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As a native and now a longtime summer rusticator in Downeast Maine, I have enjoyed listening to some of the programs on WVOM that allowed me to stay in touch with my beloved State of Maine. Recent changes have shaken my faith in the direction of WVOM.
I get that George Hale is getting long in the tooth. Heck, my parent’s bedside radio automatically came on before sunrise every morning with George at the microphone. His TV broadcasts were also omnipresent in our home, as were his game-time announcer programs. Listening to him as a sometime foil of Ric Tyler became a favorite breakfast time mainstay with the now-cancelled GHRT program.
Now, the slogan “Confrontation through conversation,” barely makes sense like it did when George seemingly tried to balance the conversation. Now the only “confrontation” I hear is Tyler and his sidekick Paul Wolfe and guests bashing their liberal archrivals. There is no real confrontation between left- and right-wing ideologies or guests. I think the conservation is all about toeing the right-wing narrative 100%.
Now, another shoe has dropped. The cancellation of V. Paul Reynold’s Sunday evening program, “The Maine Outdoors,” raises a fear of ageism for elder broadcasters that I sense might be an element in losing both George and Paul. Great content and listener participation in the latter’s program now down the river without a paddle.
Time now to move down the dial.
Steven Guthrie
Eastbrook