March 05, 2008
Bernie Hayes Understands
Always pleased to see another installment of "Bernie Hayes Understands" in my in-box and always pleased to reprint one, with the BH stamp of approval.
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Bernie Hayes Understands
March 6, 2008
BH 363
Without change there is no hope!
This is a follow-up to my last column 'If ignorance is bliss, we should be very happy!'
I don't want to constantly criticize and complain about local or national media, but the way things are, I find it necessary to devote much more time to the topic, because the radio industry paints a bleak picture as these new so called 'shock jocks,' and conservative talk show hosts infuse and saturate local markets, eroding audiences and alienating listeners. How sad and disappointing it is.
People seem to have had their fill of stupidity on the airwaves. Falling listenership among adults should be a particular concern for the industry, but conventional radio stations are losing their grip on the older generations, particularly African American who yearns for something of substance.
Systematic efforts to control media in the African American community and the community at large have intensified, indicating further erosion of civil liberties and the flow of information. One of the troubling developments I notice is the emergence of so called 'Shock Jocks,' and a number of bigoted, so-called 'conservative talk show hosts,' such as, in my personal opinion, the likes of Bill Cunningham, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Michael Reagan, Glenn Beck and 'The O'Reilly Factor with Bill O’Reilly,' to name a few.
Don Imus, who was fired from a national syndicated talk show for remarks he made about the athletes of Rutgers University's women's basketball team, is back on the air, thanks to the Citadel Broadcasting Corporation. The self-styled "I-Man" has returned to the airwaves and is as accepted and as admired as he was by his listeners in the past.
Hal Turner of Kalamazoo, Michigan, has a history of extremely violent statements in which he calls on his supporters and members of the racist right to consider violent attacks against people of color.
James Edwards is the host of "The Political Cesspool," a blatantly white nationalist radio talk show that broadcast for two hours every weeknight from a studio near Memphis, Tenn.
Local radio host J.C. Corcoran was recently suspended by Emmis Communications for comments he made on his radio show on KHITS 96.3, after he made negative statements toward Ameren UE because he lost his power during the Super Bowl. Corcoran allegedly said, "I swear, I'm gonna get on top of your building with an AK-47 and just start picking people off."
In 1993, Steve and DC were fired by WKBQ (104.1 FM) in St. Louis after they told a black woman caller that she was "acting like a n----r" when she complained about their on-air comments. The jocks told listeners they opposed museums or TV shows devoted to blacks unless there were museums "about exclusive white contributions" or an hour on television devoted to white history. They were eventually returned to the airways a few months later.
Clear Channel Communications’ 100.3-The Beat, fired DJ Kaos and DJ Sylli Asz, for damaging remarks made about law enforcement after the shooting in July, 2005 of Kirkwood Sgt. William McEntee. The deejays later apologized for their comments, but were not rehired.
We should remember that culture affects both the substance and style of communication. People often view conflicts from very different perspectives depending upon such things as cultural background, economic position, and religious beliefs. In order for the parties to communicate effectively, they need to understand the point of view or perception of other parties.
We no longer live and work in a restricted market. For this reason we need every bit of diversity that will make us more creative and open to change. Cultural diversity brings fresh ideas and differing insights to everyone.
With this in mind, I must repeat what I wrote in my previous column, "In 2008, there are no local stations, except for a few hours on Sunday mornings, providing vital news and information directed to African Americans. This is shameful, especially when you realize that Black talk and information radio was responsible for the election of the city's first black mayor, the city's first black police chief, the city’s first black superintendent of public schools and the city's first black fire chief.
I rest my case. Hotep!
Please listen to my radio Internet broadcasts on LouRadio.com.