Building An Audience Who Wants Progressive News and Views

This is a guest blog by Suzanne Prescott, who joined with Eric Griego to create the local progressive talk radio show, Insight New Mexico, which aired for on 1350AM on Saturdays during the NM Legislative Session:

Those who listened to Insight New Mexico have asked if Eric Griego (above right, in studio) will be back on radio. Blogger, Joe Monahan, points out that Eric's options could include competing activities like a run for Heather Wilson's seat or even expanded job duties in Santa Fe. What's up next for Eric? We don't know but we're listening.

We can however look at data about podcasts taken from Eric's radio show, Insight New Mexico, which aired throughout the NM legislative session on AM 1350 Progressive Talk Radio. Individual interviews with guests were podcasted as well as podcasts of shows in their entirety. Podcasts have been played more than 1000 times. By May 11th the top 12 individual interviews (see below) were played 583 times. In addition complete shows were accessed which further increased exposure to show guests beyond listeners who listened to individual podcasts. We conclude that podcasts increased exposure to local progressive legislators, bloggers, journalists and advocates for progressive issues and the numbers continue to grow. 

While the original radio broadcasts may have had somewhere around 1000 - 2000 listeners, podcasts are disseminated over the Internet and provide exposure to a limited audience outside New Mexico, as well as friends, family, staff of guests, and other interested parties. Once radio shows aired and podcasts were created from the shows, it took some time for the podcasts to find their way to interested listeners. For example the individual interview with Sandy Buffet, Executive Director of Conservation Voters NM, was podcasted on February 1 and only played 6 times by March 1 but by May 11th had been played 52 times. (To see the detailed number of plays go to https://podcast.insightnm.net .)

In comparison to audiences for a local conservative weekday drive time radio, these numbers are small - a weekday morning drive time show in Albuquerque could attract 18,000 - 20,000 listeners. However, in terms of building a progressive listenership, the figures suggest that there is an audience waiting to be built and listeners looking for alternative points of view. As soon as AM 1350 began broadcasting Air America radio lineup and other progressive talk shows hosts like Ed Schultz (left, with Suzanne Prescott), the radio talk show audience at normally conservative KKOB saw a decline.  But progressive views on commercial radio rarely include local news and talk. For a progressive slant in Albuquerque, interested parties must rely on a modest set of local resources like the New Mexico blogosphere, Channel 27, KUNM, and the 'The Science Guys' on AM 1350 Talk Radio. Clearly there's room for improvement. It's not too early to begin building a local progressive base by adding radio to the media mix and doing more to extend the current reach of the blogosphere.  It's also too early to conclude that a progressive campaign media strategy should rely on a mind numbing and alienating TV blitz at campaign's end. The recent failure in the District #1 race shows that too much reliance on TV is risky.

The Top Dozen Podcasts from Eric Griego's Insight New Mexico radio show

1) Eric Griego talks with statesman and former mentor, Richard Romero.
* Played 61 times * Runtime 00:08:53

2) Eric interviews Eric Mack, Executive Producer for the New Mexico News Connection, a radio news service.
* Played 54 times * Runtime 00:06:49

3) Eric interviews Senator Dede Feldman
* Played 52 times * Runtime 00:14:32

4) Eric talks with James Scarantino
* Played 52 times * Runtime 00:08:56

5) Eric chats with Sandy Buffet, Executive Director of Conservation Voters NM
* Played 52 times * Runtime 00:00:00

6) Eric chats with conservative New Mexico blogger, Mario Burgos
* Played 49 times * Runtime 00:13:00

7) Eric Interviews New Mexico State Representative, ‘Moe’ Maestas
* Played 48 times * Runtime 00:11:00

8) Eric interviews New Mexico State Senator Jerry Ortiz Y Pino
* Played 48 times * Runtime 00:12:08

9) Eric interviews Maggie Toulouse, Bernalillo County Clerk
* Played 46 times * Runtime 00:11:29

10) Eric interviews Barbara Wold creator of the blog, Democracy for New Mexico
* Played 42 times * Runtime 00:07:08

11) Eric talks with Gene Grant, Albuquerque Tribune columnist and host of 'The Line' on KNME-TV
* Played 41 times * Runtime 00:09:00

12) Eric discusses prospects for passage of the Ethics Reform package with Matt Brix, Executive Director of Common Cause New Mexico
* Played 38 times * Runtime 00:15:26

Note: Unfortunately the second show was not recorded by AM station 1350,  and therefore interviews with our guests,  Mimi Stewart, Joe Monahan, and Kate Nash could not be podcasted.

Editor's Note: This is a guest blog from frequent contributor Suzanne Prescott. If you'd like to submit a post for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link at the upper left-hand corner of our main page.