COMMENTARY EXPRESSED REGARDING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT of The Howard Stern Show and one explanation of why a local radio station chooses to take on an expensive contract with Howard Stern.
A few years ago WKLQ Grand Rapids) had one of the top morning talk shows airing in the West Michigan area. In recent years, however, WKLQ lost that position. In May of 1996, evidently in an attempt to raise its position, WKLQ brought the Howard Stern Show into West Michigan. Clearly, WKLQ believes that the means to attract listeners is through a plethora of F words, racial slurs, sexual innuendoes, descriptions of vagina and penis sizes and generally appealing to the baser instincts of humanity.
Neighborhoods do not benefit from a broken sewer line. The raw sewage not only brings a stench but pours unhealthy poisons into the air streams and water system. It threatens life and health. Similarly, our culture is impacted by indecent/obscene radio programming.
It doesn't take long for an objective listener to catch on to the degrading spirit of WKLQ. WKLQ prides itself in being nasty, foul, vile and tasteless. WKLQ's home- made public announcements give a flavor of self-satisfaction with its image as a filthy station. This attitude reflects an anti- social mentality that allowed to operate outside of the boundaries established by the FCC will continue to demean women, slur minorities, ridicule people of faith and promote destructive and irresponsible attitudes within the minds and psyches of thousands of young people who are the primary targets of this type of programming.
It is difficult to comprehend the judgment of the owners and management of radio stations like WKLQ. Do they not understand the immense privilege and responsibility that they assume in owning and operating a powerful radio station that reaches thousands of lives every day?
Several years ago, the Journal of The American Medical Association contained an article that spoke to the impact of audio messages that have serious implications.
"During adolescence, teenagers are expected to develop standards of behavior and reconcile them with their perceptions of adult standards. In this context, music, a powerful medium in the lives of adolescents, offers conflicting values. The explicit sexual and violent lyrics of some forms of music often clash with the themes of abstinence and rational behavior promoted by adult society. Identification with rock music, particularly those styles that are rejected by adults, functions to separate adolescents from adult society. Some forms of rock music extend well beyond respectability in fulfilling this definitional role. Total immersion into a rock subculture, such as heavy metal, may be both a portrait of adolescent alienation and an unflattering reflection of an adolescent's perception of the moral and ethical duplicity of adult society. Physicians should be aware of the role of music in the lives of adolescents and use music preferences as clues to the emotional and mental health of adolescents." [JAMA, September 22/29, 1989]
WKLQ, and other similar radio stations, have created a listening environment that promotes a self-destructive, anti-social- lifestyle.
The use of the public airwaves is a public trust and a privilege granted to those who hold broadcasting licenses. Stations airing Howard Stern are violating the Commission's Rules, the Communication's Act and other laws. Most of the violations, standing alone, would require a denial of license. Together, they establish such a flagrant and far-ranging abuse of the public trust with which the licensee has been entrusted.
Howard Stern is a nationally syndicated radio broadcast and therefore individual radio stations have no control over their content. However, by carrying these programs, radio stations hosting the Howard Stern Show become party to whatever indecency and/or obscenity may be uttered.
If the FCC does not act swiftly and decisively, the type of broadcast material which radio stations hosting the Howard Stern Show have been carrying will become further entrenched throughout the nation. As has been articulated, this material is not positive or productive for our community or any community. The Federal Communication Commission is the only governmental agency empowered to take action on these complaints.
A young mother from Richmond, Virginia, shared the following thoughts in an interview with Bill Johnson, for the American Decency Association's weekly radio broadcast, the American Family Report.
Johnson: How does the Howard Stern Show influence people negatively?
Y.M.: Repeatedly people will call up and say due to the Howard Stern Show they tried lesbian acts ... cause he glorifies that so much. And so here we've got high school and college girls listening to this broadcast and then saying maybe this is what I need to try. Maybe because I'm unfulfilled it's because I need to be a lesbian. I mean I've heard that numerous times.
Also, he'll (Stern) have people call up who are on drugs and the glorification of drugs.
He did one week of incest and how wonderful incest was.
This impacts our community. It impacts our children. It impacts our future elders of the church. Your whole community suffers from this. Several weeks ago the Howard Stern Show aired a satire featuring a seven year old using a chain saw on himself accompanied by sound effects. |
