Texas NBC Station Apologizes For Homophobic Viewer Call-In Segment

[WillParkinson]

Texas NBC Station Apologizes For Homophobic Viewer Call-In Segment

Calling it "poorly worded at best and inappropriate altogether at worst," the general manager of the Texas NBC affiliate that broadcast yesterday's "Will homosexuals bring about America's destruction?" segment has issued an apology. The story became national news after being posted here on JMG thanks to a tip from a reader in Texas. CORRECTION: The below apology is from the manager of the radio station whose program was simulcast on the television station referenced further down in this post.

There are many issues surrounding homosexuality that are fair game for discussion in the media and in opinion journalism. The proper role, if any, for openly gay individuals in the military, the legitimacy of same-sex marriages and the public behavior by some individuals at gay and lesbian events held outdoors in public view are among topics about which reasonable people may disagree. These and other topics surrounding homosexuality are topics that talk radio hosts and opinion journalists may legitimately pose to their respective audiences.

With that said, the way our Talkback question was posed might be seen as asking, “Do homosexuals, by their very existence, threaten to bring down America?” We believe that such a question, posed in such a manner, is likely to generate more heat than light. I understand how those who either heard, or heard about, KTBB’s Talkback question on Wednesday might have been offended. For the offense that was taken, we sincerely apologize.

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/10/texas-nbc-station-apologizes-for.html

[county worker]

1. Needs more than an apology.

"Do Jews, by their very existence, threaten to bring down Germany?” Not that the radio station is Nazi but that that question led to 6 million deaths.

[zbdent]

3. more relevent ...

"Do Catholics, by their silence and denials, allow pedophile priests to rape kids?"

edited to add: (and less likely to do the inevitable "Oh, there's the Nazi reference ...")

[wtmusic]

2. I'm surprised we got that out of them. Better than nothing. nt

[ThomCat]

4. Yup. But will anyone be held responsible?

Someone was a bigot for posting that question. That could not be an accident or a mistake.

There is an editor, or a program or content manager, someone, who was responsible for that question every day on their site and whatever followup they would normally do with the results every day. That person chose this question deliberately, or approved it if it came from someone else, and thought it was acceptable.

That person needs to be fired for misusing company resources to promoting bigotry.

[Divine Discontent]

5. exactly - it doesn't matter what type of person you put in the place of "homosexuals", it is still

bigotry and prejudiced and therefore someone needs suspended or fired. But, when I heard about this story I thought, "I expect nothing less from a right-wing area".

[Sirveri]

6. I rewrote it to make it more clear what he is saying.

There are many issues surrounding Negroes that are fair game for discussion in the media and in opinion journalism. The proper role, if any, for Negro individuals in the military, the legitimacy of mixed-race marriages and the public behavior by some individuals at Negro events held outdoors in public view are among topics about which reasonable people may disagree. These and other topics surrounding Negroes are topics that talk radio hosts and opinion journalists may legitimately pose to their respective audiences.

With that said, the way our Talkback question was posed might be seen as asking, “Do negroes, by their very existence, threaten to bring down America?” We believe that such a question, posed in such a manner, is likely to generate more heat than light. I understand how those who either heard, or heard about, KTBB’s Talkback question on Wednesday might have been offended. For the offense that was taken, we sincerely apologize.

[readmoreoften]

7. +1