On the Media

I’ve been listening to and enjoying this program for many years. My one complaint is that when they repeat an old segment, they don’t disclose that fact until the very end. Especially when listening in the app, it would be kind for them to tell us that at the beginning, and in the printed summary!

Frankly, I’ve become disillusioned with most of NPR’s reporting these days, especially when it comes to watering down the genocide of Palestinians and the insanity of the current U.S. administration. On the Media, along with Throughline, though, have been consistent in its reflection of journalistic integrity and willingness to call a spade a spade. I recommend balancing OTM with Al Jazeera’s The Listening Post, although the latter isn’t regularly updated on Apple Podcasts for some reason.

Have learned so much from this podcast. I especially love the interviews with conservatives where there is actual pushback and engagement instead of allowing their outrageous comments to go unchallenged.

This show is very badly-needed analysis of how current events are reported and by whom and why and to what ends and how it calcifies into the Dominant Narrative over time. This show is basically an anti-calcification agent against propaganda. For those who don’t just consume the information as it’s fed to us, but consider the framing and the competing agendas, OTM is one of the few sources of support for doing so. I love this show so much and particularly Brook Gladstone. I listen to every single episode and could listen to BG’s voice all day.

Dear On The Media and the WNYC ecosystem (“On The Media”), Intentional or not, On The Media has played a role in making the violent and deadly ICE raids possible. The show has never directly critiqued the media industry for its continuous exclusion of Latinos. When Latinos do appear in media narratives, they are overwhelmingly depicted as criminals or victims — rarely as broadcasters, journalists, successful children, adults, families, valued consumers, professionals, or business owners. For clarity: when I say Latinos, I am referring primarily to those of Indigenous descent of Central American and Mexican heritage. Their Indigenous features make them easily identifiable, which has allowed ICE agents to target them with alarming efficiency. These raids have resulted in violent arrests, disappearances, family separation, and deaths. If On The Media wants to help prevent this from happening again — to Latinos or to any other group — the path forward is straightforward: 1. Produce a series examining how media exclusion enabled the conditions for ICE raids. Public radio, public media, entertainment media, publishing, and the broader media industry have systematically excluded Latinos or portrayed them through narrow stereotypes. This exclusion helped normalize the conditions that made the raids politically and socially acceptable. Latinos have effectively been a test case for how government power can mistreat ordinary people using taxpayer dollars. That includes the tax dollars of undocumented workers, who also contribute to the tax base. No one in the US lives tax-free. The consequences are severe. Children now live in detention environments resembling concentration camps rather than classrooms. Families have been torn apart. A powerful starting question for such a series would be: Why has this happened? Is it because most Latinos are Catholic or Evangelical Christians? Is it because many are of Indigenous descent? Or is it because Latinos represent one of the fastest-growing economic forces in the United States? 2. Hire Latino journalists and broadcasters so the industry reflects reality. Latinos represent roughly 20% of the U.S. population. National shows need to reflect that reality. Roughly 20% of the voices behind the microphone and in front of the camera need to be Latino - not just relegated to supporting roles. This is not “DEI.” It is sound financial strategy. When Latino audiences see themselves represented accurately and positively across the On The Media ecosystem, they become listeners, sustaining members, and advocates. Representation signals value, and audiences respond to that signal. On The Media does important work, but like much of public radio and the broader media establishment, it has remained conspicuously anti-Latino through omission and framing. Public radio once benefited greatly from Latino tax dollars without offering meaningful representation. That era is over. Trust now has to be earned. On The Media has been part of the problem. It now has the opportunity to become part of the solution. Ensure that Latinos are never again used as a test case for how governments abuse families, children, and communities. When the attacks against Latinos stop, the attacks against others stop as well.

I used to love this show! Key words there “used to”. Sadly the show lacks the effort it used to have. There seems to be very little new content. Every “new” show is just replays of old segments with very little actual new content. Since they kicked Bob off the show, it’s like they’re just phoning it in. I’m sure he was a pain in the back side to work with but without him the show appears to have completely lost its way. The replay segments they do play are not any of the segments with Bob. It’s almost like they need someone with a lot of fiery passion to make the show work. Very disappointing