Dori Monson's off Seahawks broadcasts for transphobic tweet

[seatownmedia]

Back to my main point. Everyone makes a mistake. Everyone. Should you lose your job because of a mistake? We would all be unemployed. I understand if there is a history of concerning behavior... and a private company can do what they want. I get that. I am not aware of Dori have a history that would warrant termination. I have not heard it myself. The people that are so quick to demand someone else lose there livelihood need to look in the mirror. We all have something to work on, including me. Social media is a dangerous place to play.

I feel that, and I agree. The problem becomes when an issue like this hits social media, etc., etc. the offending structure has no option other than to make a change. This is what our society has become, unfortunately. So he will be fired, IMO, though I don't agree he should be.

(In rare cases, this may be an excuse to fire someone that they wanted to fire anyway, but I have no evidence in this case).

 

[fordranger797]

This situation clearly illustrates how social media and public figures do not mix. This isn't the first time that we've seen a radio host land themselves in hot water over something posted on social media, and it surely will not be the last. I don't agree with the Tweet, but I was a bit surprised that any action was taken when you consider the content of the actual program. Social media is an extremely slippery slope. What may seem harmless to one person could be extremely offensive to another. Most broadcasting groups have social media coordinators, or at least someone who is primarily responsible for handling social media platforms (in addition to their other duties.) It seems to me like it would be wise for broadcasting companies to stop requiring talent to interact with the listening audience on a platform that lends itself so readily to disaster. Clearly, anyone can make the mistake of saying something inflammatory over the air, but having access to official media pages at all hours of the day further accentuates the risk.

 

[TheBigA]

It seems to me like it would be wise for broadcasting companies to stop requiring talent to interact with the listening audience on a platform that lends itself so readily to disaster.

The platform isn't the problem. Removing the platform doesn't change the person.

 

[Kelly A]

Back to my main point. Everyone makes a mistake. Everyone. Should you lose your job because of a mistake?

Not all mistakes are created equal. If you work in the service industry and call one of your customers a Nazi, chances are that mistake will cost you your gig.

Social media is a dangerous place to play.

Several veteran radio personalities have fallen into this trap. It used to be one's employer emphasis was limited to your time on the air. Participation in the early forms of social media wasn't required, nor did management care. These days, time on line is not only expected as a form of connecting with your audience, but now makes up easily 50% of your employment. Saying things to your audience via social media has become the same as saying it on the air. Sure, you could get away with more strong language than being on the air, but the content you talk about still carries equal weight. In other words, stepping over a line on social media, comes with similar repercussions of being on the air

 

[TheBigA]

In other words, stepping over a line on social media, comes with similar repercussions of being on the air

Back before social media, the trap was getting pulled over for DUI. I've known several people who've had their careers ended that way.

But it's the same thing. You need to know who you're talking to. The mic is always live.

 

[Kelly A]

Back before social media, the trap was getting pulled over for DUI. I've known several people who've had their careers ended that way.

But it's the same thing. You need to know who you're talking to. The mic is always live.

Yep, and what amount to 'morals clauses' in contracts, still exist.

 

[TheBigA]

Yep, and what amount to 'morals clauses' in contracts, still exist.

The thing most talk hosts forget is that talk radio is its own echo chamber, so almost everyone there agrees with you. Once you walk outside that space into the general world, you discover how polarized we are politically, and you have a 50% chance of pissing someone off (or maybe a 70% chance in Seattle). I'm surprised this hasn't happened to him before.

 

[fordranger797]

The platform isn't the problem. Removing the platform doesn't change the person.

While that is true, social media platforms provide a secondary location to engage in conduct that others might find offensive. I agree with what you said, taking away the platform will not change the individual. With that being said, social media platforms have caused many other hosts (some who are not talk-radio centric, nor have the following that Dori Monson has) to land themselves in hot water. This scenario unfolding at KIRO is further accentuated by the fact that Dori has been known to "live tweet" his reactions during high profile events, such as a governmental debate. While these reactions may not be significantly different from some of the opinions expressed over the airwaves, they are saved in the form of written Twitter record. It seems like it would be a risky proposition for anyone in a high profile position to be using a social media platform to express live opinions without giving oneself ample time to assess whether or not said opinion should be shared in the first place. In the modern era, media companies not only expect their on-air talent to share their lives with social media pages, they outright demand it. While this is usually not problematic, it only takes one instance of poor judgement for a seemingly innocuous post to go horribly awry. As others have stated, being a public figure in 2020 equates to sharing your life with the audience, and that requires a great deal of responsibility. It's always been this way, from the sound of it. However, it certainly gets more complex as technology advances.

 

[TheBigA]

It seems like it would be a risky proposition for anyone in a high profile position to be using a social media platform to express live opinions without giving oneself ample time to assess whether or not said opinion should be shared in the first place.

I agree with that, which is why a lot of public figures end up deleting certain posts.

 

[Kelly A]

While that is true, social media platforms provide a secondary location to engage in conduct that others might find offensive.

That's the new expectation for air talent, especially for talk programming. As a personality, your persona continues long after you go off the air. Most radio and TV talk shows promote that their hosts will be live-tweeting or active on other forms of social media during things like debates, press conferences, or other covered news events. Some stations require the talent to publish daily blogs, tweet, participate in Facebook or Instagram groups, host live YouTube shows, or other form of digital engagement to keep the show/network/station, top of mind with the listeners/viewers during off hours.

The challenge is for some talent; the expectation to be live-tweeting or posting in real time, while making sure not to offend your audience or listeners/viewers not familiar with your schtick. Some talent is able to watch their TV and type coherently without going through a societal guardrail, where some inadvertently go off the rails with offensive or libelous comments.

 

[TheBigA]

Some talent is able to watch their TV and type coherently without going through a societal guardrail, where some inadvertently go off the rails with offensive or libelous comments.

The problem here is this particular talent has two audiences: One for conservative radio, and the other for NFL football. There are some similarities and some differences. If his post had dealt with BLM, it might also have caused the same problem.

 

[Kelly A]

The problem here is this particular talent has two audiences: One for conservative radio, and the other for NFL football. There are some similarities and some differences. If his post had dealt with BLM, it might also have caused the same problem.

Sure, that's yet another challenge for talent that are on different formats; being able to effectively geo-fence your persona to fit the show.

 

[jensenbay]

Still on the website and hosts are still filling in for The Dori Monson Show. When will the time out be over?

 

[fordranger797]

That's the new expectation for air talent, especially for talk programming. As a personality, your persona continues long after you go off the air. Most radio and TV talk shows promote that their hosts will be live-tweeting or active on other forms of social media during things like debates, press conferences, or other covered news events. Some stations require the talent to publish daily blogs, tweet, participate in Facebook or Instagram groups, host live YouTube shows, or other form of digital engagement to keep the show/network/station, top of mind with the listeners/viewers during off hours.

The challenge is for some talent; the expectation to be live-tweeting or posting in real time, while making sure not to offend your audience or listeners/viewers not familiar with your schtick. Some talent is able to watch their TV and type coherently without going through a societal guardrail, where some inadvertently go off the rails with offensive or libelous comments.

Absolutely, and this remains true for regular music hosts as well. I have seen instances in which a host has put out a Facebook post in an attempt to be funny, edgy, or clever, only to have it backfire completely. It seemed like some of this could be prevented if broadcasting groups weren't pushing their hosts to always be generating content for social pages. Sometimes in an attempt to find material, material is shared that ought not be. If something is worth sharing, by all means, share it. Just be aware that not everyone will react the same.

 

[TheBigA]

It seemed like some of this could be prevented if broadcasting groups weren't pushing their hosts to always be generating content for social pages.

You keep looking for other things or people to blame. No one pushed him to do a live stream of the governor's debate.

 

[Roddybob]

I seriously doubt Dori ever gets the Seahawks gig back. The team promotes Equality partnerships all over its website and in the media, and has for years.
Hall of Famer Warren Moon got taken off the broadcast in the wake of MeToo allegations. The team takes this stuff seriously and is very PR savvy.
Bonneville is a different animal. I suspect a two week suspension and some kind of mea culpa and he will be back on.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Bonneville is a different animal. I suspect a two week suspension and some kind of mea culpa and he will be back on.

They may also shrug off the comment because, if the company is like the Bonneville I once worked for, they seem to have strong feelings about "right" and "wrong" according to their own "good book".
When they had KIRO-TV it wasn't uncommon to pre-empt Network programming because it had "offensive" content.
On the other hand, maybe the old guard isn't in charge and the newer executives are more tolerant of the world as it really is.

 

[fordranger797]

You keep looking for other things or people to blame. No one pushed him to do a live stream of the governor's debate.

Sorry if it came across that way, but no, I am not shifting the blame. The party in question is the only one to blame for their actions. With that being said, I think venturing down the pathway of social media is a slippery slope that creates a larger conversation about how these services can be more effectively used in broadcasting.

 

[TheBigA]

The party in question is the only one to blame for their actions. With that being said, I think venturing down the pathway of social media is a slippery slope that creates a larger conversation about how these services can be more effectively used in broadcasting.

It's very easy: Avoid political topics that will piss people off. I've seen social media used effectively by the former DJs at KMPS. I may be wrong but that station was one of the first in Seattle to have an active web presence.

 

[boombox4]

Such a tweet was obviously better left untweeted. Twitter gets a lot of celebrities and media figures in trouble.