I've always been the kind of girl that if I had something to say, I said it directly to the person it was intended. Not everyone is like that. I found out by being publicly humiliated on the air waves today. And as Gary Allan's song goes, "Life ain't always beautiful." Now because the situation has been resolved I will not use names or station call letters. This is simply me venting on my personal blog about a truly unprofessional talk show host and his small time producer.
I was assigned to cover a political story last week. On Friday there was a press conference via the telephone with one of the candidate's camp where reporters were encouraged to ask the tough questions. I did. I ask a lot of them. We never used the interview on air. Politics can be a touchy subject and you have to be very careful how you handle it. My manager felt it wasn't necessary to air it as a story due to the nature of what was being said. So, I never thought anything else about it and went on with my day.
Monday I get an email from the producer of this particular morning talk show asking me to co-host and fill in when the regular host is off or out sick. I didn't have time to respond and waited until the next day to reply. The person who sent the email happen to be a person I know and considered a friend. I replied to HIS email by saying that our station partners with a different radio station but because we simulcast our severe weather coverage with them I would be sure to ask our new GM if it was ok. I even went as far as to ask the producer how he was doing and that I thought he did a good job with traffic reports. While I'm sending the email I have the radio station in question on at my work computer. That's when I heard my name being drug through the mud! I couldn't believe what the host of this talk show was saying about me. Somehow the political debate between 2 congressional candidates got side tracked to a local reporter who ask controversial questions during a live teleconference (or biased questions as the host repeatedly harped about). This host not only slammed me on air he read the email I sent the producer and posted it to his website, along with very slanderous remarks about me. The most embarassing part is I thought he really wanted me to come on his show and be a co-host when I had time. I've done that in the past with several radio stations. But it was just a dirty joke at my expense. When I realized it, I sent the producer an email telling the host to call me if he is going to blast me on the air so I can at least have my say. Instead, the producer said he hated to be part of this but the host is his boss and he had too. That excuse is as unprofessional as the producer and his side kick companion. He didn't have to forward my email to the host. He chose to do so to try and look big. Didn't work out for ya did it?
In the past, we've done stories with and for the host of this particular talk show. He ask us to do a favor for him to get publicity out for a march in Montgomery last year. And he has helped reporters in the past with special assignments so its not like we dont' have a working relationship. Due to that fact, I called his GM and explained how upset I was to be the target of his criticism and disdain. And that I am a fellow journalist who deserves respect. I also contacted our legal counsel. About 20 minutes after speaking with the GM, the hateful posts about me on the hosts website were taken off and the GM agreed there would be no more mention of my name on his show. I appreciate the GM making that happen. He could have backed the host and done nothing to help. Instead, he stepped up and I thank him for it.
Talk shows are nothing more than a way to feed the hosts ego. This particular person is known for stirring the pot and trying to embarass people on air. Maybe he has some inadequacy to make up for by being a bully to others. He picked the wrong reporter to play that game with. He had no right to use me as a punching bag for his show. I'm not the one running for office. I don't care who wins the race. The voters will decide who they think is the best choice for office. It won't be because some small time radio talk show host put his uninteresting 2 cents worth in on a morning show.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not totally innocent in all this. I asked the questions but I could have asked them differently, without the hard edge. I was just doing my job but I realize I can be somewhat blunt when I want. I certainly don't want anyone thinking I have an opinion on any race, so I contacted the candidates camp and apologized if I stepped out of line. If I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong.
What happened today with this talk show hosts words, though, hurt my feelings and embarassed me. He didn't just slash my name to shreds but he also gave the station I work for a black eye. To think that someone would talk trash about you --especially someone you've helped in the past and never been anything but nice to--is totally uncalled for. It takes a person of little character to tear down someone's good name just to try and build up their own self worth.
So to this small time, inadequate, lame talk show host, thanks for the free PR! You know what they say...the more you talk about someone the more interest it generates with people and that equals more viewers for ME!!
So keep the insults rolling. One day you just might find yourself in some deep legal trouble.
Peace out!
