Re: CENSORSHIP on WBZ RADIO

[FMradio1@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-07-15 09:22:57 EDT, ASchinella@aol.com writes:

<< Strangely, management disagreed with Butch'c COMMENTS, not the TOPIC and
shut the caller off. Butch's comments, albeit paraphrased on BRA, were within
the realm of expected norms on a sports talk show. Casey DIDN'T LIKE THE
COMMENTS.  That is quite a lot different than a DJ playing the Clash on a
Classical music station, or the example you gave Dan.  >>

How is it different?  The job description of a Program Director puts said
person responsible for anything and everything that goes out over the air.
Depending on the management's setup, this includes talk, music, news, spots,
everything.  Casey was perfectly within his right to call in and pull the plug
on Butch.  That's what he is paid to do, whether you like the decision or not.

The larger issue here is that WBZ put Lobel on the radio to captialize on his
off-the-cuff opinions and to cross-promote WBZ-TV.   Casey and the rest of WBZ
radio management knew what they were getting into when they brought in Lobel.
If Casey had issues with Lobel's on air performance, he should have made the
parallels clear to him.  If he did so, and Lobel was operating his show
outside of the standards that Casey set, then killing the call was
appropriate. 

That said, I never had much respect for PD's or GM's that took issue with a
jock or talk show host DURING a shift.  Unless it's a licence-losing offense,
you let the issue go until after the shift and discuss it with the talent,
unless you're ready to fire the talent right then and there.  PD's have the
right to intersede if programming is not to what is dictated, but if it
happens on a regular basis, then the wrong people were hired to staff the
station, and that is not the mark of a good PD.  

Mike Thomas, WXLO & Premiere Radio Networks 

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