A Q&A with Rory O'Connor

— What was the final straw for you that motivated you to write this book?

It was bad enough being told over and over in the wake of the Imus ‘nappy-headed hos’ controversy that I should ‘ just lighten up’ and ‘stop being so politically correct;’ that he was ‘only joking,’ it was “a one-time mistake that he had apologized for” and I should either ‘move on’ or ‘just don’t listen and change the channel.’ But when people starting erroneously charging me with ‘censorship’ and violating Imus’ right to free speech,” -- that was the final straw!

— How big would you estimate the total audience is for shock jock radio hosts?

The total audience is huge ---tens of millions of Americans listen every week.

— How does hate speech turn into hate crimes?

When people who are already prone to act in that way hear hate speech in public forums — and especially when it goes unchallenged or is treated as ‘entertainment’ and ‘joking,’ they unsurprisingly feel that much of the larger society condones not only hate speech—but hateful acts taken against the targets of the hate speech.

— It’s one thing to go after shock jocks, but they also have an audience that sustains them. Isn’t what they’re saying just a rough reflection of the shock jock radio audience’s mindset?

No not at all...The audience is not monolithic, for one thing. Some people on the left listen to right wing shock jocks so as to be able to monitor their speech and their memes and react quickly and forcefully. Others listen because they mistake the ‘entertainment’ opinions and ‘jokes they hear there for actual news and information.

— What is the most effective mechanism to punish shock jocks for spreading hate?

Call them on it—loudly, forcefully and publicly. If they persist, organize pickets and boycotts, urge their sponsors and advertisers to leave them, reach out to employees of the media companies that distribute them and profit from their hate speech and enlist them in your campaign....

— Who is the worst, most offensive shock jock of them all?

Shock is in the ear of the beholder in these matters. I profile ten egregious offenders in my book — take your pick of one of them—or add to it! Unfortunately there are many more out there...

— Can you give an example of how activism has changed the behavior of a shock jock host, or at least affected their bottom lines?

Clearly Imus is the Poster Boy on this subject. Activism finally got him first suspended and them fired from two large media enablers—CBS and NBC. He’s back on the air now, of course — but is somewhat chastened in his delivery, although he did recently call both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton “pussies!”

— Imus was fired for his “nappy headed ho’s” remark, and rematerialized on air only a few months later. Is there any accountability?

Well, some, yes. He WAS suspended and then fired. There is also public accountability, which in the end may be more to the point. Imus WAS shamed, forced to apologize and modify his behavior. So were the media and political elite who enabled him, as were the corporate bosses at CBS and NBC who hired and then were forced to fire him. That being said,--it is true that we live in an imperfect world...

— Do you think there’s a clear public understanding that citizens own the airwaves?

No I don’t. Every time I mention it I am surprised at the lack of knowledge on the subject, as well as the level of cynicism on the part of those who DO know this, but who smirk when I raise it. I think there is room for a LOT of pblic education on issues such as public onwership of the airwaves, licensing of those airwaves, and the fact that those licenses must be renewed on a regular basis.

— Radio has moved to the internet and satelite — which run on a different kind of airwaves. How can hate speech be stopped from spreading there?

If someone wants to listen to satellite radio delivered shock jockery, it is their right to do so unless the speech tilts so far that it actually is illegal or unconstitutional. Satellite radio is by subscription, people choose to buy it, and I believe that, with few restrictions, they should be able to do so. My true beef is with this sort of verbal swill being disseminated over the PUBLIC airwaves.

— How can people find sane radio alternatives to the shock jocks that dominate the airwaves?

I don’t know how ‘sane’ they are, but there are quite a few great progressive alternatives that are delineated in my book—too many, in fact, to mention any specific ones here. In addition, there are some good, reasoned conservative voices out there as well—one I should mention, who is interviewed in the book, is Mike Gallagher, one of the most popular conservative radio talkers in America.

— In your book, you consider the possibility of instituting a “fairness doctrine.” What is that, and who would be responsible for ensuring “fairness?”

The old Fairness Doctrine will not—repeat NOT—be making a comeback anytime soon. The entire idea was one drummed up by conservative shock jocks so as to gin up outrage—and coincidentally, their ratings. True fairness, on the other hand, would be a great thing—and it could start on the individual level with those who have the power of the microphone altering their personal behaviour and expressions on the airwaves!

— How do you respond to the defense of these shock jocks that you’re taking the issue a lot more seriously than it needs to be?

That’s not a ‘defense’ it’s an excuse for unacceptable behaviour on their part. Certianly those who are the target of their hate-filled jokes and entertainment — women, homosexuals, immigrants, minorities, foreigners, etc — take it seriously when it is directed at them! II reject such a ‘defense’ categorically, in other words.

— Why don’t progressive radio hosts have the kind of audiences right-wingers do?

A few reasons—but the largest is the structural imbalance in the industry that has led to a situation where more than 90% of all the programming on news-and-opinion talk radio comes from those with a conservative slant. Another big factor is the concentration of the distribution in the industry to a handful of companies. We need more localism in ownership to help rectify the problem