Shock-Talk or Hate Talk ? Ownership of Station sets the tone !

Shock-Talk Radio  
Commentary by: Mark Shook
Aired February 27, 2003

Talk radio exists in two parallel universes. In the one universe, experts, opinion makers, politicians, scientists and journalists--- exchange information, answer questions and offer their best guesses on the topics of the hour. Guests and callers are treated with respect. Persons not able to defend themselves on the air, are not disparaged with demeaning ad homonym attacks.

And then there is the other talk radio universe. In the world of so-called "Shock Talk" radio, only the host is perfect. Only the host has a clear vision of the future. Only the host's opinion is correct and true. Shock talk radio leaves no public or private institution unscathed. No hero is too mighty to be pulled down from a pedestal. No flaw, however minor, is free from their over hyped hysterical magnification. Truth is politicized and spun into unrecognizeable forms. Shock-Talk exists because we are amused and titillated by it.

I used to shrug-off the shock-talk programs and change the channel. I imagined that they were of little or no significance in a world of great stress and crisis. I was wrong. Their vicious ridicule and invective eats away at our sense of national unity and common purpose. In their narrow world, their opponents cannot be merely incorrect in their assumptions. They must be evil, stupid, or both. They are the bullies of the airwaves. They deserve our contempt.

source:
http://kwmu.org/Programs/Commentaries/commentary.php?cid=127