Re: Mich. public radio host fired over war remarks

[RadioTony@aol.com]

Wow, most of us are in agreement here. 

There are two points to his firing that go beyond opinion: a) he refused to run NPR newcasts, and b)"denigrating National Public Radio" on the air [Note: Detroit News link, a little more thorough http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0304/04/a05-126999.htm]. He admitted on Carr's show that he repeatedly attacked what he felt was NPR's anti-warm, anti-Bush broadcasts. But let's be honest here, if any of us went off on management, we'd be fired too. 

It's too bad too because it sounded like his music show might be pretty interesting. 

Best, 
Tony Schinella
radiotony@attbi.com
http://politizine.blogspot.com
http://radiotony.blogspot.com
http://home.attbi.com/~radiotony/wsb/

In a message dated 4/4/2003 12:29:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, raccoonradio@yahoo.com writes:

> 
> 
> http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGARNAUM3ED.html
> 
> Terry Hughes, a soul/R&B DJ at WEMU in Michigan, has
> been fired after he refused to run NPR newscasts (he
> feels NPR is biased) and for expressing opinions
> supporting the war in Iraq.
> 
> Perhaps WEMU had a right to fire him, as he "broke
> their rule" about not expressing opinions on
> controversial matters, and refusing the run the
> newscasts. But are they stifling dissent here?
> 
> Imagine if the article had read, "DJ Fired After
> Making Anti-War Remarks On Air". Bring on the ACLU :)
> 
> As the article says, there were complaints from
> listeners about his politics...so maybe the "pressure
> from listeners" could be justified here.
> But since he has been fired, Hughes has also gotten
> more than a few emails of support.
> 
> An interesting situation here: You could say that
> Hughes has a right to air his dissenting opinions
> BUT also he didn't follow the WEMU rules...and,
> by not airing the NPR newscasts, he made his show
> one-sided opinion-wise. I could almost take either
> side on this issue! (Hughes was heard on yesterday's
> Howie Carr show.)