Marc Fisher is a columnist and blogger for The Washington Post. He spoke with Coy Barefoot of Charlottesville–Right Now! about his new book, Something in the Air: Radio, Rock, and the Revolution That Shaped a Generation. Radio may be seen as “old school,” but what’s interesting to Fisher is how media change once they’re considered out of style. He talks about the effects that television had on radio, and he tells the stories of a few disk jockeys that pushed the envelope on radio innovation, including Hunter Hancock, Wolfman Jack, and Cousin Brucie.

Fisher takes us on a guided tour through the history of radio, from the end of live-only musical performances in the 1930s through the “payola” scandals of the ’50s and ’60s to the FM shock jocks and AM right-wing shows of today.

And what does Fisher think of the future of radioGuv,!vDjkjwith podcasts, iPods, and digital streaming now becoming so pervasive? Listen to the podcast and find out. Fisher also keeps his readers up to date on what’s going on in Washington’s radio scene.

University of Virginia President John T. Casteen III delivers his annual State of the University address on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at noon in Old Cabell Hall.

Maurice Apprey, interim dean of the Office of American-American Affairs at the University of Virginia, presents the annual State of the Office of African-American Affairs Address. Apprey, a professor of psychiatric medicine and the School of Medicine’s former associate dean for diversity, was named interim dean in July 2006.

Mark Bergman, a member of the Democratic Party of Virginia, and Shaun Kenney with the Republican Party of Virginia, regularly join Coy Barefoot on Charlottesville–Right Now! for an update on action in the General Assembly. First up in the discussion was the Transportation Compromise – should part of the budget surplus be spent on improving Virginia’s roadways? Next up, Bergman and Kenney discuss two controversial bills: HB2648, which would make abortions a felony; and HB2797, attempting to guarantee “the right to enjoyment of life” for pre-born human beings.
Both also comment on Ed Gillespie’s speech during his recent visit to the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. Some conversations Gillespie’s comments sparked dealt with financial contributions to campaigns and “Gotcha Politics” in reference to the Democratic website Assembly Access.

David Morris is a writer and former Marine, who has an essay in the Winter Edition of the Virginia Quarterly Review. On this segment of Charlottesville–Right Now! with Coy Barefoot, Morris discusses his essay and the Bush Administration’s policies regarding the war in Iraq. The article, The Big Suck: Notes from the Jarhead Underground, recounts his observations about the Marines currently serving in Iraq, gathered from spending several months with them in 2004. He delves into some of the more personal experiences Marines are going through, and tries to shed some light on how the Iraqis are reacting to American intervention.

Morris’ book on the battle of Khafji during the Gulf War, Storm on the Horizon, is in stores everywhere.

Charlottesville Daily Progress political reporter Bob Gibson sets the scene for the “game of chicken” being played in Richmond between the two houses of the General Assembly. With Crossover Day fast approaching, legislators have only one day left to act on bills that originate in their own houses.

“Today and tomorrow are two of the longest days in the legislative year,” says Bob during his weekly visit to WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now. “As of this morning they had more than 1,100 bills that they had not disposed of in the house of origin. By tomorrow night, those bills have to be over in the other house.”

Legislation to be discussed on Tuesday includes the slavery resolution, a tightening of the state’s rules on collection of criminals’ DNA, and of course, what to do about funding new transportation projects.

Coy also asks Bob about his recent article on how we select nominations for circuit judges in Virginia. The legislature will have the final say on who will fill the judgeship on the Albemarle County Circuit Court. The topic has been fiercely discussed on cvillenews.com.

Today we have stories about a murder trial in Charlottesville, a fugitive nabbed in Richmond, another embezzlement in the Catholic Diocese, and new fuel for tourism at the area’s three presidentidential homes. Take a listen by clicking the arrow below, downloading the mp3, or subscribing in iTunes.

Continue reading “Feb 5. Headlines: Murder trial in Charlottesville, sludge protest, Richmond nabs criminal”

Spocko is a blogger from San Fransisco who was appalled at what he was hearing on the radio station KSFO, owned by ABC. The station had been broadcasting what Spocko described as “violent rhetoric,” and Spocko persuaded several advertisers to pull their support of the station. His blog was later served with a “cease and disist” order from ABC. On this clip of Charlottesville–Right Now! with Coy Barefoot, Spocko explains his experiences with KSFO and what the Electronic Frontier Foundation has done to help him deal with the legal side of the controversy.

Later on, Jamison Foser of Media Matters for America joins the discussion. Foser explains how anyone can call attention to this type of speech on the radio – both to management and to the advertisers who pay for it.