Is Don Imus Radio's New "Janet Jackson"?
Just as the Janet Jackson Superbowl event of 2004 led to a crackdown in Radio - eventually forcing many companies to rethink their indecency guidelines - so might the recent remarks Imus made about the Rutgers women basketball team which have ignited the current firestorm of opinion and condemnations.
Sponsors have begun to bail from his program. Bruce Gordon, a member of the CBS board of directors, wants Imus fired. If Imus is fired, I think it might have a widespread effect on not only how some radio personalities present content but also on how radio managers expect personalities to conduct themselves.
Your thoughts? Leave a comment below.
Related News Stores from the Archive:
* Power 105 Fires Star For Sexual, Racial Remarks
* Is Janet Jackson The Yoko Ono Of Radio?
* New Survey: Rock Radio Listeners Not Offended By "Indecent" Content
Meanwhile, Up in Space:
You have to wonder if programming execs at XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio are already tossing around the idea of extending an offer if Don Imus is bounced from Terrestrial Radio?
Comments
I don’t understand how we’ve gotten to the point on radio where no one can say anything that’s in any way offensive to anyone.
It started with Howard Stern being criticized for years. Imus is just the latest.
It reminds me of how TV was when it was all over the air. Eventually there were so many restrictions that we saw pay channels.
Such is the same with radio moving to paid satelite broadcasters.
Talk radio thrives on people speaking their minds. Al Sharpton does it all the time on his show and no one is picketing him or demanding he be fired since he’s clearly anti-white.
I’m sick of hearing about how we can’t have anything offensive over the public airwaves. If it offends you turn it off.
MSNBC is only screwing themselves and so is CBS radio if they cancel Imus. If he moves to satelite, I’ll definitely be finally be buying one.
I am in California and wondering where he will end up. I’ll find him and buy whatever equipment I have to, to hear him.
Its ironic 147,000 watched him every morning. It’s entertainment.
Don Imus was on MSNBC because they wanted that type of show.Don made the remark, he said he was truly sorry, and apoligized.That should be the end of it.Thai is a golden opportunity for XM and Sirius radio to pick him up.If someone doesn’t want to listen to him or anyone else the solution is simple, change the station or turn it off.If this is the way radio and TV goes, the constitution needs to be re- written and get rid of Freedom of Speech.
Is Janet Jackson the old Don Imus? I don’t I’m not familiar with Imus
re-writing the Constitution? Why not?
Eventually it will be re-written. when it’s elasticiity has reached the breaking point of re-interperatation
all depends on what they write and what it means
The Bible, Law, the Constitution and the meaning of words themselves are continually being rewritten from year to year, mouth to mouth, intention to intention and faction to faction.
Arch rivals seemingly always cite the same venerable articles of indisputable authority (author) to legitamize their contempt for each other.
Abandon hope, all ye who mutter here, but the good news is you can never leave.
Did I get it right?
I think the whole Imus Incident or rather the attention given it has been totally misguided, though in the end, this could be overall become a very good thing.
The Double standard is overwhelming. Everything that Imus said ‘once’ is pumped out hourly across multi-media platforms by the Hip-Hop Music Industry and frankly there-in lies the problem.
Hip Hop lingo and culture is pornographic, hostile, and violent and it reflects nothing more than prison culture where it owes it’s roots. Yet where in 2007.. is the Black Community in addressing that issue within itself that if nothing else, is destined to become a potential genocide for the African American Community itself. Imus said something STUPID and totally inappropriate. But he’s nothing more than a product of the culture and to an extent CBS has condoned this type of language for far too long.
It’s time to examine and debate the whole hip-hop culture from where Imus word’s were born. To not do so is to miss an opportunity that if not done so soon, could become an even greater threat to American society than anything any radio jock could ever postulate.
As an old time broadcaster what was once considered garbage radio has been legitamized by the actions and words of a few “reality” personalities. Look at the reputation of Paul Harvey vs the shock Jocks. In the end who will be remembered for thoughtful insite full radio comments.
CBS and MSNBC should not use Don as a escape goat. They want high rating and Don did what has to be done to get it. Therefore, Al’Sharpton should blame CBS and MSNBC for the stupid comment and leave Don Imus alone. It is not the first time we have heard radio personalities making stupid comments about Africa Americans. How about Bob Grant, was he ever fired? Please CBS and MSNCB give Mr. Imus his job back. If you want to help Rutger’s Women Basketball Team, give them a resonable monetary donation to help the Coach prepare them well against next season. Don Imus has apologise and Rutgers Coach has accepted on behalf of the team. As an alumni of Rutgers, that Mr. Imus public apology is good enough.
seems these days the only ones on radio, tv , anywhere- that can say what they want- uncensored are minorities, esp.blacks…They call whites creampuffs, whities, crackers anything…oh, but you say anything about blacks , no matter what, and you’re in trouble.There’s only one word to say for don imus being fired for this…stupid…totally stupid! His freedom of speech rights and those of us who enjoyed listening to him are being trampled by those like Sharpton and Jackson with no recourse…they don’t want equality anymore..they’ve had it since ‘64!Can anyone stand the truth anymore? They want superiority! and…they are getting it, if the so-called silent majority doesn’t wake up. I don’t think they can anymore!Things are totally out of hand and this political correctness crapp is rampant!We need some answers quick!