Be Careful What You Say

I developed a new found respect the other week for WDIA's talk show host, Bobby O'Jay. In the past I had been extremely critical of this man in regards to some of the things he says. Due to the amount of influence this man has on the people of Memphis Tenn and the surrounding areas. He ranked in the 50 most influential people in the whole state. I thought he should be very careful of what he says over the airwaves. Since obviously so many people swear by what he says. Which in my humble opinion he just hasn't done. Then I witnessed his callers in action and saw where he was coming from. It is all about his livelihood.

I agreed with the position he took on the Don Imus issue. As one radio personality to another, he read the writing on the wall. He took a lot of flack for that. The vast majority of his callers disagreed with what he said. That doesn't look good to his bosses. They pay this guy over $100,000 a yr. to play up to his audience. He has to keep the Lady D's and the L.A. Roses calling on a regular basis. Like Lady D once said "it's not how many you can get to listen, but how many you can get to call". Two hours can seem like forever when you're talking to yourself.

Last week he made a comment that reached unfriendly ears. Only in the respect they aren't prepared to overlook his irresponsibility. He said "the policeman in West Memphis shot the 12 yr. old in cold blood". The big difference here, from all those other people who have a problem with what he said. This person has a platform to make their displeasure known. Andrew Clarksenior did just as he has done other radio personalities (Janis Fullilove) in the past. Read my earlier blog: http://indepcons.blogspot.com/2007/03/you-never-know-whos-listening.html .He hasn't used this against them , only let them know he heard what they said. It's just a matter of time before somebody gets one of these people on tape; just like they did Don Imus. All responsible broadcasters better be careful what they say. They never know who's listening. Above all what I found most interesting in this whole thing. Is the fact that she said "he should be fired".

BTW: A disagreement is brewing between Bobby O'Jay and Jennings Bernard. It upset Bobby enough that he mentioned it on his show. Read what got it started.

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