Shock-Jock Stern Crosses 'Line in Sand,' Booted by Major Radio Network
by Jody Brown
February 26, 2004
(AgapePress) - As far as Clear Channel Communications is concerned, Howard Stern has stepped over the line of decency. It remains to be seen, however, if Stern's employer -- Viacom -- has as much moxie.On the same day it announced its new "Responsible Broadcasting Initiative," Clear Channel -- a San Antonio-based media and entertainment company with radio and TV stations around the world -- decided to kick shock-jock Howard Stern off their 1,200 stations until they have assurances he has cleaned up his act. The president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio says the company "drew a line in the sand" regarding indecent content, and that on Tuesday, February 24, Stern's show "blew right through it."
"It was vulgar, offensive, and insulting," said John Hogan in a press statement about the indefinite suspension of Stern's program, "and not just to women and African Americans, but to anyone with a sense of common decency." On the broadcast in question, Stern spent nearly one hour discussing explicit sexual activities between Rick Solomon and Paris Hilton.
Hogan added that Clear Channel will not air the program on their stations until that are assured that the broadcast will conform to "acceptable standards of responsible broadcasting." On Wednesday, Clear Channel set in place its "zero-tolerance" initiative designed to curb indecency for its broadcasters.
Now It's Viacom's Turn
For years, pro-family media watchdogs like the American Family Association and the Parents Television Council have petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to do something to rein in Stern, who regularly discusses vulgar and sexual topics on air. In fact, AFA has called on Viacom chairman Mel Karmazin to immediately fire Stern for Tuesday's antics.
AFA chairman Dr. Don Wildmon is counting on Karmazin to be true to his word. "If Karmazin is serious about cleaning up his company, firing Howard Stern is the only option," Wildmon says. "Howard Stern cannot be controlled by Karmazin or anyone else."
PTC president Brent Bozell echoes Wildmon's call for heads to roll. "Karmazin should stand by his own statements and fire those responsible for airing such inappropriate sex talk on Howard Stern's show," Bozell says.
Last week, Karmazin told all 180 Infinity Radio stations that "any station airing programming that has any sexual or excretory content needs to take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that the programming is not even arguably indecent." He added that if station officials did not comply with the directive, they would be fired for cause.
"This company won't be a pastor child for indecency," Karmazin's memo said. Viacom owns both CBS Television, which employs Stern, and Infinity Broadcasting.
