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A popular on-air personality on a St. Louis radio station...fired after an interview in which the reporter put his conversation with Cardinals coach Dave Duncan live on the air without informing him he was on-air...a distinct FCC violation.
The station says Federal rules were violated (FCC)
but the reporter, on-air personality Kevin Slaten, says the station caved to pressure from the Cardinals
"Slaten disputed that and said the station was reacting to pressure from the Cardinals. He said the team used the Duncan incident as an excuse to persuade KFNS management to remove from the local airwaves a voice that often is critical of the team.
"This is a vindictive and retaliatory practice by the Cardinals that has gotten me fired,'' Slaten said. "The Cardinals are at the very root of this, and 590 has thrown me under the bus to curry favor with the Cardinals."
"He said KFNS has lost its spine and credibility, and will become little more than a promotional outlet for the team."
"This is a First Amendment under-attack situation. ... In other words, if you say what the Cardinals don't like, this is what's going to happen to you.
"I'm simply stunned that any station in this day and age would cave in to pressure from an athletic team — especially one that they don't even broadcast their games.''
more...even the text of the interview....in which Duncan says plainly he does NOT want to go on air, but ended up getting put on air anyway.
Lesson...don't ever talk to or say anything to a TV, radio, or print reporter without realizing that you might get your comments made public
...this is just how they make a living.
The station says Federal rules were violated (FCC)
but the reporter, on-air personality Kevin Slaten, says the station caved to pressure from the Cardinals
"Slaten disputed that and said the station was reacting to pressure from the Cardinals. He said the team used the Duncan incident as an excuse to persuade KFNS management to remove from the local airwaves a voice that often is critical of the team.
"This is a vindictive and retaliatory practice by the Cardinals that has gotten me fired,'' Slaten said. "The Cardinals are at the very root of this, and 590 has thrown me under the bus to curry favor with the Cardinals."
"He said KFNS has lost its spine and credibility, and will become little more than a promotional outlet for the team."
"This is a First Amendment under-attack situation. ... In other words, if you say what the Cardinals don't like, this is what's going to happen to you.
"I'm simply stunned that any station in this day and age would cave in to pressure from an athletic team — especially one that they don't even broadcast their games.''
more...even the text of the interview....in which Duncan says plainly he does NOT want to go on air, but ended up getting put on air anyway.
Lesson...don't ever talk to or say anything to a TV, radio, or print reporter without realizing that you might get your comments made public
...this is just how they make a living.
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