Death Tied to Entercom's The End 107.9?

[making waves]

KenHawk1160 said:

However, as an adult, you have to accept some responsibility for your own actions. THIS WAS OVER A VIDEO GAME SYSTEM. I don't think it's entirely fair to lay the whole of the blame here on everyone involved at the radio station. Some staff members connected directly with this matter, yes. What was Jennifer Strange's own health situation prior to this contest?

Everyone seems to be forgetting BROADCASTER RESPONSIBILITY. Yes, this stunt has been done a thousand times with no ill effects. Yes, people have survived stunts like this on radio and TV shows. But station management has a responsibility to its listeners. Certainly someone (and you would hope it would be management) has to anticipate any liability issues...and keep contest participants from any harm. Asking them to sign a waiver does not mean the station is in the clear.

There are other ways to do stunts and be edgy. Please, do you think all "stunts" like this are still real? Theater of the mind, people, theater of the mind...and stations pull it off all the time with no one realizing the difference.

 

[tomservo]

Re: Latest Radio Promotion Gone Bad

Futhermore...why is Nintendo still running their Wii ads. You know..2 Japanese men show up at your door and say "wii want to play." Personally I think it's in bad taste and they should temporarily pull their ads. Just saw it last night again.

I know, blah, blah "it's not their fault."

But how about some sensitivity.

Along those lines I am sitting here thinking of other promotion ideas they could've done, like literally holding your Wii. It would still have the play on words aspect.

Why Nintendo hasn't pulled their ads? To be blunt, outside of the Big Sac & the radio world no one really cares about this.

I've spoken to several friends and family members about this and everyone says, "How tragic," followed by some form of, "What's on TV?" Apparently this senseless death isn't on many people's minds in the rest of America. One friend of mine back in Alabama asked in an e-mail, "Who still listens to radio?" so maybe my sample's tained just a bit.

As for your idea of literally holding a Wii. I think that's a great idea, and not at all mean-spirited. A totally hack radio bit, but it works and isn't dangerous. The poster suggesting Gatorade beat me to the idea - it contains some sodium and is designed for replenishing lost fluds, so it could have mitigated some of the ill effects of water intoxication. On the other hand, it's still mostly water.

FWIW if criminal charges are brought against some folks from the morning show they'll be getting what they deserve. That audio of the nurse calling in is quite damning. A simple matter of calling a doctor, nurse or EMT could have saved them so much trouble and saved this woman's life. Even if they'd gone along with it, an EMT crew could be there on site to supervise. I've heard that on other shows, radio & TV. Geez. Not too difficult.

Makes ya wonder how many other hack radio morning show contestants have come close to death while competing...

 

[winreader]

Everyone needs to take a friggin' step back for a second.

Nobody could've possibly predicted that someone could possibly die from WATER!!!! Forever, we've been told drink a bazillion glasses of water every day. Water is good. Drink water. Stay hydrated. Can someone present a documented case of "death by water ingestion" that anyone would have been exposed to in order to use as a reference point? This was an innocently conceived contest that went bad. A horrible tragedy. End of debate.

Actually a little research would have shown that this can be very dangerous. This death happened fairly close by in Chico, CA in 2005:

SF Gate Article Link

That was a frat hazing. Not a voluntary radio contest in which an adult woman chose to do something with risk yet had ample opportunity to bail out. The hindsight here and willingness to blame everyone else is remarkable.

 

[The Goodfellow]

Everyone needs to take a friggin' step back for a second.

Nobody could've possibly predicted that someone could possibly die from WATER!!!! Forever, we've been told drink a bazillion glasses of water every day. Water is good. Drink water. Stay hydrated. Can someone present a documented case of "death by water ingestion" that anyone would have been exposed to in order to use as a reference point? This was an innocently conceived contest that went bad. A horrible tragedy. End of debate.

Actually a little research would have shown that this can be very dangerous. This death happened fairly close by in Chico, CA in 2005:

SF Gate Article Link

That was a frat hazing. Not a voluntary radio contest in which an adult woman chose to do something with risk yet had ample opportunity to bail out. The hindsight here and willingness to blame everyone else is remarkable.

If you read my post directly under here, you will see that the Morning Rave knew all about the Chico college kid. They knew the dangers. The fact that it was a hazing had nothing to do with it! You Morning Rave apologists are ill informed and unreal!

Goodfellow

 

[zumahans]

Steve Weed was the name of Patty Hearst's fiancee when she was kidnapped by the Symbionese Libteration Army.

I have to ask - same guy? Son?

 

[radionekkid]

All this is a result of the “over the top” and “in your face” attitude of broadcasters today and a gross management breakdown. Responsibility will rest with the highest official in the local business unit. Liability lies with the parent company owners, officers and their insurance company. Old Chinese proverb says “fish rots from head down”. Prior knowledge of a danger does not bode well and could be criminal. Sad that it has taken a death to bring awareness and forge change.

 

[radiovictim]

If you read my post directly under here, you will see that the Morning Rave knew all about the Chico college kid. They knew the dangers. The fact that it was a hazing had nothing to do with it! You Morning Rave apologists are ill informed and unreal!

Yes, it was wrong and idiotic, to say the least. Yes, there are several things that should have been done to ensure everyone's safety... like having EMTs present... or never doing this contest in the first place. Yes, the audio makes them sound insensitive. However, if they honestly thought that someone might die, they wouldn't have talked about it in the way they did - jokingly.

They knew it could happen but probably had the additional mentality of that would never happen here. That's not an uncommon thought - that will never happen to me. Maybe you pass a bad wreck on the freeway caused by speeding... and then continue to speed anyway. You might see news of a plane crash... but yet continue to fly. You know that these tragedies happen and that you are putting yourself in harm's way but... that'll never happen to me. It's very much connected to the "negligence vs. malice" argument that was posted earlier.

I'm not making excuses or apologies for anyone. This is a horrible situation and after reading all the articles and hearing the audio, it was clearly the right thing to do when Entercom fired them. I'm merely saying that it's not so hard to understand why they didn't heed advice from the nurse or even listen to their own questions and instincts. They are guilty of being irresponsible... as most morning shows are. They are guilty of not being mental giants... as most morning shows are. This is where management should have stepped in and said "no". After all, management is supposed to act as "parent" to the jocks who overwhelmingly act like children, right? At what point does the GM stand up and take some responsibility?

With all this in mind I ask again if anyone has had contact with the parties involved and if so, how is everyone coping? Beit the widowed husband and his children or the former Entercom employees also involved, I hope they have a tremendous support system to comfort them through their sorrow.

 

[godofirony]

A couple of answers...

No, the contestants could not hear what was on the air unless the station brought in an additional radio. The kitchen area they were in broadcasts another entercom station over the speakers.

"Steve Weed" is not the PDs real name. It's an abbreviation of his last name.

I personally feel that the people who were fired are responsible for this stunt - knowing how that station works (yes i recently worked for them) they all would have known about it. I have no sympathy for them and feel that they were treated as they should have been. However, the remaining Entercom employees affected by all this are being treated well and dealing the best they can. They're having many of the same feelings all of us are having - confusion and anger even about their own. And I'm sure they appreciate the support of those in the industry.

 

[The Goodfellow]

If you read my post directly under here, you will see that the Morning Rave knew all about the Chico college kid. They knew the dangers. The fact that it was a hazing had nothing to do with it! You Morning Rave apologists are ill informed and unreal!

I'm not making excuses or apologies for anyone.

Apologists are not ones who apologize, rather ones who defend something or someone.

Goodfellow

 

[The Goodfellow]

A couple of answers...

No, the contestants could not hear what was on the air unless the station brought in an additional radio. The kitchen area they were in broadcasts another entercom station over the speakers.

I rest my case. Quit trying to put any blame on Jennifer Strange, the victim, who left three Motherless Children.

Goodfellow

 

[Neanderpaul]

Deleted By Author

 

[The Goodfellow]

Deleted By Author

Neanderpaul, you accidentally stub your toe, you accidentally fall and break your leg, you don't accidaentally drink 2 gallons of H20. There's a woman dead here and the outrage is justified.

Goodfellow

 

[DyingMedium]

Amen to that, Goodfellow...


I feel bad for those left behind at KDND who had nothing to do with this sad situation, but will suffer the consequences...I do not have any sympathy for the morning show or anyone else who oversaw the promo. I hope they are kicked out of radio and stay out. It's this type of garbage talent and programming that has helped lead terrestrial radio into the gutter.

 

[Neanderpaul]

Deleted By Author

Neanderpaul, you accidentally stub your toe, you accidentally fall and break your leg, you don't accidaentally drink 2 gallons of H20. There's a woman dead here and the outrage is justified.

Goodfellow

You choose to drink 2 gallons of H20.

You never think it will kill you.

It's a sad tragedy. Of that we can all agree.

I'll leave it at that. This bickering serves nobody.

My thoughts remain with all involved. Hopefully, someday they will all be able to resume some sense of normalcy in their lives.

Anyone who works in this industry needs to reassess everything we do when it comes to contests.

 

[DyingMedium]

You choose to run a contest that could potentially hurt someone. You never think it will. It does. YOU are responsible.

Yes, radio needs to reassess the way it does when it comes to contests, programming, ownership. The downward spiral continues. I wish it would stop, but I don't think it will.




[/quote]

You choose to drink 2 gallons of H20.

You never think it will kill you.

It's a sad tragedy. Of that we can all agree.

I'll leave it at that. This bickering serves nobody.

My thoughts remain with all involved. Hopefully, someday they will all be able to resume some sense of normalcy in their lives.

Anyone who works in this industry needs to reassess everything we do when it comes to contests.


[/quote]

 

[radiovictim]

You choose to drink 2 gallons of H20.

You never think it will kill you.

It's a sad tragedy. Of that we can all agree.

I'll leave it at that. This bickering serves nobody.

My thoughts remain with all involved. Hopefully, someday they will all be able to resume some sense of normalcy in their lives.

Anyone who works in this industry needs to reassess everything we do when it comes to contests.

Amen, Neanderpaul. I hope your friends here in Sac are well. You are missed.

 

[TheRover]

Re: Latest Radio Promotion Gone Bad

Should the Surgeon General place warning lables on bottled water after this hi profile incident?

NO, the FCC should put a WARNING Label on anything that Corporate Conglomerate Radio produces....

WARNING: The Centralization of Radio Ownership may lead to ineffective leadership and management, resutling in things that are unhealthy for you. Such as "Bring In The Weekend Parites", canned Music, canned Dj's, and bizzare and unsafe promotions.

 

[TheRover]

This just in...KCRA says that laywers for the family will be filing a wrongful death lawsuit against KDND and Entercom. Tom Duhain was talking about it at the top of the 6.

I Hope to God that Court TV will give this Trial the coverage it deserves !

 

[Stage5Clinger]

This just in...the lawyers for the Strange family may sue Nintendo and Justin Timberlake's promoters too, as heard just now on KCRA at the top of the 6.

 

[godofirony]

This just in...the lawyers for the Strange family may sue Nintendo and Justin Timberlake's promoters too, as heard just now on KCRA at the top of the 6.

Wow...but yeah, not likely gonna work. I doubt that this contest had anything to do with Nintendo or JT. Both the Wii and tickets were probably part of things acquired by the station for "prize closet" stash and could be given away however they wanted. Maybe there's a chance in hell Nintendo knew about it but I doubt it. It's more likely that whichever account exec did a deal with Nintendo signed off on the contest, but Nintendo isn't liable for that.