The other day I was talking with a friend who was dismayed over the departure of Keith Olbermann from MSNBC. She expressed a hunch that I think many progressives share: that Olbermann’s exit foreshadows the inevitable transformation of the cable news outlet by its new owners Comcast into a less progressive, less “left”, voice.<\/p>\n
She then turned to me and said, “Air America’s gone, MSNBC is doomed, you guys (Pacifica) are going to be the only game in town again, the only voice of sanity.”<\/p>\n
As Program Director at KPFK, Southern California’s Pacifica station, it’s a sentiment I’ve heard before — in particular when the Air America Radio Network closed shop after five years of progressive advocacy and constant fiscal crisis.<\/p>\n
From the point of view of Pacifica, it’s not surprising that advertising revenue is in short supply for media outlets critiquing society from the progressive side; while, in turn, money is ever-abundant for conservative voices. <\/p>\n