I just watched a segment on The Newshour about talk radio. What a perfect illustration for reporting facts, but not the story. They try to explain the success of rightwing talk radio without ever stumbling over the fact that it tapped a market that was being ignored by normal news media.

Of course, Bill O'Reilly and Michael Savage are featured prominently, as are Rush, Sean Hannity and Al Franken, who is starting a new liberal talk show. Good luck, Al. The bias of the major media is discussed, but only in cursory terms, and duly denied by a spokesman, but what is ignored is the fact that liberal talk show hosts have no real market to target. I suppose that those who just like to listen to nastiness like Michael Savage will listen to Al Franken as he attacks the Right and, presumably, brings on conservative guests and tears them apart. However, if anyone is hungry for a left spin on the news, they don't need to tune in his show. They've got NPR, which lets them feel even more superior by letting them pay for the privilege of only listening to NPR promos. They've also got CBS, NBC, CBS and PBS. They've got every major newspaper in the country and the major news weeklies. All of those share the same market, while Fox News Channel, the Weekly Standard, National Review and talk radio don't have to compete for the same audiences.

I don't like Michael Savage, O'Reilly, Hannity or Rush. I got tired of Michael Medved, whose formula is inviting guests whom he disagrees with and then becoming exasperated with their stupidity. I can do without the contentiousness. I listen to Hugh Hewitt, who mixes it up with some guests, but mostly just likes to rib people and doesn't seem to take political differences interfere with honest friendliness. He has the smartest lineup of regular guests in the business and he lets them talk. It really is intelligent talk radio having a good time.

I'm not interested in hearing Michael Moore or Al Franken. I've heard what they have to say, and it's not new, true or interesting. So when Franken's show fails, and the Newshour wonders why, you read it here.