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Your DJ was arrested for beating his girlfriend...what do you do?

R

Roger That

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/06/02/0602radiodj.html

Just wanted to open this up to debate. You're a programmer of an ADULT FEMALE leaning radio station, with good ratings, and your male morning show host just got out of jail for a domestic abuse arrest. And not just a "we fought and pushed...it got out of hand" kind of arrest. The charges include PUNCHING her in the face. Wow.

Do you try to spin this on the air? Fire him? Does he ever work in radio again?

Discuss.
 
Public Defender?

What's he been convicted of?

Charges - especially in a "domestic" incident - are often the product of emotion, not evidence. I think that the approach of management - essentially a "wait and see" - is correct. As facts emerge, evaluate and react as necessary.

Not only that, but he's a foil. What's his image on the show? Good guy, or goofball?

Sounds like the guy isn't exactly on top of the world. A public defender? Ouch. Too bad he isn't really famous. He could get a good press agent, a good lawyer, and go to a cushy rehab center.
 
You can't spin this. It's a PR disaster for 'RMF. If the police took pictures where she has physical scars, they have no choice but to fire him immediately and send him out to the wolves. Plus if he is convicted he should be charged to the most severe extent of the law.

No female listener can listen to him without thinking "perp" He's done in this market.
 
I think the company has to give him the opportunity to clear his name, but short of getting the alleged victim to drop the charges (and in some states, even that doesn't matter), this looks like an uphill battle and nobody would blame them for cutting him loose. The irony here is that anyone who knows Danny knows that he is OBSESSED with gossip. Station gossip, personal gossip, you name it. And now, it's HIS name on the tongues of everyone in the market.

That Mahan guy should send him flowers...
 
Roger That said:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/06/02/0602radiodj.html

Just wanted to open this up to debate. You're a programmer of an ADULT FEMALE leaning radio station, with good ratings, and your male morning show host just got out of jail for a domestic abuse arrest. And not just a "we fought and pushed...it got out of hand" kind of arrest. The charges include PUNCHING her in the face. Wow.

Do you try to spin this on the air? Fire him? Does he ever work in radio again?

Discuss.
Click to expand...

Does he ever work in radio again? Maybe not in Palm Beach but one can hardly rule out someplace else. I myself have seen jocks do things worse than what this guy did and somehow they do end up back on the radio. Several years ago in my market we had a 26 year old male jock who was arrested for having sex with a 13 year old girl ( and this sick incident took place right in the studio !! ). The radio station gave him a choice..quit or be fired. He quit !! Still though despite the arrest, being found guilty and the fact that he is now a registered sex offender, after he "left" his radio station he actually had FIVE job offers to do radio elsewhere and some of those offers were in bigger markets !! And yes, all of them knew about his "incident" and as recently as 2 years ago he was still on the radio. Some 6 states away from where he was busted.
 
Especially since the station is leaning towards adult females, it's probably in your best interest to fire him. I certainly don't think it can be spun... That could look bad for the whole station. Possibly he can find work elsewhere, in another market, but there's no excuse for what he's done, and you have to accept the consequences of all actions. These things need to result in being fired. It doesn't matter what job you have. My two cents...
 
The story continues:

Radio JOCK'S ALLEGED VICTIM SPEAKS OUT


WRMF-97.9 FM boss Elizabeth Hamma crowed five days after Ralph "Danny" Czekalinski's domestic battery arrest last week that the station's morning drivetime jock would be vindicated soon.

Source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/06/07/a2a_jose_col_0608.html

[EDIT]


[EDIT-post truncated because originating material is copyrighted. Unauthorized use of copyrighted content is in violation of Radio-Info's
TOS.]
 
Arrested is a far cry from convicted. There has to be a solid approach to this. The company has an obligation to BOTH the listeners, and the jock.

1. Suspend (with pay) until the "facts" come out or the dust clears 2-4 weeks. If the "facts" seem to point to guilt....no pay from that point to case outcome. Believe me, everything is not always as it appears.

2. If convicted....outta here and friggin pronto!

3. If found NOT guilty, there is repair to be done, and a tremendous opportunity for positive station visibility. He should have to become a poster child in the market against domestic violence AND if FALSELY accused, against filing of false charges. His advocacy for both causes would go a long way in this case.

I don't believe the standard reactionary move of immediate firing sends the right message to anybody.
 
darksoldier said:
Arrested is a far cry from convicted. There has to be a solid approach to this. The company has an obligation to BOTH the listeners, and the jock.

1. Suspend (with pay) until the "facts" come out or the dust clears 2-4 weeks. If the "facts" seem to point to guilt....no pay from that point to case outcome. Believe me, everything is not always as it appears.

2. If convicted....outta here and friggin pronto!

3. If found NOT guilty, there is repair to be done, and a tremendous opportunity for positive station visibility. He should have to become a poster child in the market against domestic violence AND if FALSELY accused, against filing of false charges. His advocacy for both causes would go a long way in this case.

I don't believe the standard reactionary move of immediate firing sends the right message to anybody.
Click to expand...

BRAVO! You saved me some time on this subject. I totally 100% agree! Innocent until proven guilty. Of course, if this dude did this in the middle of a public place where EVERYONE watched him do this.... then you fire his ass ASAP. However, that was not the case.
 
a few missing factors. does he have a contract? what does the contract say? did it make a big splash in the papers? what are his ratings like?

If he is a solid asset to the station, send him to disneyworld for a few weeks.....if he is not an asset...send him on his way.

screw morals....this is a BUSINESS. do what is good for business.
 
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