• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Here we go again... Lonsberry in hot water

Rox....

I hear what you're saying, but I really don't think this is just gonna simply die. I know 1st amendment & the other reasons you mentioned, yes...all valid. But, I also think going forward this d-bag needs to go for a permanent vacation...and I'm also certain that someone's at least considered filing a FCC complaint vs. WHAM based on his previous acts of nonsense. If the offended parties proceed the right way legally, a smart enough lawyer will make enough noise that'll cause for his dismissal.

If he merely said the program didn't reward kids for his reasons...I think we'd be at the usual Lonsberry defcon level of "dumb---", but to go on the tangent of "don't spread your legs", etc. Now we're talking morals in business, not economics.
 
I'm sorry. I missed the part of the 1st amendment or the FCC rules & regs that made morals off-limits for discussion.

Lonsberry's a moron, and his remarks are distasteful, but not illegal. The only pressure that his detractors can bring successfully in this case is economic pressure - the same pressure that got Imus fired in NYC, which is FAR more liberal than Rochester.

If Lonsberry had said that "corporations take advantage of loopholes in the tax laws to make outrageous profits, and corporate weasels who dodge taxes should be ashamed of themselves", there would be no such outcry. Those words are also a moral judgement, and a matter of opinion.
 
luvcoors said:
Rox....

I hear what you're saying, but I really don't think this is just gonna simply die. I know 1st amendment & the other reasons you mentioned, yes...all valid. But, I also think going forward this d-bag needs to go for a permanent vacation...and I'm also certain that someone's at least considered filing a FCC complaint vs. WHAM based on his previous acts of nonsense. If the offended parties proceed the right way legally, a smart enough lawyer will make enough noise that'll cause for his dismissal.

If he merely said the program didn't reward kids for his reasons...I think we'd be at the usual Lonsberry defcon level of "dumb---", but to go on the tangent of "don't spread your legs", etc. Now we're talking morals in business, not economics.

If some are so passionate about getting this guy off of the air - (refer to Tucson Forum...Jon Justice and read the articles linked) which only will create positive publicity for the station and the show therefore boosting it's ratings... Why don't they buy the signal and fire the guy themselves?

I doubt the station will be sold unless the current owners can turn a real cushy profit.
 
SirRoxalot said:
I'm sorry. I missed the part of the 1st amendment or the FCC rules & regs that made morals off-limits for discussion.

Lonsberry's a moron, and his remarks are distasteful, but not illegal. The only pressure that his detractors can bring successfully in this case is economic pressure - the same pressure that got Imus fired in NYC, which is FAR more liberal than Rochester.

If Lonsberry had said that "corporations take advantage of loopholes in the tax laws to make outrageous profits, and corporate weasels who dodge taxes should be ashamed of themselves", there would be no such outcry. Those words are also a moral judgement, and a matter of opinion.

I need to clarify here a bit...didn't say morals were off-limits for discussion. I'm talking about after the fact....going forward...CC mgmt. weighing the positives vs. negatives. Hopefully you understand my POV a little better now.
 
cee said:
But we all know why he said it - cause he wanted to stir up dumb local rednecks who enjoy harboring bitter thoughts toward blacks(and other minorities) because they think they're getting special privileges. Disconnect from reality.

So it's okay for you to be a total bigot towards a certain type of people, but not the host of the radio show? How hypocritical. As someone who was born in Alabama and lives in awful, rural Mississippi, I really should be offended. :mad:

Okay, I'm not from Rochester, have (unfortunately) never been there and don't know who this Lonsberry is, but I do acknowledge that most markets seem to have a guy like this on the radio. The only reason I am here is because the subject was scrolling on R-I's banner at the top o' the screen.

My question: what did this guy say that was factually incorrect or morally wrong? That teenage girls who fail to exercise good judgement, have sex while still in high school and get pregnant shouldn't be celebrated for their mistakes? That a minority education foundation shouldn't praise minority students who get knocked up? That, perhaps, a 'teen mothers program' may legitimize teen pregnancies? (I disagree with the premise of the last point, but it could be easily argued.)

I don't see how his language or subject matter violated any decency rules. Then again I don't understand why African-American culture seems to not care about its scary-high rate of out-of-wedlock pregnancies (3 times higher than caucasians in Tennessee, the first statistics I pulled up.)

From the outside looking in, it sounds like the people who were the target of his vitriol were uncomfortable being called out for their risky and irresponsible behavior and would rather blame someone—anyone—other than themselves. What this guy said may have been unkind, or even mean. But it is by no means indecent.

I go by that old saying, “Those who are easily offended should be offended more often.” Sounds like the unwed AA teen mothers should develop thicker skin. Seriously, if I got offended every time I heard a black guy say something derogatory about a) whites or b) gays, I'd be dead from outrage 10 years ago. Luckily I am not privvy to group-mentality and the easily offended nature that comes along with it.

Unless what this guy said is factually incorrect or morally misleading, then everyone is getting waaay upset over nothing, perpetuating this faux outrage for the sake of attention. And that's what is really “bringing us down”. That and the stupid, idiotic TV stations like WHEC with their pandering to the outrage: “We want to warn you: some of the language in this report is graphic.” To whom? 5-years? News flash: we're adults, stop acting like we're scared of big ugly words. ::)
 
I want to know when we all became a bunch of [EDIT] in this country? What Lonsberry said was nothing. If you are offended by him and what he has to say, then don't listen to him. The dial is full of choices. If enough people are offended and choose not to listen, then he won't have a job for too long. Apparently enough people find him entertaining enough to listen though. For all you Goody Two Shoes out there who think they know whats best for me or my family, or what I can or can not listen to,..I got news for you. [EDIT]quit trying to tell me what I can watch or listen to.

[EDIT-profanity]
 
Zach said:
Okay, I'm not from Rochester, have (unfortunately) never been there and don't know who this Lonsberry is, but I do acknowledge that most markets seem to have a guy like this on the radio.

Zack - Finally somebody makes my point valid.

THANK YOU! :)
 
I only listen to WHAM for news. I don't like Lonsberry nor care for his politics so I usually don't listen unless there is a local issue I'm interested in hearing what he and others have to say--sometimes a good discussion can get going on Lonsberry's show. Otherwise, I really wish WROC would air a local progressive talker.

Although I lived in down in the road in Buffalo at the time, considering that WHAM fired him the last time, I'm surprised that he isn't more cautious with his words. Then again, since WHAM's ratings did faulter I wonder if he thinks he has an "insurance" policy of sorts.

By the way, why does he do a morning show for Salt Lake City? That's something I don't understand, I mean he lives almost 2,000 miles away, not really local then is he?
 
Then again I don't understand why African-American culture seems to not care about its scary-high rate of out-of-wedlock pregnancies (3 times higher than caucasians in Tennessee, the first statistics I pulled up.)

They do care and many people in our black community are trying hard to change things. We have a strong black middle class community here in the Rochester area, but very strong black on black crime (and so many other problems) in the inner city. The unwed mother program is meant to keep these girls, who have obviously made a serious mistake, on the right track. Lonsberry comes along, media slut that he is, and takes potshots at them. Still, he has a legal right to say this, dispicable as he is. He has a right to say this and I have a right to call this attention whore what he is above all else: a total ------.

From the outside looking in, it sounds like the people who were the target of his vitriol were uncomfortable being called out for their risky and irresponsible behavior and would rather blame someone—anyone—other than themselves. What this guy said may have been unkind, or even mean. But it is by no means indecent.

How do you know they are blaming others? Have you talked to them? Yes, it is unkind and mean and it's not how Jesus would address this issue were he to come back. Lonsberry is a supposedly devout Mormon. I always wonder how people like that say such horrible un-Christian like statements while they claim to be walking in the shadow of Christ. BTW, the Mormon church was founded in nearby Palmyra, NY and founder Joseph Smith and his flock were driven out of town and headed west because of local bigots, lead by the local media -- at that time the local newspapers. Lonsberry's also been divorced twice, according to his website. For is own personal growth, maybe he should focus on his own behavior instead of others.

But we all know why he said it - cause he wanted to stir up dumb local rednecks who enjoy harboring bitter thoughts toward blacks(and other minorities) because they think they're getting special privileges. Disconnect from reality

So it's okay for you to be a total bigot towards a certain type of people, but not the host of the radio show? How hypocritical. As someone who was born in Alabama and lives in awful, rural Mississippi, I really should be offended.

Excuse my vitriol, but redneck is nowadays a term for dumb rubes in general, not rural southerners. I rarely run into anyone with a southern accent in Rochester. I have nothing against anyone based on where they live. I do have a problem with narrow minded jerks who harbor bitterness against minorities, women, gays, etc. etc. based on their own ignorance and intellectual laziness. It's a character thing. Lonsberry previously seemed to be comparing our former AA mayor to an Orangutan. He panders to these local nitwits. And they have a right to find his comments amusing. And the rest of us have a right to call them out for what they are. Again, best suggestion yet(that I previously posted) from a local blogger, if you don't like his comments, don't support his advertisers.

I don't want this string to wind up in Take it Outside, so let's get back to radio. Anybody got any good anecdotes about WKBW? Joey Reynolds used to get in hot water with his on-air remarks back in the 60s. Not so much the case with WNIA's Jerry Jack.
 
dustintv said:
By the way, why does he do a morning show for Salt Lake City? That's something I don't understand, I mean he lives almost 2,000 miles away, not really local then is he?

I do believe it's because he's 1) a Mormon and 2) conservative, both making for a good fit in the SLC market.
 
scooterodell said:
dustintv said:
By the way, why does he do a morning show for Salt Lake City? That's something I don't understand, I mean he lives almost 2,000 miles away, not really local then is he?

I do believe it's because he's 1) a Mormon and 2) conservative, both making for a good fit in the SLC market.

I said "he would be fired in a sec in SLC."

I never said he was doing a show there.
 
From the re-write department​
Statement from 1180 WHAM Vice President/General Manager Karen Carey: WHAM-AM defends the right of its on-air personalities to spout crazy-ass bullspit, no matter how stupid, insulting or offensive, as long as we can skirt FCC rules. WHAM-AM also defends the right of its listeners to disagree with these opinions, (please, try not to laugh), but we'll be damned if we give them any on air recourse short of calling our talk shows and being shouted down and abused by our talk show hosts. We know that most of our listeners are mindless droolers who agree with the talk show hosts. We have extended an invitation to representatives of the Rochester City School District to express their opinions on our station, when and where we damn well please, most likely on Sunday morning between 5 and 7 a.m. We look forward to productive dialogue about ongoing community issues. On WXXI-AM.
 
Radknowski said:
From the re-write department​
Statement from 1180 WHAM Vice President/General Manager Karen Carey: WHAM-AM defends the right of its on-air personalities to spout crazy-ass bullspit, no matter how stupid, insulting or offensive, as long as we can skirt FCC rules. WHAM-AM also defends the right of its listeners to disagree with these opinions, (please, try not to laugh), but we'll be damned if we give them any on air recourse short of calling our talk shows and being shouted down and abused by our talk show hosts. We know that most of our listeners are mindless droolers who agree with the talk show hosts. We have extended an invitation to representatives of the Rochester City School District to express their opinions on our station, when and where we damn well please, most likely on Sunday morning between 5 and 7 a.m. We look forward to productive dialogue about ongoing community issues. On WXXI-AM.
;D This by far is a classic response!
 
From the re-write department
Quote
Statement from 1180 WHAM Vice President/General Manager Karen Carey: WHAM-AM defends the right of its on-air personalities to spout crazy-ass bullspit, no matter how stupid, insulting or offensive, as long as we can skirt FCC rules. WHAM-AM also defends the right of its listeners to disagree with these opinions, (please, try not to laugh), but we'll be damned if we give them any on air recourse short of calling our talk shows and being shouted down and abused by our talk show hosts. We know that most of our listeners are mindless droolers who agree with the talk show hosts. We have extended an invitation to representatives of the Rochester City School District to express their opinions on our station, when and where we damn well please, most likely on Sunday morning between 5 and 7 a.m. We look forward to productive dialogue about ongoing community issues. On WXXI-AM.
Grin This by far is a classic response!

I agree!!
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom