KSFO Relieves Me of My Job

Movwe America Forward ^ | October 3, 2005 | Melanie Morgan

[yoe]

Dear Friends:

You may have heard that this Friday, September 30th I was suddenly relieved of my duties as the morning host of the "Lee Rodgers & Melanie Morgan Show" on KSFO 560 AM - San Francisco.

Needless to say this turn events has been quite shocking - especially given the fact that it was something I was not expecting.

Here's the details of what happened...

My contract with KSFO was set to expire on Friday. My agent had been in negotiations with the station manager of KSFO (an ABC owned and operated station). We had already worked out the 'big issues' - I had agreed to a very small increase in salary and did not have any major demands. I thought everything would be routine. During my time at KSFO we have emerged as one of the highest rated local radio programs in the nation. Certainly the station had to appreciate that!?!

But, for some reason, the negotiations hit a brick wall and I was asked to accept a number of bizarre compromises. My agent tried to work through the issues but I was told that for some reason the station was playing hardball. I was told on Thursday that Friday morning would be my last day of employment. I was to turn in my ABC card key that allowed me access to the building.

Given what happened recently to another prominent ABC radio talk show host (Michael Graham of WMAL-Washington D.C. was just fired from his job) I obviously have been quite uncertain about what my fate will be.

My agent and I have been in contact with the station management. Since I announced on the air on Friday that my employment with KSFO was over the station has been flooded with phone calls and emails. I am hopeful that in the coming week we can come to an agreement on the issues that remain. Until then I will be off the air.

What's important for all of you to know is that this will in NO WAY impact my position as Chair of Move America Forward.

In fact, if anything, I will now have even more time to devote to Move America Forward - and as I have expressed to you I am determined to grow MAF into the nation's largest grassroots organization.

I derive my satisfaction in talk radio from a passion I have for the issues that we discuss. Right now the war on terrorism and the support of our troops in Iraq & Afghanistan is the single most important issue that faces this nation, and I have such a strong love and respect for our soldiers and Marines... there isn't anything that will stop me from my work to support them.

I hope you will stand by me in continuing to support Move America Forward. There is much work that needs to be done. Somehow we have to grow this organization into a force that is powerful enough to counteract the negative anti-military message being espoused by the old line media monopoly.

We know our troops are winning the war. We know their cause is just. And its our job to convey that message to every American.

I will commit to you to work harder and with even more dedication to this cause, and I ask that you please do the same.

I've never accepted ONE CENT in compensation for my work with Move America Forward - nor has MAF's founder, Howard Kaloogian.

We have devoted all the money we've raised into the efforts we've pursued and this is how it shall remain.

To that end, I ask that you join with me to show the media, to show my former employers at ABC and to show the people of this nation that our voices will only grow louder - America can never cave to the anti-military crowd of Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore. We cannot back down one inch to the demands or the agenda of the terrorists.

Thank you for your support - both with Move America Forward and for the kind words so many of you have offered to me during these uncertain times with my professional career.

Your support gives me the inspiration to keep 'moving forward' and doing the work I feel must be done to support our troops and help preserve America's legacy as the last best hope for mankind.

Sincerely Yours,

Melanie Morgan
Chair, Move America Forward
http://www.MoveAmericaForward.org

[Who dat?]

She simply wasn't very bright and things flew right over her head on an all-too frequent basis.

You forgot the very shrill, irritating, fingernails-on-blackboard voice.

She was a hot little firecracker at one time though. Always had the story about how Ted Nugent pulled down her peasant blouse to get a gander at her jugs.

Then years later she told a story about another rock guy that *also* pulled down her peasant blouse to get a look at her jugs.

I started putting two and two together and wondered what she was doing prowling around braless in her peasant blouse… seemed awful “available” and “accommodating” to me.

Another weird thing – she has some younger kid named TJ or CJ or PJ or something. She used to talk about him all the time. He was probably 6 or 7 back then. But she also had a much older son – probably 19 or 20 at that time. I don’t know if he was from a previous marriage or was a doper or in prison or what, but she NEVER (or very rarely) even acknowledged that he exists.

Very interesting because she used to spend much time heaping praise on the younger kid but ignores the other. Whatever.

What happened to her murder-mystery she was “investigating,” I wonder…

[RexBeach]

Right-tee-oh, Mr. Lee!

Old "Rah-Did-Dee-Oh" can be mighty frustrating - and alluring.

I am glad to be out of it. I wouldn't enter a studio again to work for a living without being armed - significantly armed.

Thanks for your note!

PS-"Next news at 8:30...newsbreaks as they happen."

[Who dat?]

I personally think she's pulling a PR scam. I think her contract was up, but she walked out playing the martyr to generate a commotion and put pressure on the station.

We’ll see, I guess.

[Rodney King]

But, for some reason, the negotiations hit a brick wall and I was asked to accept a number of bizarre compromises.

Of course, she could settle the whole issue of whether or not her being terminated was the result of ABC being liberals or her being a not-so-good talk radio host by telling us what these compromises were. The fact that she is not suggests that she was not fired for political reasons.

[Impeach98]

"Whiners should find someone that cares."

Huh? Is Melanie Morgan writing to her list of Move America Forward supporters whining? I wonder if you read her letter or just don't like Melanie? You're being way too critical of someone whose done a lot of good for issues that FReepers care about.

[cynicom]

I read it and she was whining. Conservatives whine also you know.

[Impeach98]

"Melanie is no Rush. She may be an activist, but as on-air talent, she was weak at best. She simply wasn't very bright and things flew right over her head on an all-too frequent basis. I suppose it didn't help that Lee is getting too old. They are all too part-time. The ex-weatherman guy has to do Mondays. He comes off as a wannabe. The traffic dude always has to try to cover for them and he isn't a strong enough personality. There is no consistency on the morning show. KSFO is probably gearing up to try to establish a true, reliable morning program."

If you think that KSFO can do a better job than Lee+Melanie+Officer Vic then I'd like to hear who you'd have in mind?

KNEW gets crushed in the mornings by KSFO. And it's because these 3 have a chemistry that is unreplaceable.

[Impeach98]

"I suspect this move has to do with low ratings and not Melanie's political activities, as she has been an activist for many years."

Morning Show (with Lee and Mel) on KSFO is their highest-rated program by far!

[Joe_October]

Any chance she'll go on Satellite Radio?

[ravinson]

I'm surprised at the lukewarm support Melanie and the KSFO Morning Show are getting from Freepers here. I don't always agree with her but she's more dedicated to activist conservative politics than anyone else, and that's probably why ABC Disney has tried to quietly push her out the door under the guise of a contract dispute.

Since her husband (Jim Swanson) is the KSFO station manager, ABC knows that she can't make too many waves about being terminated for political reasons or he'll be canned as well. She'll probably do fine in syndication since she is such a hard worker and has developed so many conservative contacts, but she'll be missed in the Bay Area and California if she goes national.

The goods news is that they haven't wiped her off the KSFOradio.com website yet, so maybe the impass will be broken. She was fighting back tears on the show Friday morning explaining the situation. She's always had a tricky time negotiating new contracts with her husband being in management. In the past she was technically employed by the news service that KSFO used for their updates.

KSFO is the original Freeper radio station in the Bay Area. If Freepers don't support them they'll be slowly watered down to nothing by the ABCDisney people.

[Hayzo]

In her prior life, she had a gambling problem. There was even a made for tv moview about it. Anyway, she got straight at GA and has been a solid conservative since.

I am curious because her husband Jack iis/was the program manager at KSFO. Not sure what is going on there.

[Hayzo]

In her prior life, she had a gambling problem. There was even a made for tv moview about it. Anyway, she got straight at GA and has been a solid conservative since.

I am curious because her husband Jack iis/was the program manager at KSFO. Not sure what is going on there.

[ravinson]

OOPS. "Jim Swanson" should be "Jack Swanson".

[Impeach98]

"What a brilliant bunch of business people running KSFO.First they lose Savage to an upstart KNEW and become also also rans in 17-20th place in evening drive time. Now these geniuses kill the second place drive time morning show in the nation's third biggest market (up against a 50,000 watt regional news station).

They can now call themselves KRSH, because Rush is all they gots left. Right?"

I think this post above says it all!

[tertiary01]

Today it was Barbara Simpson and the news reader guy with no Officer Vick or Brian Sussman, ( Lee is off on Mondays) I wonder if there was a display of sympathy for Melanie?

[Impeach98]

"Barbara Simpson and some guy were on this morning on The Lee Rodgers & Melanie Morgan Show were so boring I fell asleep trying to listen"

Yes, indeed. I wrote the same thing in reply to someone on another thread who suggested they replace Mel with Barbara Simson. Barbara might be fine for a weekend show when there isn't much going on, and there isn't much else in political talk to listen to... but to get your day going in the Morning she was awful (in my opinion).

Maybe she was just nervous, but I got SO BORED listening to her and the other guy - neither of them was interesting and together they had absolutely NO chemistry.

[BurbankKarl]

uh....ABC is trying to sell the radio networks....why sign people to new contracts?

[Impeach98]

Close - her husband Jack Swanson is Program Director - and he's below the Station Manager - Mickey Luckoff.

[kevinm13]

So far WABC is being left alone. Pretty good lineup with Curtis & Kuby, Rush, Sean, The Great One, and Laura. Some of the fill-ins are pretty good too.

They will be banished from all my radio dials if they mess with the current players.

[Impeach98]

"Conservatives whine also you know."

Fair enough. But since Melanie's a friend, and since I DON'T think Melanie's whining, then I'll just whine about your bemoaning her whining. I think it's always easy for people to post a critical message on a message board, whereas I think it takes a lot more to actually go out and make a difference in the world. I think Melanie's done that, and deserves more respect from FR posters than someone coming and throwing around a one-sentence peanut gallery complaint.