stratoman Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2003/4/4/135934 Friday, April 4, 2003 NPR Fires Pro-Bush Disc Jockey The taxpayer-supported drones at National Pinko Radio have fired a disc jockey for not parroting NPR's leftist party line on the war against Saddam Hussein. Art Timko, manager of WEMU-FM at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, booted Terry Hughes, who had hosted an R&B program for 20 years. Hughes has spoken in favor of the war in Iraq and President Bush's handling of it while denouncing NPR's bias against Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Associated Press reported today. "We have a policy that our announcers don't express opinions on matters of a controversial nature," Timko said. Oh, that's right. It is NPR's policy to prepackage its left-wing opinions inside its "news" reports. Timko grumbled that on his last show, Hughes cut off four hourly NPR propaganda reports - oops, "newscasts." Hughes agreed that his opinions were controversial. "But this is personality radio," he said. "I have nothing but opinions on my show, every show." Surprisingly, considering NPR's core audience of intolerant Guilty White Liberals, Hughes' on-air comments drew only a handful of complaints, but his dismissal has already prompted about 90 e-mails "expressing disappointment, curiosity, outrage," Timko admitted. Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics: Media Bias Saddam Hussein/Iraq Editor's note: Have an Opinion About This? Click Here to Send an URGENT PriorityGram Today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyeG Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 Why is'nt the ACLU breaking down there door? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 The ACLU's already inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 Why arent the conservatives defending the organizations ability to fire and hire whoever they want? Oh yeah, because its them getting fired here... For the record though - NPR is beyond wrong if they fired this DJ over his political thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 TEG- I hope you'd know by now that I'd never endorse the firing of someone for their political beliefs. I'm not clamoring for Colmes firing from Fox, for example. I like a lot of people on the right am sick of NPR getting supported off of the public dole to spout leftist crap. They make CBS look conservative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Redman, I was trying to poke fun at the people here, and abroad, who fervantly defend organizations (funded either privately or off the public dole) abilities to hire, fire, include and exclude whomever they deem appropriate (which is often inappropriate). But just so I understand better, if NPR wasnt given public $'s, do you think people here would defend that stations actions in firing the DJ? Conversely, would they come down on a station who fired a DJ who was anti-war simply because he was anti-war? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Originally posted by The Evil Genius But just so I understand better, if NPR wasnt given public $'s, do you think people here would defend that stations actions? Of course not, but the fact that it's operated on public money and happens to be firing someone who's right-of-center only adds to my antipathy for them. I can't speak for others in that regard. And I can take a joke. Your post(s) read more like you're trying to provoke a response, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Originally posted by redman Of course not, but the fact that it's operated on public money and happens to be firing someone who's right-of-center only adds to my antipathy for them. I can't speak for others in that regard. And I can take a joke. Your post(s) read more like you're trying to provoke a response, however. Noted and perhaps, busted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Originally posted by The Evil Genius Noted and perhaps, busted Fair enough, my friend. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 I wouldnt have a problem with a private company doing it, but NPR is a publicly funded operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Originally posted by redman They make CBS look conservative. Yes. Instead "All Things Considered" they should call it "Anything NOT Left of Center Quickly Dismissed." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn X Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 NPR is the American, radio-based equivalent of the BBC: (1) publicly funded; (2) a place where sneering liberal snippiness readily passes for "tough, honest journalism." :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratoman Posted April 5, 2003 Author Share Posted April 5, 2003 Originally posted by Brave Instead "All Things Considered" they should call it "Anything NOT Left of Center Quickly Dismissed." Ain't that the truth!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Hey atleast they are consistent with their "tolerance" of conservative opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratoman Posted April 5, 2003 Author Share Posted April 5, 2003 =========original message=========== To Art Timko, I find it absolutely appalling the firing of one of your DJ's just because he supports President Bush and the War in Iraq. Your radio station is nothing more then a left wing propaganda machine. It's a shame that hard working tax payers make it able for you to have a job. I will never listen to NPR!! Dear Listener, Thank you for writing to the NPR Ombudsman. Because many listeners have concerns and comments about what they hear (or don't hear) on NPR, the volume of emails may preclude an individual response. But be assured that every email is read and forwarded to the appropriate person at NPR. Occasionally a listener's email is quoted on the Ombudsman's column. "Media Matters" appears on the NPR website each Friday at www.npr.org/yourturn/ombudsman <http://www.npr.org/yourturn/ombudsman>. Thank you again for writing. Jeffrey A. Dvorkin NPR Ombudsman 635 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20001 Tel: 202-513-3246 (direct) Fax: 202-513-3329 E-Mail ombudsman@npr.org jdvorkin@npr.org http://www.npr.org/yourturn/ombudsman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golgo-13 Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 I wrote them too: I wanted for you to know that every morning I USED to wake up and turn on NPR. However, because of your discrimintory policy regarding the firing of Art Timko because of his vocal support of the President, I will no longer be listening to you in the morning. Furthermore, the fact that you can purpetuate such bigoted policies on MY tax dollar angers me even more. You people would not know what "fair and balanced" was if it fell off a tree and hit you right in the face. -An angry former listener Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackC Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 If you go on the air and blast the company you should expect to be fired. Sorry that's just life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golgo-13 Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Here was their response: Dear Listener, NPR adheres to the journalistic standards of presenting accurate, fair and objective reporting of all events that shape our world. NPR firmly believes that news coverage should be aired seperately from personal opinion.It is unfortunate that Mr. Hughes stepped over that line and used public radio as a vehicle to air his own political opinions. NPR stands behind the station's right to uphold its appropriate journalistic practice of keeping personal opinions separate from objective news reporting. :jerkoff: :jerkoff: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Jack, 2 problems with that. 1- He didnt say anything bad about NPR, he stated his opinions of the war and Bush. 2- It's not a private business. It's Govt sponsored. They CANNOT restrict speech. If it was WTEM, they could do what they want. BUt NPR is Govt sponsored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 NPR is right in that there is a line between editorializing and news. Depending under what auspice he was reporting it may have been completely inappropriate. If he is acting as a reporter in the way that the reporters do here on WAMU or WETA he is there pretty much as a deliverer of news. If he was a talk show host then NPR has little footing. I listen to NPR also, and I find that they do try to represent each side. It's amazing how much whining about NPR I've seen in this thread especially in light of its budget and the fact that it is not a government radio station but largely a subscriber model with grants from many foundations and the government. Truth is, if they didn't present information that was different, valued, or balanced how many would listen let alone fund it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackC Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Originally posted by Kilmer17 Jack, 2 problems with that. 1- He didnt say anything bad about NPR, he stated his opinions of the war and Bush. 2- It's not a private business. It's Govt sponsored. They CANNOT restrict speech. If it was WTEM, they could do what they want. BUt NPR is Govt sponsored. "Hughes has spoken in favor of the war in Iraq and President Bush's handling of it while denouncing NPR's bias against Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Associated Press reported today. " I would say denouncing the boss might be bad for job security. On the second point, of course they can restrict speech. He was hired to do a job. Suppose he was hired to play records(some know what they were) but instead did a talk show? I don't recall the same upset from those on the right when NPR fired Juan Williams? What am I missing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Im a big Juan Williams fan. Very smart guy. I guess I dont know enough of the situation, but I read it to mean he is a talk DJ. If so, then he has the right, on publicly funded radio, to speak his mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackC Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 "who had hosted an R&B program for 20 years." I would have fired him too. Maybe I should send them a letter saying I might start listening to them to counter some of your emails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 I think you should Jack. Freedom of speech and all. Bottom line, if they fired him for making an editorial speech and he was not allowed (Right word?) to editorialize on EITHER side. I could probably accept it. BUt I understand that they fired him because of the slant of his speech. That's a different ball of wax,isnt it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackC Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 Originally posted by Kilmer17 I think you should Jack. Freedom of speech and all. Bottom line, if they fired him for making an editorial speech and he was not allowed (Right word?) to editorialize on EITHER side. I could probably accept it. BUt I understand that they fired him because of the slant of his speech. That's a different ball of wax,isnt it? Who said if was fired for the which side he slanted? That's just the perception from those on the right. Either way, with all that's going on, I don't think this is very important anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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