Posted on 05/02/2009 7:03:00 AM PDT by MartinaMisc
Will Jay Severin ever be heard on Boston airwaves again?
The Boston Herald reports that Severin will speak to the management of WTKK-FM to discuss his future with the station. Severin was suspended indefinitely in the wake of controversy surrounding his recent remarks concerning Mexico’s role in the spread of swine flu.
Boston Globe op-ed columnist Scot Lehigh, a long-time Severin nemesis, believes the “Extreme Games” host is getting his just due. “I’ve long been a critic of Severin’s crude, bombastic, xenophobic discourse,” Lehigh notes. “Over the years, I have highlighted a few of his more blatant lies, outrages, and inventions because I thought his listeners should know what a bigot and a fraud he was. I more or less gave up the task when my wife told me I had proved my point and that pursuing it further seemed petty. And when I realized that discerning people got it - but that it made no difference to Severin’s committed fans. So I’m hardly sorry to see this happen.”
Severin’s bombastic style has drawn fire before: in March 2001, Boston Globe op-ed columnist Joan Vennochi labeled him an “angry white man” for his acerbic comments about Hillary Clinton (comments that included the use of the “b-word”), and in February 2004, then-Boston Phoenix writer Dan Kennedy took him to task for using ethnic slurs to describe illegal aliens. Although Severin has never struck me as a legitimate bigot (as he told the Globe in a May 1999 profile, “Anyone who is a constitutionalist cannot believe in discrimination in any way. I am adamantly opposed to race consciouness”), he has always pushed the envelope as a talk-radio host. Perhaps he has now pushed the envelope off the table entirely.
(Excerpt) Read more at massachusetts.newsplatoon.com ...
If he is a money maker for the station he will be back. If they make him change he will lose money and they will get rid of him.
Still no resolution to Jay situation; VB filling in today.
http://www.bostonradiowatch.com
Greater’s statement:
“”WTKK and Greater Media value an open and vigorous dialogue, but we also strongly adhere to basic principles of civility, common decency and respect for all cultures. We believe Jay’s suspension is the best way to uphold both of these corporate policies. WTKK Management met with Jay Severin and his agent today. He will continue to remain on suspension until further notice.”
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They just lost all credibility.
As regards Graham, that’s when I switch to WRKO. Laura is brighter, by far. It will be interesting to see what becomes of Jay. I always found his remarks to be hard truths, sometimes ugly truths, but always the truth. It is a shame this has happened.
VB is an empty suit. If they are going to recycle somebody, go find Avi Nelson. He’s a very bright guy, well educated, accomplished and I always learn something listening to him.
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