Brian Denzer: Community Gumbo
Serendipity led us to the opening of Dooky Chase’s on Holy Thursday. This also happened to be the celebration of the re-opening of Leah Chase’s restaurant since Katrina. Leah’s traditional Gumbo Z’Herbes was truly ecclesiastical. Saturday, Brian Denzer, from WTUL, aired an interview he recorded last year with Leah Chase, while she was still working hard to get her restaurant open. It’s a great interview and you can hear it here online, at Community Gumbo.
Denzer’s been a presence at WTUL for the last ten years, he started Community Gumbo after Katrina. It is a treasure of local stories. It airs Saturday’s from 8-10 am. WTUL has been gaining popularity in recent years. WWOZ changed programming, I have been rather surprised at some the complaints I’ve heard. I listen less than I used to but ‘OZ is a vital part of our collective identity. However, there is a gaping hole when it comes to places for citizens to have their voices heard in New Orleans. I can’t stomach the insulting right-wing talk radio that monopolizes most of the dial in New Orleans. There’s just no balance and it seems that being stupid is a strategy. I listen to Garland Robinette for two minutes before I just feel sorry for him and resign myself to the CD player again.
WWNO, our NPR affiliate isn’t great for local stories. Local freelance reporter, Eve Troeh who I have been fortunate to work with does many pieces for NPR. However, NPR really pushes her to keep her stories painfully short. Eve says it’s almost impossible for her to give accurate and solid coverage to local stories, which we know can be complicated, in three minutes.
In New Orleans, the concentration of media ownership fails to adequately serve the community. Thirteen radio stations in the local market are held by just two companies (Entercom owns six, Clear Channel owns seven). Three of these stations are broadcasting the same content (870 AM simulcasts on 105.3 FM, and programs are repeated on 1350 AM). Every talk format station in New Orleans broadcasts nationally-syndicated partisan programs. Meanwhile, there is virtually no community driven talk programming on the local airwaves. And who does Rob Couhig represent? Couhig Heights? And Rush Limbaugh? Sean Hannity? Egads! These hysterical pompous hate mongers have a monopoly on the dial. Where do the rest of us go to be heard? Where do the rest of us go to listen?
New Orleanians are actively engaged in the process of rebuilding their city, yet they have no venue for sharing and amplifying their ideas and concerns. The post-planning phase of rebuilding of New Orleans demands a participatory process, where all of the relevant questions and concerns are given an open airing. Furthermore, we have a lot of great personalities and talent here in the city, their contribution would make our airwaves compelling and authentic.
Could we use WTUL in a more mixed format? Would Tulane open up time for some residents create their own programs? What is going on at WRBH? They perform a service, but could they widen their scope? There’s talk and options out there.
The Community Radio Broadcasters Conference is in town this week, however, New Orleans lacks this real format for the community to speak on their own terms.
Free Radio New Orleans is a new blog for discussion and exchange of ideas on this topic:Free Radio New Orleans
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New Orleanians are actively engaged in the process of rebuilding their city, yet they have no venue for sharing and amplifying their ideas and concerns.
Well, there’s the blogosphere, but it doesn’t address the problem of the non-connected community, which in New Orleans I’m guessing is the majority. Another venue might be public access television, but that’s a lot of work to put together. Although the crazy people always seem to have enough time to stage a cable access show :)
Are there any stats available for audience numbers for the different media types? Internet, printed publication, radio, TV - that would be my guess for least-subscribed to most.
Wow, I, I really don’t know what to say. Maybe you should just start your own radio station. It never even occurred to me to crap on a chunk of the electromagnetic spectrum. Good work.
I’m sorry but it sounds like you’re just angry radio stations aren’t begging you to do shows for them. Either that or you’re angry that none of the various stations and formats say anything you agree with. Your choice.
Regardless, it doesn’t mean there’s “no venue for sharing and amplifying their ideas and concerns.” There are plenty of venues - you just don’t like them - that’s different.
ecclesiastical:
1. Of or relating to a church, especially as an organized institution.
2. Appropriate to a church or to use in a church: ecclesiastical architecture; ecclesiastical robes.
WTUL? Tulane’s radio station? Ten years? Is that guy the world’s oldest college freshman?
I wish I could have been there for the opening of Dooky Chase. I love that place and Leah is a community hero in my book. As far as the right wing coporate radio. we are lucky that we don’t have goose stepping assholes marching down our steets. Take a look at who sponsors the promoters of hate, what could their motivation be.
Jack, I am not so sure how you got from suggesting we need to think about local radio to “crap on a chunk of the electromagnetic spectrum.” As you so poetically put it.
What is wrong with the idea that residents of the City could have an outlet to communicate on. Isn’t that what radio is? A communication tool with local outlets?
You just sound angry and frustrated.
There’s nothing wrong with residents of the City having an outlet to communicate on, in fact several varieties of it already exist - For example NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO. I take exception to the claim that there is no “venue” when its being posted on a blog which is also an outlet to communicate on. And to be fair, not everyone has the internet since its so new and all - I think it was only invented about a year ago - I hope it catches on. I think the bigger obstacle though is that half the city can’t fucking read.
Angry and frustrated? Sure I am, but that has nothing to do with my point. My point is that there are venues and outlets for communication and just because you don’t agree with their format or politics doesn’t mean they don’t exist. It might mean they aren’t very representational of the city, but if its just a handful of people with some niche interest that aren’t being represented then you’ll just have to start your own station or put in a proposal for a show and do the work and see if there are others who share your interest. Who knows, maybe there are a bunch of people who want to listen to 6 hours of “don’t tear down the old shit” talk on the squandered heritage radio network - hell, I don’t know.
Bern, I know it might be difficult to appreciate what WTUL is if you haven’t heard it, or if you don’t understand the philosophy behind it. If you weren’t so busy making smartass remarks, you might have discovered that WTUL lives by principles which leave it open to a very broad community of volunteers — among them, alumnus, of which I number. But I’m sure it’s easier to ingratiate yourself by insulting than asking and seeking information.
Jack, who brainwashed you? Rush Limbaugh? Sean Hannity? For your information, National Public Radio is not local. It’s a nationally syndicated, not-for-profit, public news network, supported almost entirely now by corporate sponsors and listeners. National Public Radio is decidedly *not* a venue for local voices to be heard. Apparently you don’t listen to NPR, or you’d know that already. In fact, many people, including myself, have come to criticize National Public Radio for it’s stale format targeted at suburban upper class soccer moms near the beltway. It *is* an *intelligent* alternative source of news on the radio, however, which is why I listen to it — along with all the other voices on the dial, to keep up on the rabid, rhetorical right-wing hate rants.
As for blogs as alternative forums - sure, but they don’t have the reach or immediacy of radio.
Furthermore, Jack, I truly believe, as you so disparagingly remarked, that “there are a bunch of people who want to listen to 6 hours of ‘don’t tear down the old shit’ talk on the squandered heritage radio network.” Among the people who would be interested in listening are the building suppliers and contractors, who will all want to sponsor a radio station that offers the true voices of the community, and that is listened to by the community.
Are you jealous because no one would be interested in the “I’m Jack Ware, and I’m an angry man” show?
Actually, Jack would be a good person to have a time slot on radio. He has his own ideas. He has a strong voice and a sharp sense of humor. Jack asks great questions. I just think our residents have a lot say. Blogging is a great media alternative but it can lack real dimension. I think people do tend to come off as overly pissy but it’s not always the case. A true community radio forum would be a great asset to our residents. I would imagine it would grow into something uniquely ours.