I have had a stinkin feeling for quite a long time about Melanie Morgan talkshow host of KSFO Hate Speech Radio. She’s made quite a few statements in the last week or so that just can’t be backed up.
She claimed, for example, that there was a Gallup poll last year where more than 80% of those polled supported prosecuting the executive editor of the New York Times for treason. Well, Ripley couldn’t find any such poll, and neither could I.
I did find this one, however, by CNN.
Created: Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at 01:49:21 EDT
Is the U.S. media justified in publishing reports of how bank records are being tracked by Washington in the hunt for terrorists?
Yes 55%
53339
votes
No 45%
43782 votes
Total: 97121 votes
Another claim was about the negative publicity the station has attracted since Spocko’s case has gained media attention. She claimed that "they want me to lose my job."
Morgan: "I've been the target ... of an effort by liberal bloggers to get me fired"
I haven’t read or heard anyone calling for Ms. Morgan to be fired. This story is being followed by upwards of 500 blogs -- I've yet to find one bloggero calling for Morgan to be fired. And if they called, who would answer?
Another false claim was that there was a general call for a boycott of KSFO advertisers by the bloggers’ coalition organizing itself around Spocko and Mike Stark. Again, this is absolutely false. The guidelines are:
spocko was quite clear that he was not calling for boycott...
REMEMBER BE POLITE!
BE ACCURATE.
NO BOYCOTT TALK PLEASE
LET THEM CHOOSE TO STAY OR GO.
MARKET PLACE DECIDES
RESPECT the Advertisers
But back to that first claim, that Melanie Morgan feared for her job. It is true that previous KSFO talkshow hosts have lost their jobs. Michael Savage, for just about everything... ending in a wage dispute, and J. Paul Emerson for his extreme homophobic views and violent threats
The San Francisco Bay Area is a little safer today than it was last week. Radio host J. Paul Emerson is -- for now -- off the air. On February 15th, he was fired from KSFO's all-conservative, all-bigot "Hot Talk" line-up.
For the last few weeks, Emerson has used his morning broadcasts to spew homophobic and racist hate. Arguing that HIV is transmitted casually, through coughing, Emerson called for the forced imprisonment of people with AIDS. He labeled gay men "sick butt humpers" and described Japanese Americans as "rotten and filthy." And he called just about everyone who wasn't white, male or Republican a "butt head."
As for those who dared to disagree with his views, Emerson advocated -- on air, and with all seriousness -- that they be shot rather than lynched. Rope, he explained, is actually more expensive than bullets.
Hate speech, like all public communication, has its consequences. However, Emerson and his hate radio cohorts never want to talk about consequences. They want to shout about their rights, while ignoring their responsibilities. GLADD Newsletter; February, 1995
Emerson was fired before the station was taken over by Disney/ABC. That happened a year later.
KSFO is an ABC station, which is part of the Disney Media Network. On Friday, February 9, 1996, KSFO's licensee parent was acquired by the Walt Disney Company for $18.5-billion dollars. FCC approval took place a day earlier. Effective October 1, 1996, KSFO's licensee parent name was shortened to ABC Inc. Its CNN Radio affiliation ended in 2002.
Today, KSFO "Hot Talk 560," California's 24th oldest continuously licensed AM broadcast station, operates on 560 kHz with 5,000 watts (directional signal during nighttime hours only) from studios located at 900 Front Street, San Francisco, Calif., and is licensed to KGO-AM Radio Inc. (an ABC Inc. subsidiary). Mickey Luckoff is President and General Manager of the independent 24 hour-a-day talk radio outlet
So, when Melanie Morgan claimed last week "these (bloggers) are trying to get me fired," it gave me some pause. As malignant as most of the content is, it is no moreso than it has been in the last 10 years. And it would take more than the people protesting against KSFO Hate Speech Radio to get her fired, because that, too, has been going on for the last 10 years:
1995
Democratic National Committee vs. KSFO
SF Mayor, SF Supervisors & Gay Activists vs KSFO
SF Human Rights Commissioner vs KSFO
El Cerrito Police Association vs KSFO
1996
CA Senator & State Lawmakers vs KSFO
2001
Asian American Coalition vs KSFO
2005 - 2007
Bloggers Coalition vs KSFO
Media Matters vs KSFO
The only thing that is different is the parent company: Disney/ABC.
It really would take the head of the company to get someone fired. Even if there was loss of revenue due to advertisers withdrawing their sponsorship from KSFO, it still holds the #4 spot in San Francisco..... After weeks of media attention and a protest that is self-organizing around writing letters to and calling advertisers, still since Melanie Morgan is not the target that would not get her fired. If attention was brought to the front office, as it has been, the most one could expect is a reprimand. And evidently, that has happened too:
In Saturday's San Francisco Chronicle there is an article reporting on yesterday's on air call in show at KSFO. Buried there in the article is this little nugget: KSFO has been reissued guidelines by their parent company ABC about the limits of violent hate speech:
KSFO Radio host Melanie Morgan said ABC has reissued corporate guidelines to the station's hosts about what constitutes "violent" commentary. "We don't believe we have crossed a single line," she said.cite
This is a very tame way of saying that Disney/ABC has recently been made aware of the violent rhetoric on the station and has reissued corporate guidelines by way of a reprimand and a caution.
Melanie was reprimanded by her boss, Bob Iger.
So what are Disney/ABC’s guidelines?
(You can pretty much skip all italics in blockquotes following, unless you really want to read Disney's Business Standards & Ethics)
"At The Walt Disney Company, each of us is responsible for upholding our excellence and our integrity. This means acting responsibly in all our professional relationships, in a manner consistent with the high standards we set for our business conduct."
Bob Iger President and Chief Executive Officer
Disney Business Standards and Ethics
The Walt Disney Company's business and ethical standards are fundamental to how the company operates, and include workplace policies, hiring, training, business conduct guidelines, and ethical and legal standards.
Harassment Prevention and Discrimination Policies
The Walt Disney Company's policy prohibits employees from harassing any other employee, guest or other person in the course of the company's business for any reason prohibited by law, including, but not limited to, race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, covered veteran status, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law
OK, so Disney empoloyees cannot harass any person in the course of the company’s business for any reason prohibited by law...
So when Sussman harassed the caller "Say Allah is a wh****," that was clearly a violation of the company policy.
Then I read on in the Standards of Business Conduct:
Dear Fellow Disney Team Member:
Throughout the years, our guests, audiences, consumers and shareholders have come to depend on us for quality, creativity, innovation and integrity.
People trust us because of our commitment to them and to the standards to which we hold ourselves. We alone are responsible for upholding our excellence and our integrity. This means acting responsibly in all our professional relationships, in a manner consistent with the high standards we set for our business conduct.
Upholding legal standards of conduct, while mandatory for every Cast Member and employee, is not enough. We are also responsible for maintaining ethical standards. These standards govern how we treat everyone with whom we have contact. These are standards of integrity... honesty... trust... respect... fair play... and teamwork. In short, these are the standards we want Disney to continue to uphold in the years to come. Your company believes that its behavior as a business should reflect the commitment to the values set forth in these "Standards of Business Conduct."
The Standards in this booklet explain both our legal and ethical standards. Please read them. Be familiar with them. Act on them. And don't be afraid to speak up when you have a concern or a question. Talk to your supervisor, your respective Human Resources representative, or the Corporate Legal Department.
Our Standards of Business Conduct are here to guide our behavior and to help us live up to the highest expectations of excellence that are "Disney." As we continue to create Disney magic, I hope your actions show your pride in yourself, those you work with, and the Company.
Bob Iger President and Chief Executive Officer
Integrity, honesty, fair play? Respect??? These are not qualities that describe KSFO. Indeed, when one hate spewing KSFO host was fired, the GLADD newsletter said "the community is safer." In other words, the hate speech on KSFO is a danger to the community.
A. Responsibility to Guests and Customers
Our guests and customers expect and deserve the best.
Quality
The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiary and affiliated companies (collectively the "Company") are recognized around the world as providers of high-quality entertainment of all kinds, including films, television shows, attractions, consumer products, stores and resorts.
It is the responsibility of all Cast Members and employees who come in contact with our guests and customers to be courteous, to be knowledgeable about our products and services, and to help our guests and customers enjoy the highest quality experience we can provide. Further, all Cast Members and employees who create the products and services that we sell must always strive to do the best they can to create things we are proud to identify with the Company.
So when this exchange happened during the Saturday call-in it was also a violation of company policy:
Most of the callers were sympathetic during Friday’s broadcast, but one blogger who has supported Spocko’s cause, Mike Stark, was encouraged to call in. The extended dialogue perhaps can best be summarized by one exchange.
Mr. Stark: "You’ve spoken of the number of apologies you have tried to make. How many apologies does a professional get before they realize they are an incompetentand move on to another line of work?"
KSFO’s Lee Rodgers: "Well I haven’t apologized for anything and I am not going to start with you. How the hell do you like that, creep?"NYT
The New York Times caught that courtesy well.
Guest Safety
The health, safety and welfare of our guests and customers are of paramount importance to the Company. These cannot be sacrificed to financial goals,inattention or anything else. We are committed to designing, building,operating
and maintaining attractions, products and facilities that meet the high standards we have set for ourselves. All of us share the responsibility for making guests feel safe and secure
My understanding is that the KSFO talent, as employees of Disney, are obliged to treat their audience as guests with respect and politeness. Surely these "guests" didn’t feel safe and secure. And rightly so. They were being threatened.
More examples of threats... well there are so many, but this is one I found particularly menacing:
KSFO says 'unpleasant things are going to happen to stupid liberals'
Diversity
We seek to be multicultural, tapping the unique talents and potential of every member of our diverse work force.
Our goals are to:
Attract and sustain a work force that reflects our guests and customers, business partners, shareholders, labor markets and communities in which we do business; and
Maintain a workplace that reflects open opportunity, where everyone is advantaged by their potential and no one is disadvantaged by their belonging to a particular group.
We are committed to these goals for their own sake, but we also believe that diversity is the best way to develop superior products and services.
Well, KSFO is committed to diversity, too. The diversity of the community that remains after you’ve eliminated all Muslims, immigrants, liberals, gays, Chinese-Americans, and Democrats.... oh, yeah.... and bloggers.
Respect for the Individual
We are committed to providing a work environment in which all Cast Members and employees are afforded the respect that they deserve, free of any discrimination or harassment. No discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, covered veteran status, disability, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law will be allowed. Further, the Company expects Cast Members and employees to treat each other with the same dignity and respect that they expect from the Company
Right.
Let’s get down to the real deal. Money.
C. Responsibility to the Company and Shareholders
Our Company's reputation is a heritage that we must safeguard.
It is our goal to provide a reasonable return to our shareholders, and to increase the value of their investment. At the same time, we must be sure to protect the business and reputation of our Company, so that the Company can and will continue to live up to the expectations of shareholders, guests, customers, Cast Members and employees. Honest and ethical behavior in all matters relating to the business of the Company contributes significantly to achieving these goals
Well, don’t make the company look bad, don’t cause them negative publicity, and don’t lose them money... that makes sense. But, it’s clear that the KSFO Krew has done all of this, and moreso. Tom Siebert reports on how KSFO has alienated its advertisers by insulting them:
KSFO Host Blames Planners For Advertising Pull-Out
Media Post Publications
by Tom Siebert
Jan 15, 2007
WHY IS KSFO, THE CONTROVERSIAL ABC Radio affiliate in San Francisco, losing advertisers? Apparently, media planners are part of the problem. At least that's what KSFO host Melanie Morgan said during a special live call-in session the station aired Friday afternoon to address her morning drive-time team's controversial comments over the past two years."If there are sponsors who listen to these idiots, and I'm not sure there are, despite what they say," asserted Morgan, "but if that's the case, I know who it would be. It would be some craven little time buyers at an advertising agency someplace who have no guts whatsoever."It took roughly two hours for the right-wing talk station KSFO's four hosts to reach media planners on their list of people to blame for the station's hemorrhaging of advertisers in the wake of an Internet flood of audio files of the program's eyebrow-raising content.
Conflicts of Interest
Our business is built on public trust and confidence, and the expectation of our guests and customers that they can depend on our products and services. To ensure that we deliver our very best, we require the full and undivided dedication and efforts of all of our Cast Members and employees. Moreover, every Cast Member and employee must avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest in the performance of his or her job. Conflicts of interest or the appearance of such conflicts could also damage the Company's good name.
Generally, a conflict of interest occurs when an individual's private interest or those of his or her immediate family interferes in any way - or even appears to interfere - with the interests of the Company. A conflict of interest may also arise when a Cast Member or employee, or a member of his or her immediate family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company. Examples of conflicts of interest are set forth in the following paragraphs
In the past Melanie Morgan has used a Disney product "America's Heart & Soul," to advance her (non-profit) group Move America Forward. I’m not sure that Disney/ABC are on a different track from Morgan politically... case in point ABC’s "Path to 911" Ms. Morgan has also used MAF for her political ends... not strictly kosher. But if she has used the radio spot to increase support/membership in MAF this is not allowed, is it Mr. Iger?
Vendors
Ethical considerations are extremely important in selecting, and in the Company's relationship with, suppliers, vendors, contractors, and consultants ("vendors"). Cast Members and employees who purchase products and services for the Company are obligated to consider primarily the Company's interests first and to buy without prejudice, seeking to obtain the maximum value for dollars spent. In addition, all Cast Members and employees are obligated to treat all vendors fairly, honestly and courteously, providing a prompt response to all who call on a legitimate business mission. No one should take unfair advantage of any vendor through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of any material facts, or any other unfair practice
Oh jeez, this is looking pretty bad.
E. Responsibility to Communities
The communities in which we operate, nationally and internationally, deserve our time, energy, participation and creativity.
Government Officials
The Company, its Cast Members and employees, may deal with government officials in the course of the Company's business. It is important that the responsible Cast Members and employees be thoroughly familiar with, and comply with, laws and regulations applicable to dealing with government officials. Cast Members and employees should be aware that business practices which are acceptable in a commercial environment (e.g., meals, transportation or entertainment) may not be acceptable when dealing with government officials. Cast Members and employees should follow Company guidelines in their relationships with government officials, and should direct questions about particular situations to the Corporate Legal Department
BINGO!!!! SO THREATENING TO PAINT A BULLSEYE ON NANCY PELOSI IS FORBIDDEN BY DISNEY POLICY?? HOW ABOUT CALLING SENATOR OBAMA A "HALFRICAN?"
Political Activity
All Cast Members and employees are encouraged to participate as private citizens in government and the political process, unless such participation is either prohibited by other policies of the Company, or would give rise to an improper appearance of partiality. In any event, no personal contributions to any political cause, party, candidate or charity should be represented as coming from the Company
This one is too complex for me. But something really stinks here, too. If Melanie Morgan uses her non-profit organization’s resources to come to her defense as a DISNEY/ABC/KSFO employee.... I’m pretty sure she’s in some serious hot water here with Disney. Then again, the IRS is giving non-profits more scrutiny for their political activity. This looks pretty bad to me.
Communities
Good relations with communities in which the Company resides and conducts business are essential. We are dedicated to delivering quality products and services, and to cooperating with community leaders and members for the benefit of local communities. The Company encourages all Cast Members and employees to participate in local activities that address needs of the communities in which they reside and work.
We are likewise committed to the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources. In addition to complying with all applicable laws ourselves, we expect the companies and contractors with whom we deal to do the same.
Well, once again, I’d have to look at the long relationship KSFO has had with the community of San Francisco. At one time a State Senator, and State lawmakers, the mayor of San Francisco, the San Francisco Human Rights Commissioner, SF City Supervisors, the gay and lesbian community, and the Asian American community has been so insulted, offended, and threatened that they all have protested against the extreme hate speech on KSFO.
This one point would be laughable, if it didn’t make you cry.
there follows another eight pages of company policy.... then
K. Other Laws and Company Policies (continued)
Such laws as have been discussed in these Standards of Business Conduct are those that apply to situations you may confront with some frequency. Many other laws, criminal statutes, and governmental regulations also may apply to the Company's business. Cast Members and employees must comply with all applicable laws, whether or not they are mentioned in this Standards of Business Conduct booklet. Cast Members and employees must also act in accordance with the Company's policies. Cast Members and employees are not to take any action on the Company's behalf that would violate any law, criminal statute, or Company policy.
In addition, no Cast Member or employee may assist or conspire with anyone to commit a criminal act. Moreover, mere participation by a Cast Member or employee in meetings or conversations when illegal conduct is discussed or planned may result in criminal liability even though the Cast Member or employee does nothing else. Therefore, participation in such meetings or conversations must be avoided.
II. Legal Standards
L. Accountability for Compliance with the Standards of Business Conduct (continued)The standards referred to herein are mandatory and apply to all employees and Cast Members, who will be held accountable for compliance with the Standards. Failure to abide by applicable standards may lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination. Additional standards may apply to employees of specific business units or locations. Thus, for example, station and network programming and news personnel are subject to additional standards which are set forth in other documents
There, finally, the payload.
If Melanie Morgan is fearful that she might lose her job it’s not because some bloggers have been writing polite letters to advertisers and company heads. It’s because she has failed to abide by applicable standards and has received a reissuing of company guidelines as pertains to the limits of violent speech. In other words, a reprimand. Next stop... a hearing, last stop termination. It won’t be Spocko signing that pink slip. It will be Robert Iger. That's Robert.Iger@disney.com