5)…

Music Memories:

• 1945] A little Elvis sighting: 10-year old Elvis Presley makes his first public appearance at a dairy show talent contest and finishes second, collecting $5 (10/3)…
• 1959] Number One on this date: “Mack The Knife” - Bobby Darin (10/4)…1965] “Yesterday” - Beatles (10/4)…1973] “Half-Breed” - Cher (10/3)…1980] “Another One Bites The Dust” - Queen (10/4)…1982] “Jack and Diane” - John Cougar Mellencamp (10/3)…
• 1968] Released on this date: “White Room” - Cream (10/5)…1968] “Magic Carpet Ride” - Steppenwolf (10/5)…1969] “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” - Crosby, Stills & Nash (10/4)…1975] “Cats In The Cradle” - Harry Chapin (10/5)…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

(10/3) Ashlee Simpson (24), Gwen Stefani (39), Tommy Lee (46), Rev. Al Sharpton (53), Dennis Eckersley (54), Dave Winfield (57), Lindsey Buckingham (59), Biff Henderson (62), Roy Horn (64), Chubby Checker (67) and Gore Vidal (83)…(10/4) Alicia Silverstone (32), Liev Schreiber (41), Russell Simmons (51), Alan Rosenberg (58), Susan Sarandon (62), Sam Huff (74), Leroy Van Dyke (79)…(10/5) Nicky Hilton (26), Kate Winslet (33), Mario Lemieux (43), Bob Geldof (54), Karen Allen (57), Steve Miller (65), Arlene (Chantels) Smith (67) and Bill (”My name, Jose Jimenez”) Dana (84)…

Timeline Countdown: 20 days until the 1st game of the World Series and 28 nights until Halloween…

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