PBS Newshour's feature on "Talkers Shaping Political Discourse in U.S."

PBS Newshour had an illuminating feature examining the role Talkers are playing in American Politics.

Some of the most poignant comments came from Michael Harrison, editor and publisher of Talkers Magazine

On why Talk Radio is the way it is and why it always has been

TV, Radio Talkers Shaping Political Discourse in U.S.
MICHAEL HARRISON: Radio, popular radio in America, all the way back to the '30s, has been a street medium. It's always been the medium of the street, reflecting populism.

So, what you hear on radio and what you're seeing now on cable news talk television, which is really an extension of talk radio, is just the First Amendment in action.

On the misleading estimation of the influence of Talkers

MICHAEL HARRISON: We have these nationally famous people who really have much smaller audiences than the awareness of them would indicate or make you believe. What happens is, they -- they talk to their faithful in terms that the faithful expect and understand. They preach to the choir. And some of the things they say are repugnant to people who have other choirs.

- Download the audio from PBS Newshour's report airing Nov 4, 2009