Freethought & Rationalism Archive

BibleBelted · 07-10-2003, 04:23 PM

Greenville Online

According to the lawsuit Rachel Cordonier, known on-air as Rachel Walker, was fired by the Clear Channel radio station for which she worked for not getting aboard the Bush pro-war bandwagon. Apparently Clear Channel, constantly whining about their own "free" speech, will not stand for any from their employees.

Quote:

The suit alleges that co-hosts Herriott Clarkson Mungo III, also known as Bill Love, and Hayden Hudson, also known as Howard Hudson, encouraged Cordonier to join their pro-war discussions regarding the invasion of Iraq.

The conversations became contentious on several occasions and management's tolerance for opinions decreased as war drew closer, the suit alleges. The suit also alleges that Love and Hudson belittled her both on and off the air because of her political beliefs.

...

Cordonier alleges in the suit that some of the Clear Channel officers and directors have financial ties and are loyal to President Bush and his policies. It alleges that Cordonier was forced to participate in a pro-war rally.

...

Cordonier, who was named the 2002 Radio Personality of the Year by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association, said she believes it's an employer's right to broadcast what it wants, but that it shouldn't stifle opposing views. "Either don't talk about it at all or make it fair," she said.

(emphasis mine)

I would like to see this story get some coverage - it's time that Clear Channel's shenanigans were brought into the light of day.

But ... who is there left to cover it? The hijacking of our broadcast media is probably already the most important unreported story of the last 10 years.

Arken · 07-10-2003, 04:32 PM

This SO needs to get major media coverage.

$10 says it won't though.

ex-idaho · 07-10-2003, 04:41 PM

Did anyone happen to catch the testimony before Congress on the treatment of the Dixie Chicks? It was very enlightening.

BibleBelted · 07-10-2003, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ex-idaho
Did anyone happen to catch the testimony before Congress on the treatment of the Dixie Chicks? It was very enlightening.

No, I missed that. Who reported it? Did it make The Factor?

Arken · 07-10-2003, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BibleBelted
No, I missed that. Who reported it? Did it make The Factor?

I can't remember the details, but essentially, the head of ClearChannel did the usual contradictory statement "We never told them they weren't allowed to play it and anyway, they wouldn't have played them by choice if we hadn't said anything."

Kat_Somm_Faen · 07-10-2003, 05:03 PM

Go FCC!

Go corporate media ownership! It is just soooo in the interest of the consumers to get all your news from oe source... and a plutocratic one at that!

You can have anything as long as it option A!

beyelzu · 07-10-2003, 05:58 PM

Of course, I think that an employer has a right to fire an employee for any reason. just as employee's have the right to quit wheneve the hell they want to .

BibleBelted · 07-10-2003, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beyelzu
Of course, I think that an employer has a right to fire an employee for any reason. just as employee's have the right to quit wheneve the hell they want to .

That is your opinion. Mine is that corporations who set out to inform or push public opinion should be responsible enough to allow both sides of a question to be heard. That was a large part of the reason we once had a regulatory body for broadcast media (the FCC). Unfortunately for your position, the state does not agree with you.

From the article:

Quote:

The suit cites a state law that declares a person cannot be fired because of political opinions.

cjack · 07-10-2003, 06:17 PM

Not that I'm trying to defend Clear Channel (I used to work for them...yes, they are evil), but I think this suit is more about a clash of personalities at the local level than any corporate policy of political repression.

It is also telling that she's suing everyone all at once. The GM, PD, her former co-hosts, the corporate office, the janitor, etc. in hopes that they'll be able to get a settlement out of somebody.

I don't know...it just sounds a bit fishy to me.

FYI...it was Cumulus, not Clear Channel, that had a company-wide ban on the Dixie Chicks.

Grumpy · 07-10-2003, 09:59 PM

No company pressure on this Clear Channel employee. Mind you, the local & regional management is given fairly wide latitude.

For example, our country station dropped the Dixie Chicks (temporarily) after listeners complained; there was no company-wide directive.

The Empire chooses to exercise its evil in more subtle ways.

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07-10-2003, 04:32 PM	#2
Arken Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 6,303	This SO needs to get major media coverage. $10 says it won't though.

07-10-2003, 04:41 PM	#3
ex-idaho Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Spudtopia, ID Posts: 5,315	Did anyone happen to catch the testimony before Congress on the treatment of the Dixie Chicks? It was very enlightening.

07-10-2003, 05:03 PM	#6
Kat_Somm_Faen Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 3,316	Go FCC! Go corporate media ownership! It is just soooo in the interest of the consumers to get all your news from oe source... and a plutocratic one at that! You can have anything as long as it option A!

07-10-2003, 05:58 PM	#7
beyelzu Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: the peach state ga I am a metaphysical naturalist Posts: 2,869	Of course, I think that an employer has a right to fire an employee for any reason. just as employee's have the right to quit wheneve the hell they want to .

07-10-2003, 06:17 PM	#9
cjack Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,294	Not that I'm trying to defend Clear Channel (I used to work for them...yes, they are evil), but I think this suit is more about a clash of personalities at the local level than any corporate policy of political repression. It is also telling that she's suing everyone all at once. The GM, PD, her former co-hosts, the corporate office, the janitor, etc. in hopes that they'll be able to get a settlement out of somebody. I don't know...it just sounds a bit fishy to me. FYI...it was Cumulus, not Clear Channel, that had a company-wide ban on the Dixie Chicks.

07-10-2003, 09:59 PM	#10
Grumpy Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Alaska, USA Posts: 1,535	No company pressure on this Clear Channel employee. Mind you, the local & regional management is given fairly wide latitude. For example, our country station dropped the Dixie Chicks (temporarily) after listeners complained; there was no company-wide directive. The Empire chooses to exercise its evil in more subtle ways.

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