Re: Editorial Judgement (was CENSORSHIP on WBZ RADIO)

["Terrence M. Wood" <terry_wood@prodigy.net>]

Dan, to be correct, CENSORSHIP, is not just a government action.
Any attempt to limit free speech in any form is CENSORSHIP.  Whether it be
the radio, television, movies, or yes even the record industry.  These are
all censors.  We as parents censor our kids language and their behavior.
Censorship is not a government issue thing.  It is societal.  As to the
program on WBZ, I have heard worse language come out of the mouths of the
"Hot Talk Hosts" then what Butch was using.  BTW I agree with Butch on the
World cup thing.  No one cares one way or the other.
From: Dib9@aol.com <Dib9@aol.com>
To: boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org
<boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>; webway@channel1.com
<webway@channel1.com>
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 1998 12:09 PM
Subject: Editorial Judgement (was CENSORSHIP on WBZ RADIO)


>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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