Say Anything Blog

If you haven't heard already, Howard Stern has been yanked from six Clear Channel Communications radio stations for violating their new programming standards. This move has a lot of people's panties in a twist, including those belonging to Jeff Jarvis at Buzzmachine who has jumped to the conclusion that this is censorship:

Clear Channel has cut off Howard Stern. When Janet Jackson's outfit opened, it opened a door not on her breast but on censorship. Clear Channel even sent out a press release bragging about cutting off Stern. MarksFriggin, the unofficial Stern site, says those stations are in Pittsburgh, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Rochester, Louisville and San Diego. Clear Channel also fired Bubba the Love Sponge.

I'm not sure we can label this as censorhip quite yet. First of all Stern has only been cut from six of the hundreds of stations he's heard on across the nation. Second, the "censorship" originated with one of Stern's employers. Its true that Clear Channel is reacting to the FCC's recent change in attitude regarding appropriate broadcasting, but nobody is forcing the company to take Stern off the air.

Lileks has also chimed in on this issue:

I think it's a shame he was reprimanded. I don't think people understand what's at stake here. We need to coarsen public discourse as much as possible as quickly as possible, because a free and open society depends on the right of Pink to flash her labia at the next Superbowl. I'm serious: if we don't see a clitoris on the Jumbocam, this nation is OVER. (Breast, labia - what's the diff? Please don't tell me you're one of those bluenoses who thinks a boob's okay but explicit gyno topography is somehow unsuitable for prime-time. It's the HUMAN BODY, people; what's your hang up? ) I'm tired of people who think that it's the role of large media chains to hit the panic button when a caller to Stern's show calls him a f--ing k-ke, and bleeps Howard when when he says the caller a sh-head ch-nk. People! Come on! What is this country coming to when people can't call other people sh-thead ch-nks on the public airwaves?

That certainly puts it in perspective for me. What's going on now isn't censorship, just broadcasting's long-awaited return to common values.

Its about time.

Update:

Just to clear up any confusion about my stance on this issue.

First, I have no problem with Howard Stern. In fact, I have enjoyed watching his show on television. He's a funny guy. A bit off color and crude, but over all pretty funny. I'm not a person who is easily offended. I have no problems with adult programming on television. All I ask is that I be provided with the tools that allow me to avoid viewing content I don't want to see or I don't want my children to see. I want ratings systems and warnings. As long as I know what to expect, I can make my own decisions as to what I want to watch.

Second, I'm not going to label anything censorship until the FCC actually starts forcing people off the air. Clear Channel made a business decision regarding Stern. I'm sure that if they take a big enough hit in the pocketbook they'll let up.