Oregon Media Insiders

It's all over the news today, and to be honest, this inexperienced pundit still doesn't know if it promises good ... or rather less bad. But it looks to me like some sanity might have taken root on Capitol HIll.

In 2007, the FCC (despite overwhelming public comment to the contrary) voted to allow media companies to own both a major TV or radio station and a major newspaper in the same city. This could be seen to encourage further consolidation of a media industry many seem to see as too consolidated as it is.

It was just found out this afternoon that Hillary Clinton will be conducting a Town Hall meeting broadcast live on KGW this coming Friday, May 16th, at 7pm. This will be in their studio A and a 5 camera shoot. Additional bleachers are being added (rented) for this event. Hillary's people were buzzing around today and the secret service start buzzing around tomorrow.

Details will be reveled when they become available.

OK, it was just an off-hand comment intended to squeeze out small donations during the final (I hope) pledge break, but I heard this comment by one of OPB's people and it troubled me.

Paraphrasing, but close, and I sincerely apologize if I have it wrong:

"You know and I know that a couple of bigwigs could come in here and open their wallets, and they would have undue influence over what goes out."

Here's your primaries open thread; please keep it to primaries coverage. The 'Nut and I have sent our ballots in. Campaigns, please stop mailing us stuff. (Save a tree, stop Jules Koppel-Bailey!)

As Byron Beck at WWire says, who knew? I always liked that show, and I always forget it's on. Now I'm going to have to watch it!

[Edited for fair use.--L]

From WWire:

Just heard word from the "man" himself.

Jammin 95.5's "The Playhouse" is moving to 107.5 , so says P.K. , ringleader for the popular morning drive-time show that's last day at at their flagship station will be Monday, May 12.

Speaking exclusively to WW, P.K. says the plan is to simulcast Monday's show (which will continue with the same cast and crazy antics) on both stations from 5 am to 9 am.

At 9 am Jammin' will go all sports and The Playhouse will continue on 107.5.

Lynn adds: Look in the comments and you'll see the official press release.

Obama HQ is just a couple of blocks away from OMI HQ, and so we've been watching with amusement as the ENG trucks and news vans have been circling the block looking for parking. One guy in an unmarked ENG truck was having such troubles with parking that Cablenut and I sat down with our coffees and watched him for a bit out in front of Pallino. Anyway, the oldest Nutling volunteers at Obama HQ. If you see a very pretty, very young volunteer (possibly in an orange bucket hat), stop and say hi.

This is your Obama visit open thread. Keep other topics in other open threads. kthxbye.

In one of the other threads, someone noted that Heidi Tauber has been scrubbed from the KPOJ website, and indeed it looks like it. The morning show's been rebranded "Mornings with Carl Wolfson and Friends. Wha' happa'?

Update: Yup, she's gone. We don't know what happened yet, but the ax apparently fell end of day Wednesday.

It had all the makings of a great story. Violence. Controversy. Man vs. Nature. There was even a Homeland Security angle.

Six sea lions shot as they sat in traps near Bonneville Dam. A cowardly act perpetrated by someone with a stake in the salmon-rich Columbia River. Coverage began in earnest immediately with the AP and several Oregon and Washington-based print and broadcast outlets covering the story. Coverage quickly spread to outlets up and down the west coast, into Canada, then on to other parts of the country and even to parts of Europe.

Was discouraged to see a picture of Mr. Obama with a background picture of Rev. Wright. This is yellow journalism in my opinion. Mr. Obama has denounced Rev. Wright and this is obviously a way of bringing the subject into the minds of your viewers prior to the election. Shame on you.