Canyon Media, with little or no notice to the listening audience — or even the show’s host, for that matter — cancelled the Kate Dalley Show yesterday. While I am in no position to question the decision logistically, I identify with the disappointment felt in the listening community. Furthermore, I would assert that Canyon Media failed the community in a fiduciary obligation to its citizens to do more than just advertise and play shitty music. The Kate Dalley Show mattered.
The show ran from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. I have been a regularly scheduled weekly guest on the show since 2012 when Kate then co-hosted the show with Bryan Hyde. I often joked that I was the token liberal nemesis; but in truth, Kate having me on the show was actually a well-thought-out strategy to, among other things, counter the assertion that her show was merely an echo chamber for the conservative right.
Kate and I went rounds every week, with little exception, for the better part of the last four years, and although we rarely saw eye to eye on the political spectrum, we were and are, in point of fact, close friends. So say what you will.
The point here is an obvious one to most cities in America but one that Southern Utah seems to be willfully lethargic in grasping. In order for our democratic institution to thrive well, we must by way of the protections afforded us in the First Amendment continually have rigorous and meaningful dialogue about elected and appointed officials in said democratic institution. This imperative task is set at the feet of not only the common citizen but also the reporting journalist — and the political commentator.
I, like Kate, mostly operate in that commentator realm. We have found that we have much more to say than what the rigid protocol of a news-writing environment allows for. And while some openly mock and criticize political commentators, they would do well to realize that in doing so they join that commentary by default. Rigorous civil discourse on matters of consequence is at the core of our ability to sort through the process of living together in a democratic fashion. Were anyone on any end of the spectrum to be pressed on the matter, they would like agree that when only one side owns the debate, that is when only one side is broadcasted or published, civil discourse loses any and all veracity.
Silencing both, however? One has to question just what the people over there at Canyon Media are thinking.
In today’s news environment, the importance of stories is being weighed with search engine optimization and advertising influence. Not unlike the politicians reported on for being swayed not by the people but by corporate lobbyists, the companies that generate news content are more often web marketing engines disguised as news sources.
Don’t misunderstand, here: No sales equals no source. Keeping the lights on in any business is predicated by generating profit. But the conundrum seems to be, “Which is more important, and to whom?”
What Kate’s show did was provide a medium that bridged that gap. It was an interactive show that was often guest-driven and made complete by the engaging public who would call in to be heard, debate, or simply call me a tree-hugging commie. It was — and still is, for that matter — a necessary component of the Fourth Estate to take in to account what has happened locally or abroad and hash it out.
When only one side or one source exists, this leads to that echo-chamber effect, and it is demonstratively dangerous. But again, having no side of it at all, is even more so. And while St. George has come a long way in this arena, it seems intent almost on perpetual digression instead of realizing it still has a long way to go.
Here is the sinister solution to political strife and advertisers, elected officials, and appointed officials are behind it. Instead of only providing one side of any debate regarding anything political, show none. Silence all of it. Then, let advertisers and officials like mayors and water managers pay for guest spots and dictate the content without any contradictory engagement. Or run advertorials, which are everywhere now, and in essence have an ad for your company guised as a news story. Advertiser gets exposure which equals money. Faux source gets paid by advertiser which equals money. People who should be held accountable for there actions by the press gain autonomy and lobbyist cash via advertisers and have sources who promote them as legitimate whether they are or not. They not only get money, they get more unchecked power. Who needs the Fourth Estate anyways right? It gets in the way of progress after all.
Citizens however…
Well, they get fucked.
If you think you don’t like it when a source of information slants left or right by way of its writer, host, or otherwise, think it through. Does the first Amendment ring a damn bell? You know, that Fourth Estate of outside checks and balances that holds our elected and appointed officials accountable while also allowing for the free and open exchange of ideas?
If you think that a writer or host taints views or propagates misinformation that people are helpless to counter, you are among the huddled stupid masses that thinks they should believe every thing they are told by news sources and officials of their predisposed liking, and that no conversation is necessary save the one you agree with. My advice to you is go buy Justin Bieber tickets and a new iPhone for video games and shut the hell up. It is you more so than any tainted show host or writer that wreaks more havoc because you operate from a paradigm that says you don’t have to read, research, or think for that matter. A forum for discussion like the one Kate’s show had, like, agree with her or otherwise, is necessary for citizens to have an open forum to discuss and for officials to hear that we are watching them and what they do. It even leads to action sometimes. Do you honestly think that Judge Ron Read in the Varlo Davenport case stepped down for committing what is tantamount to a crime by engaging in willful and knowing ex parte communication with the prosecution, because it was the right thing to do? He was exposed by that show, among other things and realized that the whole city knew. Get it?
Wake up people. We’ve been conditioned to trust media outlets and frankly, most don’t deserve it. But without them, without the forum for open and published or aired debate, holy shit are we in trouble.
Speaking for myself, I owe a debt of gratitude not only to Canyon Media but also to Kate Dalley and Bryan Hyde for having me as a regular guest on their shows. The market value of that exposure is not lost on me.
But a special and heartfelt farewell goes out to my friend and part-time nemesis, Kate. We worked and laughed together and even saw each other through a few hard times. The community is all the poorer without that show.
See you out there.
Dallas, you speak like there existed open debate with Dalley. There wasn’t – evidenced by your dismissal for being “too liberal” and speaking some truth regarding the Bundy’s, Finicum and the Sage Brush Rebs. That you “thank” them for creating this atmosphere is enlightening.
That her firing is being portrayed as being related to “mysterious doctor deaths,” that she is the mouthpiece for the radical Independent American Party, plays with the JBS associated Defending Utah, blindly supports the Bundy’s/Kris Ann Hall unconstitutional legal tripe and the overall Sagebrush Reb cause, and feigned righteous disgust while mispronouncing LaVoy Finicum’s name after he was shot with you on the air is an indication of the quality of her body of work.
No. She did more to misinform than inform – which you seem to think good for discourse, giving her a pass.
Don’t worry: the theo-con echo-chamber will lives on with afternoon market winner Bryan Hyde. I think he is the more thoughtful of the two anyway. Maybe you can get a spot on his show….
Political commentators are expected by the people that allow them to have a voice to do one thing; keep the populace divided and polarized. The real reason most political programs include both liberal and conservative guests are so the listeners have someone that’s on their team to “educate” them as to what they should believe about a given issue. They also have someone from the other team to “educate” them as to what they should be opposed to and how to argue against it. When someone like Kate is pulled off the air abruptly, it’s usually because she has strayed from creating division and ventured a little to close to unification against the common enemy of the people, the money and power crowd. Dallas, I would love to see you turn your substantial investigative journalism skills towards Canyon Media and find out who was behind the cancellation and why.
Dallas –
I agree entirely with your description of the problem. In order for our democratic institution to thrive we must continually have rigorous and meaningful dialogue about our elected and appointed officials and on matters of consequence. When only one side owns the debate; when only one side is broadcast or published, civil discourse does not exist and democracy suffers.
I disagree with you about Dalley’s show. Other than your visits her show was in fact merely an echo chamber for the ultra-conservative right. Callers were not in the least interested in a civil dialogue but only in validation of their own far right opinions. Although I would tune in from time-to-time, Wednesday was the only day I made it a real point to listen.
One point I will give to Dalley – and perhaps contributed to her firing – was her willingness to express disdain for elected and appointed officials. I did appreciate her candor about Borrin’ Orrin and others.
Unfortunately all other talk shows – local and national — that I’m aware of over local airwaves are also conservative. The hosts are conservative and the callers are conservative. There is no forum whereby moderate much less liberal voices can be heard. By the way, people who consider you a liberal don’t know any real liberals.
As for you, I certainly hope that you find another broadcast venue where you can continue to call to account local officials, the local power structure and we residents.
Since Zinda is throwing out pejoratives, I would say he’s the George Soros-funded troll here.
Roflmao.
I’m a SOROS funded troll, now.
Everything in the nutjob RW world goes back to SOROS.
Cherilyn: Why doesn’t your theo-con Liberty Lineup show on K(T)KK give Dalley a spot?
Maybe she just didn’t have the intestinal fortitude for the job. I had occasion to try and talk to her and was not impressed by her lack of professionalism and her thin skin when it came to honest criticism of her choice of topics of discussion. In other words she took things too personal. Which is not the type of personality that is need to excel in this type of forum. I’m no expert but I know what is interesting and what is just fluff. She choose her path now she can live with it. All media needs to realize that the listener, reader, or watcher is what keeps them in the “money” and if they choose advertising dollars over audience this is what the outcome will be. If they are afraid of reporting what the public deems important out of fear of repercussions (legal and financial). They are going to lose their most important asset “trust”. If you think I’m wrong then why do most people enjoy input from Dallas? It’s because we know that he is willing to just tell it like it is and let the cards fall were they may. Like I said I’m no expert but I also know what I’m looking for from the industry that has been given the responsibility the media industry has been given. If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.