Air America, New York Post, Radio & Records, Billboard, John Mainelli

LASHING OUT

Air America, Media Supporters Play Kill The Messenger




If there were any lingering doubts regarding the mainstream media's double standards on Air America reporting, they were forever removed today.

In conjunction with the company itself, well-positioned "kill-the-messenger" pieces began to appear this afternoon, after a number of New York City newspapers investigated and added to our exclusive Friday report.

Later in the day, the firm itself resorted to lashing out, while Internet radio message boards were slammed with more personal attacks, not only against us, but All Access, New York Post reporter John Mainelli and the New York Sun's David Lombino, as well.

Yes, anybody who dared to cover Air America's troubles honestly and fairly was in for it from this increasingly unhinged group of Franken-friends.

Once again missing in action: the New York Times, always there for Air America fluff pieces, curiously absent when it's time to report the truth.

A rough timeline since our Friday report:


--- Yesterday, industry trade site All Access was able to obtain a vague and cryptic Air America response to our report the liberal radio network would soon lose its flagship station, WLIB-AM in New York City:

In response to MALONEY's report, AIR AMERICA RADIO spokeswoman JAIME HOOD told ALL ACCESS that “it is business as usual at AIR AMERICA RADIO, we will not, nor have we ever discussed, our confidential negotiations with third party companies, investors, or others in a public forum. We have no plans of leaving the NEW YORK CITY airwaves and plan to be on in NEW YORK for many years to come.”

--- This morning, the New York Post published its version of the story, by talk radio industry veteran John Mainelli, with additional research added (such as the Rev. Al Sharpton's potential role in squeezing out Air America):

March 7, 2006 -- AIR America is close to losing its New York flagship station - knocking Al Franken and his liberal colleagues off the air on their second anniversary.

The network has a two-year lease with WLIB (AM 1190) that is reportedly set to expire April 1 - and at least one reliable report says it is "extremely likely" the deal will not be renewed.

Losing its New York outlet would be a serious blow to the fledgling liberal radio network. "Radio Equalizer" blogger Brian Maloney - who blew the whistle on questionable loans to the lefty network last year - published the first report that WLIB was on the verge of evicting Air America some time soon.

Air America's options for a new home are not promising. All of the city's other strong-signal stations are spoken for, leaving only weak-signal "fringe" stations that do not cover the entire city and suburbs.

Air America parent Piquant LLC has reportedly been paying Inner City Broadcasting - controlled by former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton and his son, Pierre - $2.5 million a year to air Franken and others.

An Air America spokeswoman told The Post, "It's business as usual," and declined further comment.

Air America got unwanted headlines last year when it was learned that previous management had received what investigators called an "inappropriate" $875,000 loan - since repaid - from a Bronx charity.

Calls to Inner City execs were not returned.

The leading contenders to take over the WLIB lease are former Clear Channel exec Randy Michaels, who syndicates competing lefty talker Ed Schultz, and the new Radio One black-focused talk network that includes Rev. Al Sharpton.

--- Meanwhile, David Lombino at the New York Sun also filed a morning report (excerpted here):

By DAVID LOMBINO - Staff Reporter of the Sun
March 7, 2006


Air America Radio, the liberal radio network that is home to host Al Franken, is refusing to address reports that it will be dropped by its New York flagship station, WLIB.

A spokeswoman, Jaime Horn, said she would not comment on the reports due to ongoing negotiations, but added, "We have no plans of leaving the New York City airwaves and plan to be on in New York for many years to come.

--- Investigative partner Michelle Malkin offered her coverage analysis here.


And this is where Air America's media defenders went into high gear to protect Al Franken & Co:


--- The once-respected, increasingly sleazy Billboard Magazine's Radio Monitor continued its outrageous pro-Air America slant, even trashing Mainelli's coverage:

The Post, in particular, seemed to offer a sensationalist slant to its reporting of the alleged loss of WLIB. Reporter John Mainelli wrote, “Air American is close to losing its New York flagship station, knocking Al Franken and his liberal colleagues off the air on the second anniversary.

Danny Goldberg, CEO of Air America Radio, responded late Tuesday morning to “recent reports via the conservative media” in a staff memo in which he said, “Air America’s ratings in New York went up substantially in the fall 2005 book. Air America’s New York audience is large, growing and valuable. In every conceivable scenario, Air America will continue to be on in New York City.”

“It is vital, when analyzing chatter about Air America to consider the source,” Goldberg continued. “In almost all cases, the people who say bad things about our company’s business are conservative ideologues who have a particular interest in damaging Air America, for one reason and one reason only: the political opinions expressed by our on air talent. Bill O’Reilly alone has mentioned Air America on 37 separate occasions since our programming went on the air. Al Franken has offered to debate O’Reilly in any number of forums including on “The O’Reilly Factor” and O’Reilly has declined.”

More on this later, including a response from well-respected, longtime industry programmer and reporter Mainelli.

By the way, what does Bill O'Reilly have to do with this story? The loss of WLIB is the issue.


--- Spreading the disinformation further was a Media Week version of Billboard's biased piece.


--- Topping the cake, a highly misleading report from Radio & Records, which misstates Air America's response, further assisting the company's spin efforts (errors are highlighted):

In a memo to the AAR staff, CEO Danny Goldberg denied published reports that the liberal Talk network is facing financial challenges and a loss of its N.Y.C. flagship, WLIB/New York. "It is vital, when analyzing chatter about Air America, to consider the source," said Goldberg.

"In almost all cases, the people who say bad things about our company’s business are conservative ideologues who have a particular interest in damaging Air America for one reason and one reason only: the political opinions expressed by our on-air talent."

Commenting on AAR's financial viability, Goldberg said, "Our board continues to be very supportive of our company, and we continue to operate on a firm footing in all respects." As to reports that the network is facing a loss of its lease of WLIB from Inner City Broadcasting, Goldberg said, "We will not, nor have we ever discussed, our confidential negotiations with third-party companies, investors or others in a public forum. We have no plans of leaving the New York City airwaves and plan to be on in New York for many years to come."

To correct Radio & Records, Air America has yet to deny it faces a loss of WLIB-AM. It's not contained in any of their statements.

In addition, the latter comment was apparently made yesterday by Air America spokeswoman Jaime Horn.

Watch for another update tonight.

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Images: Pete at IHillary for the Radio Equalizer