WJR News/Talk Radio Host
Media Insider John McCulloch
Offers Views on Current Events
“Talk radio is the big watchdog, right now,” said Detroit radio personality John McCulloch, talking to the March 16 ERC Forum at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms.
McCulloch, frequently heard on news/talk radio WJR-760am, shared his insights into the broadcast industry, his views on current events, and an insider's perspective on bias in the media.
A looming danger faced by broadcasting may be coming from the federal government, McCulloch warned.
He said there is a threat of increased control over broadcast content through re-imposition of the so-called “fairness” doctrine under the new guise of diversity in broadcasting.
While operating under the now abandoned “fairness” controls, he noted, “Radio was basically a liberal playground.”
As he sees it, imposing content controls would extinguish today's freedom of expression and kill talk radio, while encouraging risk-free, low budget programs such as those on which callers share favorite recipes.
McCulloch explained other forces affecting local radio programming. He said it is “under attack” by the economic forces of business consolidation.
Dramatically illustrating one danger of losing local content to the forces of consolidation, he cited the tornado warning that wasn't broadcast to the affected rural community. The station's clueless announcers were in studios hundreds of miles away from the local transmitter and unaware of actual circumstances in the listening area.
Unlike so much of today's radio broadcasting, he chided network and print media for being biased in their analysis and news coverage.
The radio host offered his observation that conservative women are under vicious attack, citing recent broadcast smears and innuendo about Sarah Palin, Michelle Malkin and others.
Domination by the Left
Sharing his conservative sympathies, he expressed no affection for what the called the “left-leaning apologists now in charge of the USA.”
Among them, he named Attorney General Holder who now admits that during his Senate nomination confirmation hearing he omitted mention of significant, embarrassing legal briefs he had authored.
“Then there is Timothy Geithner, the admitted tax-cheat running the U.S. Treasury and IRS,” he said.
“The political devil,” is what he labeled George Soros, noting Soros favors a one-world government, and he financially supported candidates of both major parties in 2008.
The Senate has its share of whiners, McCulloch noted, like Minnesota's Al Franken, the former host on bankrupt radio network Air America.
“Al Franken couldn't make it, so he got into the Senate,” McCulloch noted.
Remain Vigilant
“Get a copy of the U.S. Constitution,” he suggested as the best defense against attacks on American freedom. He recommended visiting AskHeritage.org for a free pocket Constitution.
Commenting on growing taxpayer unrest, he cautioned against allowing the conservative movement to be diluted by party splits. He noted that a biased media repeatedly refers to rallying activists as members of the tea “party.”
“It could splinter conservatives into parties,” he said.
McCulloch offered the Forum one concluding plan of action, “Vote Republican!”
McCulloch's Roots and Career
McCulloch was born in Ohio during the baby boom and spent his childhood summers in Michigan vacationing at the family cottage.
The broadcaster came to Detroit as a radio host in 1985 via Cleveland where he had spent three years in both morning and afternoon drive time at a top-rated station. In 1990 he and his wife, Cindy, pursued an on-air/ownership opportunity in southwest Florida where talk-radio McCulloch-style was completely new. There he also served as a local newspaper editor.
In 1999, McCulloch was lured back to Detroit by an offer from a talk radio outlet that suddenly changed its format six months after his arrival.
Now, in addition to hosting two weekend expert shows on WJR, McCulloch is responsible for frequently guest-hosting the Frank Beckmann and Mitch Albom shows.
In his tenth year at news/talk WJR-760am, McCulloch has over 30 years experience in talk radio where his diverse background and inquisitive nature add interest to his shows no matter the subject or issue.
Fans agree that McCulloch is an excellent interviewer. In addition, he has a unique knack for engaging his listeners on issues as far ranging as local topics, constitutional issues, or unusual news events.
McCulloch and his wife live in Grosse Pointe Park where they are active in their church and other community activities. A voracious reader, he enjoys current events, golf, and salt-water fishing when not on the air.
The Eastside Republican Club Forum is normally held on the third Tuesday of the month from September through June. Admission is free and the public is always welcome. For more information contact Tom McCleary at 882-2709.
