“Host” with the Most

Author David Foster Wallace composed a piece titled “Host” before his death in September of 2008. His essay looks at John Ziegler a talk radio host, and examines Ziegler’s talk radio niche while also looking at reasons for his success. This peace is beautifully written and very much readable.

One of the main themes found in Wallace’s article is what is talk-radio supposed to be? According to the text, talk radio tends to be nothing short of “stimulating” entertainment.

The fact of the matter is that it is not John Ziegler’s job to be responsible, or nuanced, or to think about whether his on-air comments are productive or dangerous, or cogent, or even defensible. That is not to say that the host would not defend his “we’re better”—strenuously—or that he does not believe it’s true. It is to say that he has exactly one on-air job, and that is to be stimulating.

It is a little frightening to think that individuals are given the power to spew off thoughts, which out being required to give consideration to the effects that they may have to listeners. I personally think that there should be more accountability placed on radio show hosts and station for statements made on air.

 In the text Wallace discusses the types of information and “truths” that are found on talk-radio programming.

…”explaining” the news really means editorializing, infusing the actual events of the day with the host’s own opinions. And here is where the real controversy starts, because these opinions are, as just one person’s opinions, exempt from strict journalistic standards of truthfulness, probity, etc., and yet they are often delivered by the talk-radio host not as opinions but as revealed truths, truths intentionally ignored or suppressed by a “mainstream press” that’s “biased” in favor of liberal interests.

As citizens of the United States we are afforded the right of freedom of speech, so thusly biased opinions are bound  be incorporated into media coverage and reports. This can be a very good thing. By exposing ourselves to more ideas and view points, we become trained at questioning, which is one of the greatest things that we as people can do. Despite this people need to be aware that talk-radio is by definitions infused with biases. We can not blindly believe anything we see, read, or hear from the media, and this includes broadcasts by talk-show hosts like Ziegler.

May 5, 2009. 1.