Intelligent and informative radio: The John Batchelor Show on KSFO

If you're a political, international news and foreign policy junkie like me, than I highly recommend listening to the John Batchelor show, (aired live, locally, on yes, KSFO from 6-8 PM).

First off, Batchelor, who does his show out of NY and is a Gotham veteran, is not, repeat not, a raging, screaming lunatic ultra-right wing nut. He may be on the local version of nutcase radio, but his show is a lively, entertaining, informative and engaging two hours of mostly brilliant audio content with a distinctly PBS/BBC flavor.

Batchelor concentrates on foreign affairs. The Middle East is a popular topic and Batchelor, who sounds like a cross between Dick Cavett and the late Paul Harvey, does his homework. His forte and the art of the show deals with news correspondents across the world. He frequently does live interviews with reporters all the way from London, Damascus, Cairo, and Tel Aviv.

Often times, the shows represent a direct link to some of the biggest international stories of the day. Stories, I may add, that you usually have to read the NY Times to get any coverage, let alone a thought-provoking angle.

Better yet, Batchelor doesn't hit you in the eyes with his own personal politics. He's more like an orchestra conductor directing the band, in this case, the foreign correspondents reporting from the scene of the crime.

In the case of the Middle East, the financial crisis, the latest Stock Market meltdown, Batchelor's repertoire was absolute first-rate and quite a delight to listen to. It certainly beats the relative minutiae of sappy local news devoid of any real thought matter. I mean, after a barrage of 24/7 traffic and weather updates, this is about as good it gets on terrestrial radio.

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