Advocacy & Safety - Clear channel apologizes

here is the PDF (http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/clear_channel.pdf)

a notable quote:

"the comments made by Clear Channel Radio stations in Cleveland, Houston,
and Raleigh were inappropriate and intolerable ... As CEO of Clear Channel Radio, I do not support
or condone the anti-cyclists messages and have taken steps to insure they do not occur again." --John Hogan, President and CEO of Clear Channel Radio.

As much as I hate them for too many other reasons to list, at least they finally condemned the DJ's telling people to assault cyclists.

take care,

Jester

Apologies cost nothing but pride.

A healthy donation to the LAB would go further.

I find it interesting that he does not mention the two earlier incidents. The whole sordid Clear Channel affair began in San Jose / Santa Cruz / Silicon Valley more than 2 years ago. The two clowns in question were suspended for a week.

The real test of the effectiveness of Clear Channel management will be whether there are any recurrences of mayhem advocacy. If they cannot control their own DJs, and if they hire DJs who lack the human decency and intelligence to recognize completely unacceptable behavior, the problem will persist. I hold management entirely responsible for at least the second through fifth incidents -- they were well-warned after the first.

Controversy = publicity = eager listeners = more advertisers who want to get products sold to all those listeners.

Jerry Spinger is a good example of how controversy sells. As long as this is what the general public likes then it will continue and all it will cost is an apology every now and then.

If this country had either a sense of decency or a vague idea of self interest....it would kick Clear Channel off the air permanently. Best government money can buy.

I must've missed this. What was said by the DJs?

I must've missed this. What was said by the DJs?


Nevermind, I found the previous thread about this.

I seem to recall reading about a similar apology on cyclingnews.com a few months ago. Something tells me we haven't heard the last from these bozos.

The reason the DJs keep saying these things is because a lot of their audience really likes to hear them. Keep that in mind when you are riding, and you may live longer.

Keep that in mind when you are riding, and you may live longer.

That's why we ride, from time to time, in large groups.
Like the last friday of every month, for example.

Does it cause more driver anger?
I don't think more than is allready there. The supporters in their cars are cheering. There is always the 1 in 1,000 who is a jerk and just will not get it, but this is just as true when riding solo or with 1,000.

I hate those sob's not just for the cyclist incident, but even more for WHAT they do to music. They suck. They are destroying music development and distribution in the US..I would be one of those who show up at FCC hearings to Bi*** about how bad they are in terms of media concentration and resultant +++s poor programming.
No amount of apologies to their cyclist excesses, (that they thought would be good for ratings) will cause me to forgive the damage they do to the American media. I despise those jerks. Obviously I do not listen to any Clear Channel station and never will.

Who is Elissa Margolin to whom the apology letter was addressed? The apology from Clear Channel President John Hogen to Ms. Margolin suggests that he met with Ms. Margolin to discuss the complaint.

It appears that Ms. Elissa Margolin is a hero to bicyclists.

Three cheers for Elissa!

Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!

Thanks, Elissa, whoever you are

Elissa is the executive director of the League of American Cyclist (www.bikeleague.org).

CC is promising to work withe the League to promote cycling safety.

Out of guilt. ++++++++

The reason the DJs keep saying these things is because a lot of their audience really likes to hear them. Keep that in mind when you are riding, and you may live longer.

Actually, I think it's more because they keep generating thousands of replies from outraged cyclists - and hence more exposure for the station and their sponsors. I tend to think that if it were ignored a few times it might just go away. I also reiterate that we should not get too excited over the "apology". It's probably done in order to fend off any potential law suits in the short term and for no other reason. They'll be back.

Today's edition of the Houston Chronicle ran an editorial about the Clear Channel vs. Cyclists issue. The editorial reads like it was written by a cyclist!



OFF TRACK
Urging drivers to scare bikers was callous, dangerous

No matter how much the Federal Communications Commission or Congress might loosen rules governing media ownership, the public airwaves continue to be a public trust. As greater numbers of radio stations are concentrated into fewer hands, the responsibility to act in the public interest becomes even more important.

That's why it's so appalling that "shock jocks" at radio stations in Houston, Cleveland and Raleigh, N.C., -- all owned by one San Antonio-based company -- encouraged motorists to menace bicycle riders.

Last month on Houston's KLOL (101.1 FM), a taped segment, aired while morning show DJs were on vacation, repeated a June 28 broadcast in which one of the show's hosts expressed anger at cyclists and talked about running one off the road.

Similar remarks were made at different times on WMJI in Cleveland and on WDCG in Raleigh.

Cycling enthusiasts, not unexpectedly, have bombarded radio stations with complaints. They charge the broadcasters encouraged drivers to throw bottles at bike riders, hit them with open car doors, honk, and brake suddenly in front of them.

The stations' owner, Clear Channel Communications, expanded from 36 stations to about 1,200 in the United States after a 1996 law allowed broadcasters to own more stations in single markets. Company officials say it was coincidental that similar comments came from three stations, and that should be taken seriously.

Juvenile humor is not unexpected on some morning radio shows. But one does hope that the purveyors of this "entertainment" are otherwise sensible adults. The notion that a professional broadcaster with an audience of thousands of traffic-jammed Houston drivers would deliberately invite some to vent their frustration on bike riders is almost criminal in its potential for endangering lives.

It should be noted that cyclists would cause less inconvenience to drivers if Houston had a better system of bike lanes. To their credit, people who ride bicycles are not polluting the air and are keeping cars off packed freeways.

For its part, Clear Channel ought to be encouraging bike riding for its health benefits, based as it is in a city that has been saddled with the nickname Fat Antonio. To help repair the damage its insensitive on-air personalities might have caused here, the company is working with the Houston Police Department Bicycle Patrol squad to develop a series of public service announcements about bicycle safety.

For the common good, motorists and cyclists alike must obey traffic laws and share the road wisely. Radio DJs could stand to use more common sense, too.

I do not accept their apology, since none of their previous apologies have changed their corporate behavior.

This apology and cooperation with the Houston police department are only part of a ploy to be reauthorized by the FCC to keep broadcasting. How about working with the Houston police department to educate motorists about the rights of bicyclists?

Here is Clearchannels' heartfelt reply to my e-mail. September 30, 2003



Thank you for your e-mail message regarding recent Bob and Madison morning show broadcasts on G105.



Our morning show includes a good deal of animated banter, between callers and on-air personalities, that can be both humorous and caustic. The intention is always to entertain our listeners. During a couple of shows this week, time was spent by callers and on-air personalities discussing driving and cyclists. During this discussion, comments were made which at the time we felt were humorous in nature. In retrospect we feel that the some of the comments were inappropriate, and for that we sincerely apologize.



Be assured that G105 does not advocate harm to cyclists. Again, thank you for your message and please feel free to write or phone me in the event I can be of service.



Best regards,



Ken Spitzer

Regional Vice President

G105-FM Radio

Phone: 919-878-1500





-----Original Message-----
From: Mark
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2003 1:39 PM
To: Public Relations
Subject: Bob and Madison



On 9/22/03 the station G105 in Raleigh NC ran a program that encouraged people to run bicyclists off the road. I don’t find the subject of “running bikes off the road” funny. I think it is scary. Please let me know what has been done to those people involved in this program. Thank You, Mark.

I wonder how many trees were destoryed so G105 could send out that same bogus response to everyone that complained?

This apology and cooperation with the Houston police department are only part of a ploy to be reauthorized by the FCC to keep broadcasting. How about working with the Houston police department to educate motorists about the rights of bicyclists?

Ya know, I was thinking the same thing. What's with Clear channels working with bicycle groups to promote bicycle safety? What? Are they going to teach how to best handle riding among angry radio-inspired hatefull motorists that are out to hurt or kill bicyclists?

"Hey bicyclists, officer Clancy is here to tell you that there are a lot of mean spirited motorists out there these days who are aiming to run you down. If you don't believe him, just listen to the DJs and callers on our radio programs. Theeeeeeey'll getcha!! Ha ha. All kidding aside folks, we at Clear Channel just want you bicyclists to know that we appreciate all you do to make our radio programs stimulating, interesting and entertaining. Remember, it ain't personal. We don't really care which of you get knocked off by one of our listeners, but if it happens to you, be sure to call in and tell your story. If you are the tenth caller and your story rates a seven or better on our laugh line, you can be eligable for a Clear Channel T-shirt. Now for officer Clancy..."

I mean REALLY. This isn't about bicyclist riding in a malicious or dangerous way against motorists. It is about Clear Channel encouraging motorists to be aggressive and violent against bicyclists. Shouldn't Clear Channel be focusing their efforts on driver education?

I mean REALLY. This isn't about bicyclist riding in a malicious or dangerous way against motorists. It is about Clear Channel encouraging motorists to be aggressive and violent against bicyclists. Shouldn't Clear Channel be focusing their efforts on driver education?

Excellent point. One of the things I'd like to see Clear Channel do that they haven't offered yet, at least as far as I know, is to use some of their advertising assets for a 'Share the Road' campaign. They own a fairly sizeable percentage of the outdoor billboard advertising market, as well as taxi tops, shopping malls, mobile truck panels, buses and train station and airport advertising. It would be a nice start if they were to commit to using these assets to get out the 'Share the Road' message nationwide, using formats that drivers are most likely to see and concentrated in areas where cyclists are likely to be.

I mean REALLY. This isn't about bicyclist riding in a malicious or dangerous way against motorists. It is about Clear Channel encouraging motorists to be aggressive and violent against bicyclists. Shouldn't Clear Channel be focusing their efforts on driver education?

Very good point.

Don't trust Clear Channel they have a history of this kind of behavior. Here (http://www.essentialinformation.org/features/clearchannel.html) is a link to Essential Communications. They are a watchdog group and have filled a with the FCC not to renew the licenses of 63 of there station on charges ranging from misleading information to criminal charges like disturbing the peace and animal cruelty. Here (http://www.essentialinformation.org/features/Clear_Channel_Objections.pdf) is a link to the official complaint that Essential filed with the FCC.

There is a long list of FCC vioations included in the text. The criminal charges are not pending trials these are actual documented court cases. They have been fined several times in the last few years and now they have paid off the bike groups. I think they look at it as the price to pay to do business. If they are not sent a strong message by the FCC they will repeat this all over again.

If you think Clear Channel should have to face the music ( :D ) Here is contact information for the FCC (http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html) Write the commissioners and tell them how you feel.

What would have been amusing (and probably borderline criminal) would have been to circulate a letter/e-mail campaign stating that cyclists should get together oh, once a week, and wait in the parking structures of the relevant radio stations, and then proceed to kick the crap out of these DJs.

Then, in response to outrage, just claim it was "friendly banter" amongst friends.

I think that the power they feel from behind the wheel would've quickly morphed into quaking fear at having a bunch of strangers want to beat you senseless.

The article said that one of the DJs was terminated. All in all, I don't know what more you could expect from the company. Lets be a bit realistic here, I was as horrified as the rest of you when this stuff happened, but I feel fairly satisfied, assuming that noone actually acted on the advice.

I love those ads against teenage tobacco use, sponsored by tobacco companies. Same thing, here.

What hypocrisy.

Clear Channel: The best reason to subscribe to NPR and/or community radio.

The real test is whether there will ever be a SIXTH incident of this sort. (The company has conveniently "forgotten" the first two incidents, but I have not.)

The article said that one of the DJs was terminated. All in all, I don't know what more you could expect from the company. Lets be a bit realistic here, I was as horrified as the rest of you when this stuff happened, but I feel fairly satisfied, assuming that noone actually acted on the advice.

Ya, I read that one a little more closely. I didn't pick out the "fired a DJ" thing. I just read "resulted in a termination". Could have been anybody. Could be that some poor secretary finally got the axe and they used it for the "resulted in a termination".

I yai yai. Who knows. If you are really serious and really pissed, write to your local buyers of the stations commercial airtime. Otherwise, sit back, have another glass of wine, and watch TV. Ah ya... what did I miss...

Ya, I read that one a little more closely. I didn't pick out the "fired a DJ" thing. I just read "resulted in a termination". Could have been anybody. Could be that some poor secretary finally got the axe and they used it for the "resulted in a termination".

What we've heard here in Houston is that the termination was a program director at KLOL. Supposedly the PD was fired after the anti-cyclist segment was re-aired on Sept. 2nd as part of a 'Best Of' broadcast - just three days after a pickup truck careened into a group of cyclists in Brazoria County, killing two. Airing it the first time was bad enough, but re-running it was unforgivable. :mad:

What we've heard here in Houston is that the termination was a program director at KLOL. Supposedly the PD was fired after the anti-cyclist segment was re-aired on Sept. 2nd as part of a 'Best Of' broadcast - just three days after a pickup truck careened into a group of cyclists in Brazoria County, killing two. Airing it the first time was bad enough, but re-running it was unforgivable. :mad:

Whoa, how did we miss that part of the story?

What's up with the pickup truck hitting the bicyclists? Was it an accident or an aggressive act?

Whoa, how did we miss that part of the story?

What's up with the pickup truck hitting the bicyclists? Was it an accident or an aggressive act?

It appeared to be an accident -- the truck was rounding a curve and lost control and hit a paceline. Then, just a few days after that, KLOL re-aired that original segment. The timing of the rebroadcast likely had nothing to do with the Brazoria County accident, but the coincidence of it along with the still sore feelings over the original broadcast caused an uproar in Houston that led to the station PD getting canned.