Radio Talk Shows

This week for English lab I listened to three different radio talk shows and analyzed the similarities and differences among each. I observed things such as the sound of the talk show hosts voice, the issues discussed, the way the show was organized, and the people interviewed. Before this assignment, I never really took the time to listen to the radio talk shows and really take in the topics they talk about. I think it is interesting to listen to radio talk shows because they are for the most part live footage. If someone were to mess up or say something out of line, there is pretty much nothing anyone can do about it. It gives the hosts the chance to express their opinions on important and sometimes even useless information, and the people a chance to call in and put in their two sense.
The first radio station i listened to was 77WABC news talk radio. When i put this station on they were discussing magazines and how female celebrities are sending out the wrong messages to young girls. They are persuading teens to be extremely skinny and dress sleezy. By letting children read these magazines, we are enstilling the wrong ideas into the new generation's heads, that being skinny and wearing small clothes is the only way to get places in this day and age. It is sad because there are so many things in magazines that are beneficial, but issues like this bring magazines down.
The second radio station that I listened to was NPR News Radio. This is a very popular station, known worldwide. I turned this station on right as they were introducing a new segment. This segment discussed the attitudes of black youth. Lead researcher Kathy Kohen, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago, was interviewed about this topic. She talks about how it is important that we listen to young people, and their feelings towards important issues in society. The young black society believe there should be a color blindness approach on many things, and feel as if they are ignored on many major issues. Throughout the rest of the show we go straight to the source. Some young black people are questioned about important issues, and how these issues concern or do not concern the black community as a whole.
The third and final radio station that I listened to was USAradio. This radio station jumped from topic to topic, but what I found most interesting was when they discussed Valentine's day and the best chocolates to eat. I know this is not a important issue in society today, but it held my attention, and took a turn away from the serious topics that were discussed both before and after. It gave the listener a little bit of a break from all the terrible stuff going on in our world today. Employees spent the past two weeks blind taste-testing more than 30 brands of chocolate from all over the world. After gorging on the good stuff, the stuffed staff reached some decisions about the best and worst Valentine's Day online orderable gifts to give this holiday season. One of the top choices was the Madagascar and Ocumare bars from Amano Chocolate, and one of the worst choices was Devries chocolate. I considered this just a little fun fact to make your Valentines's Day that much sweeter.