Re: CENSORSHIP on WBZ RADIO

[Shawn Mamros <mamros@MIT.EDU>]

>I would disagree with you only on this point: programming music is different
>than programming talk. 

Not really.  In either case, the licensee of the station has the sole
responsibility for what gets aired, in the eyes of the FCC.  If a caller
gets out of line and a show producer doesn't act, it is the station that
will be fined should the FCC choose to do so - not the caller.

>In the case we are speaking about, the show is a sports talk show. If the host
>thinks the caller has a valid point on a topic, where does the programmer get
>off calling in and shutting off the caller? I did not hear the call but I know
>that Butch from the Cape is a HUGE sports fan and was making comments about
>sports. That fits in with the format being programmed which is sports talk and
>sports commentary. The host has the power to decide if the caller is making a
>point that he wants heard. [...]

As does the show producer and the PD.

It is usually a tenet of *good* talk radio programming that no single
caller be allowed to monopolize a show.  It isn't fair to other callers,
no matter how "valid" the one caller's point may be, and it can be a big
turn-off to the audience.  The fact that you know who "Butch from the Cape"
is indicates to me that he's the sort who could easily take over an entire
show, if the host/producer/PD lets him.  Peter Casey's call to cut him
off doesn't sound like censorship to me - more like a matter of knowing
"when to say when".  (And you already know my opinion of Lobel's ability,
so I'll leave it at that.)

If in fact "Butch from the Cape" is so knowledgeable about sports, there's
nothing stopping him from becoming a sports columnist, is there?  Heck,
he could have Lobel's radio job now - it would seem there's a vacancy...

- -Shawn Mamros
E-mail to: mamros@mit.edu

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