Stations air audio of Nick Berg's beheading.
May 15, 2004 7:21:16 GMT -5
Post by Crushcrushchris on May 15, 2004 7:21:16 GMT -5
www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=25076
In addition:
www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=25069
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After warning listeners about the content which they were about to hear, Minneapolis stations KQRS and KSTP as well as New York talker WABC all aired audio of the beheading of American prisoner Nick Berg in Iraq. All of the stations told local newspapers that the audio was meant to be informative and show that abuse in war prisons is happening on both sides, not just to Iraqi prisoners. The tape was not used in the context of entertainment.
KQRS morning host Tom Barnard, who aired the tape after telling listeners to keep children out of earshot, told the Star Tribune, "We should be outraged at what happened to this man." KSTP's Ron Rosenbaum said, "We felt we had to play it since we'd been very critical of the TV networks sanitizing World Trade Center footage of people jumping out of the buildings." The Star Tribune reported that both stations said listener feedback was mostly positive.
In New York, syndicated radio personality Sean Hannity played the 33-second audio clip on his show, which is based at WABC. He also gave listeners ample time to tune out and counted down from 10 before airing it. "I think people need to know what we're dealing with - it's evil right before your eyes," Hannity told the New York Post. "These people want to kill all Americans, not just this poor kid, Nick Berg."
The Post reported that WABC and its owner, Disney/ABC, got "very few complaints" after Hannity and another program aired the violent clip.
KQRS morning host Tom Barnard, who aired the tape after telling listeners to keep children out of earshot, told the Star Tribune, "We should be outraged at what happened to this man." KSTP's Ron Rosenbaum said, "We felt we had to play it since we'd been very critical of the TV networks sanitizing World Trade Center footage of people jumping out of the buildings." The Star Tribune reported that both stations said listener feedback was mostly positive.
In New York, syndicated radio personality Sean Hannity played the 33-second audio clip on his show, which is based at WABC. He also gave listeners ample time to tune out and counted down from 10 before airing it. "I think people need to know what we're dealing with - it's evil right before your eyes," Hannity told the New York Post. "These people want to kill all Americans, not just this poor kid, Nick Berg."
The Post reported that WABC and its owner, Disney/ABC, got "very few complaints" after Hannity and another program aired the violent clip.
In addition:
www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=25069
Entercom Modern Rock KNRK/Portland fired morning host Marconi and sidekicks Tiny and Nickie J. yesterday afternoon after the show aired audio of the gruesome beheading of Nick Berg in Iraq, while ridiculing and laughing at the incident.
Philadelphia-based Entercom and "New Rock 94.7" took swift action, denying any prior knowledge of the "bit," immediately dismissing the trio and airing this apology from VP Entercom Portland/GM KNRK Jack Hutchison: "The actions of the KNRK News Morning Show were insensitive, inappropriate and repulsive. On behalf of Entercom-Portland and KNRK, I apologize to our listeners." The apology ran every hour in mornings today (5/14) and every other hour the rest of the day. Night host Rizin is temporarily hosting a music-intensive morning shift.
KNRK Station Manager/Program Director Mark Hamilton told FMQB, "94-7 NRK(KNRK) has terminated the employment of The Marconi Show. The airing of a segment on Wednesday Morning regarding the execution of American Nick Berg was insensitive, inappropriate and repulsive."
While the video was too hideous for TV to show, some radio stations aired the audio (see separate article), including Lars Larson, who hosts a talk show on Portland's KXL. Larson told KATU-TV that his airing included a strong warning to listeners. Calling Marconi's ridicule of the incident inexcusable, Larson thinks Americans should hear and see the horror of what happened to Berg. "I don't think that the America news media can decide for you what you can and cannot see. On the other hand, I don't think this should be on the air and then laughed at and made fun of," he said.
Marconi issued his own written and audio apologies on the show's Web site, suckiecentral.com. "I in no way meant to be insensitive to anyone," he said. "My comments on this were inappropriate. Nick Berg's death is horrific. He was a guy who was just trying to help out and they killed him. Everyone should be OUTRAGED!! I did not mean anything by what I did on the air. Just didn't think it through. That's why I hope you can except my apology if you were in anyway offended. I am sorry. Just understand that I am human and I make mistakes and have learned lots from this already. Thanks for your time. - Marconi."
Philadelphia-based Entercom and "New Rock 94.7" took swift action, denying any prior knowledge of the "bit," immediately dismissing the trio and airing this apology from VP Entercom Portland/GM KNRK Jack Hutchison: "The actions of the KNRK News Morning Show were insensitive, inappropriate and repulsive. On behalf of Entercom-Portland and KNRK, I apologize to our listeners." The apology ran every hour in mornings today (5/14) and every other hour the rest of the day. Night host Rizin is temporarily hosting a music-intensive morning shift.
KNRK Station Manager/Program Director Mark Hamilton told FMQB, "94-7 NRK(KNRK) has terminated the employment of The Marconi Show. The airing of a segment on Wednesday Morning regarding the execution of American Nick Berg was insensitive, inappropriate and repulsive."
While the video was too hideous for TV to show, some radio stations aired the audio (see separate article), including Lars Larson, who hosts a talk show on Portland's KXL. Larson told KATU-TV that his airing included a strong warning to listeners. Calling Marconi's ridicule of the incident inexcusable, Larson thinks Americans should hear and see the horror of what happened to Berg. "I don't think that the America news media can decide for you what you can and cannot see. On the other hand, I don't think this should be on the air and then laughed at and made fun of," he said.
Marconi issued his own written and audio apologies on the show's Web site, suckiecentral.com. "I in no way meant to be insensitive to anyone," he said. "My comments on this were inappropriate. Nick Berg's death is horrific. He was a guy who was just trying to help out and they killed him. Everyone should be OUTRAGED!! I did not mean anything by what I did on the air. Just didn't think it through. That's why I hope you can except my apology if you were in anyway offended. I am sorry. Just understand that I am human and I make mistakes and have learned lots from this already. Thanks for your time. - Marconi."
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