What RI Talk Radio Can Learn From Tucson Tragedy
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Providence, RI is about 2,650 miles from Tucson, Arizona - the scene of that horrific shooting that left 14-people wounded and 6-people dead. Among the victims, an innocent 9-year old little girl, born on 9/11, who went with a neighbor to learn about how the government works. Instead, she had a hole blown in her chest and died. All because she just wanted to learn about how government worked.
We learned over the weekend that the alleged shooter, 22-year old Jared Loughner, has had paranoid rants about the government controlling his mind and life and other such foolishness. Loughner wasn't happy enough to keep his thoughts to himself – instead he had the new age of social acceptance to spread what he wanted. There were internet postings and You Tube videos according to the FBI. All of a sudden, Loughner the loner was a “somebody”.
Stop the Radio Hate
While no one, including this writer, is directly blaming the media or talk radio for Loughner's rampage, he's part of this new group that is out there on the airwaves. You've heard them - on talk radio. The callers who are whack jobs - spreading this idiotic theory of a new world order that is needed, which is a world of anger and intolerance. Most of these people are microphone cowards meaning if you saw them in person face to face they would be quieter than a church mouse. But these calls for revolutions and storming the RI state house with force can lead to dire consequences. It's all part of this dirty little radio and TV niche some hosts have uncovered which they think sounds good. It doesn’t and the radio hate or misguided anger heard by the wrong person can have dire consequences.
Like a little 9-year old girl having her life snuffed out in a second because some half-witted 22-year old thinks he can send a “message” to Washington politicians.
There are temptations of bloodshed heard on radio right here. Listen closely and you'll hear it. Some of it worse than others. There are hosts and programs who specifically promote this kind of thug radio spewing out of your radio. To name the local hosts or the shows just gives them more fuel and attention - it's what they want so you won’t see the names or the station call letters here. The more angry people get - the more they walk that fine line of promoting some violent act to "stand up & fight back" against the government.
And well, if a 9-year old girl gets shot in the process of it all - well these callers don't really seem to have the sense to think of any of that.
No one here is debating that we don’t have serious, serious problems in this state with unemployment, huge deficits and inflated pensions and many other things, but there are ways to go about fighting for change. WPRO and WHJJ both have a responsibility to police itself and pay attention to what callers and guests are saying – all the time every time. We inquired to both stations about this very topic but have not yet heard back.
Free Speech should not be limited….but...
Limiting free speech is also not being suggested at all here either. But what is being suggested is that talk show hosts, producers, call screeners, program directors all have a direct responsibility to do a better job of limiting these fringe callers and guests who do whatever they can to promote themselves this “hate the government and do whatever it takes to take back our government” mentality.
Just like when a gun is used foolishly and recklessly, as it was in Arizona, it can lead to terrible consequences – that also applies to the media. When that too is used recklessly it can tip certain people who may already be on the edge and I think we’ll learn that Mr. Loughery has some ties in some form to this new “revolution” crowd that’s out there plotting ways to overthrow the government and other moronic and delusional ideas. You could argue some members of the Tea Party and the Conservative Right head up the group that has been helping to build the rage we see and hear now. The issue is not so much with them – but the powers that control the media. They need to do the sensible thing.
Because in the end—a 9-year old girl who went to a political event to learn about the government now won’t see her 10th birthday.
Talk radio should think about that the next time they let some attention crazed, moron ramble on because it makes for “good radio”.
Jeff Derderian is a former television news reporter and anchor both in Providence and Boston. He is one of the founders of the Station Education Fund. He can be reached at [email protected]
