Editorial Judgement (was CENSORSHIP on WBZ RADIO)

[Dib9@aol.com]

First, let's use terms more precisely.  Censorship is government action to
limit freedom of speech or to control the content of speech  or broadcasting.
What happened on WBZ was simply editorial judgement being made by management.
You may not agree with it, but editorial judgements are made at all radio
stations.  I screened calls for the morning show at WGAN and often did not put
callers on the air.  Sometimes I did it because I knew the caller was going to
be boring and would not contribute to the show.  We also cut off have callers
that we thought went too far.

I also heard Butch's call and did not think he was pushing the envelope all
that much.  I would not have cut him off and I can understand why Lobel was
upset about management interfering with his show.  I do not like Lobel, but he
did stand on principle and vote with his feet.  Good for him.  On the other
hand, Casey is the Program Director and he does have the right and
responsibility to decide what gets on the air.

Dan Billings
Bowdoinham, Maine

In a message dated 98-07-14 10:55:59 EDT, you write:

<< During CALLING ALL SPORTS, the infamous "Butch from the Cape" called and
 made remarks such as "no one gives a rat's ass about the World Cup" and
 other salty remarks. WBZ program director Peter Casey called the station
 and ordered the board op to kill the call and Lobel feels this borders on
 censorship. I tend to agree with Lobel on this.
 
 I happened to be listening at the time and actually was laughing along
 with the hosts as Butch was on a roll. (most times on WEEI, I can't stand
 him). 
 
 CBS can not have it both ways....after all they feed Howard Stern and Don
 Imus to millions daily, and WBZ does use a seven second delay if needed.
 Lobel at times excels on radio, and my hunch is that it is Lobel, not Jack
 Williams that gives the Channel 4 Sunday news at 11 PM the highest ratings
 of the week. 
 
 If I was Uncle Mel, Peter Casey would be cleaning out his desk this
 morning.  >>

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End of boston-radio-interest-digest V2 #127
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