The Catholic Church Silences Progressive Radio in Columbus

Progressive Talk 1580 WVKO Columbus is no more. The one and only progressive voice on radio in the state of Ohio has been silenced by Saint Gabriel Radio an arm of the Catholic Church. The station was under lease by Gary Richards that has put and kept the progressive format on the air in Columbus with successful shows like Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz along with local progressive programming with Michael Alwood and Dr. Bob Fitrakis.

The station has been purchased by Saint Gabriel Radio and is changing the format to catholic programming. So once again all political talk on the airwaves are totally ruled by the right wing and their hate speech and lies once again.

All is however not lost. There is an effort to bring the progressive format back on another spot on the dial. The website www.wvko1580.com will stay up to stay abreast of developments.

I do wish to thank Gary and all those that stuck their necks out to fight for this format.

Dr. Bob Fitrakis on WVKO

Starting tommorow Dr. Bob Fitrakis will have a daily radio show on the Progressive Radio Station WVKO 1580 in Columbus. Dr Fitrakis is a nationally known and respected author and advocate for voting rights. Many know his blog FraudbusterBob.

I think this is a great move for WVKO for the 5-6pm drive time slot. Dr. Fitrakis brings a long history of experience and knowledge to the airwaves.

If your not within radio range of Columbus you can pick up the stream on the internet at www.wvko1580.com.

Help Keep Progressive Radio on the Air in Columbus

If you like many of us get sick of only having the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity to listen to on the radio, then you understand the importance of stations like WVKO1580 in Columbus.

It gives us shows from Air America, but also Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz and local progressive programming as well.

However it takes money to keep this station on the air and they need your help.

Below is a reprinted letter from the station to tell you how you can help.

WVKO-AM 1580 is Central Ohio's "Air America" station, broadcasting
Progressive Talk programs since December 2007.

There is good news and bad news about the station.

First the bad news:

Due to slow advertising sales, WVKO is currently having trouble
paying its bills. Good, progressive Salespeople are hard to find in
Central Ohio, especially for a startup mom-and-pop station like WVKO.
The station now finds itself with unpaid bills, and may have to shut
down if $50,000 is not raised within the next few weeks.

Now the good news:

Do you remember how it felt when Air America was pulled from the
airwaves a year and a half ago? Air America fans were told that there
was nothing they could do to help save that station. Well, this time
there is a way for you to keep Air America on the air ... through a
generous donation to the station. By clicking on your choice of PayPal
buttons on our Contribution page
http://www.wvko1580.com/contributions/
, your contribution will go directly toward keeping Air America on
WVKO.

This show of support from Progressives like you will keep the station
on the air, and will enable WVKO management to pay off current debts.
Salespeople will be assured that the station will remain on the air,
enabling them to make sales calls with confidence.

Please make your contribution now:

http://www.wvko1580.com/contributions/

For more information, and to track the Grand Total of contributions,
go here: http://www.wvko1580.com/contribution/

If you have any comments or suggestions for the station, please fill
out our online comment form here: http://www.wvko1580.com/contact/

Thanks very much for your support!

WVKO Management

-and-

Ohio Majority Radio

Progressive Radio, It's up to us.

For decades the radio talk show world was completly controlled by Conservative right wing blowhards like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. As they continued to spin their mistatements, lies and twisted logic on the American People, there were no voices to offest them.

Several years ago Air America was born, around the same time the Jones Broadcasting Network promoted Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz nationwide. Air American in particular had a rocky start. In addition a number of the stations that carried Air America and JBN were owned by Clear Channel.

There was an immediate attack from the right wing. There were boycotts of advertisers, there were constant stories on right wing radio perdicting the demise of Progressive Radio. Then in 2007 Clear Channel pulled the plug seeming to be a death blow.

It failed. Air America still survives, The Jones Broadcasting Network grows every day. Today Ed Schultz was added to the lineup of WWRL in New York City.

The bottom line remains that radio is in business to make a profit. Progressive Radio will not grow, in fact cannot survive without advertising dollars. It is up to us to support not only the stations carrying the Progressive talk, but to support its advertisers. While doing so to let the advertisers know we are giving them business because of their support for Progressive Radio.

In Columbus we have WVKO 1580 on the air. It has a growing listenership and list of advertisers. I urge you all to go to the web site below and make a point to patronize some of these businesses. Let's keep our views on the air.

WVKO Advertisers

Stephanie Miller!!

Mama was in the house at the WVKO1580 Democratic “Party” in Hilliard tonight. About 1000 progressives packed the house at the Makoy Center.

When I arrived Donna Mogavero was entertaining the crowd with her alternative acoustic original music. She was followed by various WVKO personalities such as Michael Cole and Michale Alwood. Various Democratic Candidates were introduced to say a few words, including Mary Jo Kilroy running for the 15th congressional district, John O’Grady who is running for Franklin County Commissioner, Cindy Lazarus and Kelly Wenzlaff among others.

Stephanie then took the stage and got the crowd going with her brand of unique political humor she is famous for on her radio show and in appearances on CNN such as Friday night on Larry King. She spent a good deal of time handling questions from the audience which brought a lot of laughs and biting attacks on the Bush administration, John McCain, Bill Cunningham and of course Jean Schmidt.

Stephanie shared with us that Columbus was her “first love” as it was the first major market her show was on the air. In 2007 the Clear Channel station that carried the show dropped progressive radio and switched to a conservative radio format like so many others. Just recently WVKO switched to a progressive format and brought Stephanie Miller along with Ed Schultz and Air America back to Columbus. She also let us know that in the most recent ratings, the station that dropped progressive radio is now dead last in the Columbus Market. She commented “good luck selling that!”

The size of the crowd showed a real need and appreciation for progressive radio in Columbus. It is important that we support this station and show America that we deserve a voice on the airwaves as well.

If you live in the Columbus market be sure to tune in to 1580AM. If you don’t you can listen to it on the net at www.wvko1580.com. Tell your friends about it. And most of all support the advertisers that make progressive radio possible.

Stephanie Miller Coming to Columbus

I'll be there to support Progressive Radio on Saturday Night, hope to meet many of you there.




WVKO 1580 AM Democratic “Party”
Join us for a Democratic “Party” with
Stephanie Miller as we welcome Progressive Talk Radio back to the Central Ohio airwaves!

Her fresh and funny show is on dozens of radio stations across the country, including in Los Angeles where she is now the #2 rated talk program in her time period. The Stephanie Miller Show is on the air in Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. and now Columbus, Ohio!

March 1, 2008
The Emerald Room at the Makoy Center in Hilliard
5:00 – 10:00 PM.
Tickets - $25 Individual
$40 Couple
Get tickets online at www.wvko1580.com through 2/29/08,
and picked up at will-call.
Tickets also for sale at the door for $30.
Complimentary pizza, cash bar, raffle, WVKO promotional items and more!

This event will feature a “pizza challenge” with local pizzerias competing for the best pizza as determined by the event attendees! Come and enjoy a fun time with like-minded individuals as we enjoy Stephanie’s comic spin on the world of U.s. politics. Let’s discuss the Progressive Movement and its importance this election year. Pass the word to your Progressive Friends. A good time will be had by all!

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.wvko1580.com