COO Carl Ginsburg Departure, Air America Radio

AND ANOTHER ONE'S GONE

For Programmer Ginsburg, A Stormy Departure




Exclusive To The Radio Equalizer

By Brian Maloney



After a stormy contract and compensation dispute, a key Air America programming manager has abruptly departed the company, leaving several of the liberal radio network's hosts in a precarious position.

According to a reliable internal source, Chief Operating Officer Carl Ginsburg cleared out his desk and returned company property yesterday, after his just- expired contract wasn't renewed.

After heated exchanges between dueling lawyers and managers, Ginsburg was able to secure only a brief extension from the firm, said to last until the end of the year.

Ginsburg and his attorney found that to be inadequate and he immediately resigned. In addition, the COO was looking for a previously- promised bonus to be guaranteed, which the company was unable to provide.

And unlike previous managerial departures, Ginsburg will not "remain" in any phony "consulting" role. He's outta there.

Due to Air America's increasingly dire financial straits, it has recently been unwilling to make substantial committments to anyone, other than Randi Rhodes and a handful of mid-level managers.

More than any of Air America Radio's other recent executive departures, Ginsburg's exit will have a dramatic impact on the network's programming. Unlike other managers, he had a direct, hands- on role, as head of the programming department.

In addition, Ginsburg was especially involved in securing "pay- to- play" contracts from leftist groups and media outfits, as the network increasingly relies on brokered, infomercial- style shows to survive. Air America's night and weekend schedules are now dominated by this type of programming.


Ginsburg's tenure was marked by a ruthless, but dedicated, approach to the network. Unlike some of the network's execs, he could be considered a true believer in the cause. And despite the COO title, in many ways, he seemed to have more power and influence than those above him in the chain of command.

For one thing, he spent well over two years at the network, outlasting many who have come and gone in short periods of time.

After he alerted staffers to his impending exit, major concerns immediately began to erupt, especially by some on- air personalities whose careers may be on the line.

For instance, morning host Rachel Maddow has been seeking a new position elsewhere on the schedule, with Ginsburg directly involved in that process. While morale was already quite low, it is now said to be sinking to new depths.

All of this adds up to Air America's most significant departure yet.


With so many managerial positions now open and the company increasingly lacking funds to cover basic expenses, it's hard to determine how Air America could ever hope to get back on track.

Welcome to readers from National Review Online's Media Blog! Thanks to Stephen Spruiell for his support. For other recent Air America coverage, click here and here. For other updates, click here to return to the main page.

Thanks also to Pirate's Cove and Rathergate for their coverage today.

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Outa There, Next Exit: David A Lunde for the Radio Equalizer. Click the link to visit David's site.