Pol Replaces Pol
Submitted by Al Diamon on Sun, 09/30/2007 - 8:04pm.
September 28, 2007
It didn't take WGAN Radio in Portland long to find a replacement for Ethan Strimling, the Portland state senator who resigned as the co-host of the weekly "Inside Maine" program on Sept. 22 to pursue a bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Maine's 1st District. The show's new host is Barbara Merrill, who ran for governor as an independent in 2006. Merrill will kick off her duties on Sept. 29 by interviewing Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Former GOP state Sen. Phil Harriman will continue to co-host.
WGAN Program director Jeff Wade said Merrill, who finished a respectable third in the five-way gubernatorial race, was "a compelling voice in Maine politics" and "a natural fit to replace Ethan and grow the show."
I've been giving WGAN some heat for allowing Strimling to continue to work on the air long after it became obvious he was running for office. While the practice isn't illegal or a violation of federal broadcasting rules, I felt it raised a number of ethical concerns about the station, which prides itself on its news coverage, and its close relationship with a political candidate.
I asked Wade if he'd discussed Merrill's political plans before hiring her. He refused to answer, citing employee confidentiality. He did say the station was not altering its approach of using politicians as talk-show hosts.
"Folks that have high profiles, if they choose political careers, that's their business," he said. "I don't feel we have to change the way we do business as a result."
Al Diamon can be e-mailed at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
It didn't take WGAN Radio in Portland long to find a replacement for Ethan Strimling, the Portland state senator who resigned as the co-host of the weekly "Inside Maine" program on Sept. 22 to pursue a bid for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Maine's 1st District. The show's new host is Barbara Merrill, who ran for governor as an independent in 2006. Merrill will kick off her duties on Sept. 29 by interviewing Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Former GOP state Sen. Phil Harriman will continue to co-host.
WGAN Program director Jeff Wade said Merrill, who finished a respectable third in the five-way gubernatorial race, was "a compelling voice in Maine politics" and "a natural fit to replace Ethan and grow the show."
I've been giving WGAN some heat for allowing Strimling to continue to work on the air long after it became obvious he was running for office. While the practice isn't illegal or a violation of federal broadcasting rules, I felt it raised a number of ethical concerns about the station, which prides itself on its news coverage, and its close relationship with a political candidate.
I asked Wade if he'd discussed Merrill's political plans before hiring her. He refused to answer, citing employee confidentiality. He did say the station was not altering its approach of using politicians as talk-show hosts.
"Folks that have high profiles, if they choose political careers, that's their business," he said. "I don't feel we have to change the way we do business as a result."
Al Diamon can be e-mailed at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
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