Severin suspended after illegal alien, swine flu remarks

BostonHerald.com ^ | April 30, 2009 | Jessica Heslam

[appleseed]

Conservative WTKK radio host Jay Severin was suspended indefinitely today after making offensive remarks about illegal aliens and the swine flu, sources tell the Herald.

Severin was shocked to learn about the suspension, the sources said, as the station had been using those same remarks in on-air promos.

Heidi Raphael, a spokeswoman for station owner Greater Media, confirmed Severin’s suspension saying the station would have no further comment.

{Cut}

Spanish-language daily newspaper El Diario la Prensa in New York City, reported earlier this week that Severin was using the flu to attack Mexicans and immigrants.

“For Severin, Mexicans are ‘criminaliens’ and primitives who export venereal diseases to the United States,” the paper reported. “The shock jock referred to the strain of flu as ‘swine-aka-Janet Napolitano flu.’ ”

“That’s not the end of Severin’s anti-immigrant rants. Immigrants are leeches and their children, he warns, don’t speak English, will retard schools, add to crime and spread disease. Amid all of this, Severin has the audacity to state, ‘I don’t mean to hype the story,’ ” the paper said.

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[raccoonradio]

Today’s Herald says Jay Severin and his agent will meet with WTKK on Monday to discuss his
future with the station.

Is he coming back or not, and if so, would Greater Media try to re-negotiate his contract?
If not, I could poss. see them putting McPhee in Graham’s slot, Graham in pm drive,
and a syndie host (Hannity?) or lower-paid local host at 7 pm...But we’ll see.

http://bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view/2009_05_02_Jay_Severin__agent_to_discuss_future_with_WTKK/srvc=home&position=6

[hunter112]

I also deal with a lot of customers of Asian ancestry, as well. Sometimes they will have a child or grandchild translate for them, as a courtesy to me. Even if there are no translators (only once did I have someone ask for Mandarin Chinese, and this was clearly an older person) they are invariably polite and patient with me, realizing that they have to spell out addresses and names.

I sense an audible delight in their voices when I pronounce their names correctly, we had a lot of Pacific Rim people out in the Northwest, and if you listened, you could learn a lot of things from them.

[raccoonradio]

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.”

[DBrow]

http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2009/5/4/141957/6060/Diary/Fighting-back-against-Jay-Severin

Of relevance.