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* Former WLS Radio host Big John Howell writing in the Sun-Times…
I was saddened, but not surprised, by the news of the stabbing death of Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume. An innocent 6-year-old victim of a racial, hateful and utterly inexplicable murderous rampage. Wait, maybe not inexplicable.
Prosecutors said in court Mondaythat the alleged killer had listened to conservative talk radio about the situation in the Middle East before the attack.
I don’t know if this is true, nor do I know any details on what programs might have prompted the attack. We’ll learn more regarding this in the future. I’m wondering if we’ll hear some familiar names?
I do know this: Radio companies, stations and especially hosts have to stop peddling lies, fables, conspiracies and corrosive content under the guise of “It’s just business.” I’ve said this a hundred times: If you break the stupid, you own the stupid. The excuse “I didn’t think they’d believe me” doesn’t wash in this environment. Too many crazies waiting for their marching orders.
I’m a 40-year veteran of the radio business, including the last 17 years as a prime time host on two of Chicago’s most conservative talk stations. I’m intimately familiar with techniques in how to influence an audience.
It’s one thing to exaggerate, embellish and utilize satire to make a point about pop culture and politics. It’s entirely different, and far more dangerous, to intentionally mislead and misinform an audience. Over the past few years, I’ve heard far too much of the latter. Extreme rhetoric from both sides is on the rise.
Radio hosts (and companies) have to exercise self control and discretion when presenting and discussing serious, incendiary, life and death topics. Don’t pander to the…(and I’m being kind here) under-informed. You’ll regret it. Those hosts who do so should be held accountable, and so should their enablers and sponsors.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 8:58 am
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Agree with everything Big John had to say in the clip above.
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:04 am
== I don’t know if this is true, nor do I know any details on what programs might have prompted the attack. We’ll learn more regarding this in the future. ==
But let’s go ahead and blame conservative radio now anyway.
Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:06 am
==But let’s go ahead and blame conservative radio now anyway.==
Oh stop being such a victim. He repeated what prosecutors said and then clearly said he didn’t know yet if it was true.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:11 am
It was a big loss for WLS when they parted ways with Big John. He was one of the few redeeming qualities of the station. If only there were more hosts like him.
Comment by Unionman Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:13 am
===let’s go ahead and blame conservative radio===
… which is designed in programming to feed into old, angry, white fears and anxieties about… immigration, the Deep State, “traditional values”, “losing our country”…
If you don’t see that one is a mark, odds are… you’re a mark.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:14 am
“Extreme rhetoric from both sides is on the rise.”
I’d love for someone to show me all the examples of labor unions and environmental groups riling their members into a violent, raging froth. When was the last CEO or oil company exec that got murdered for political reasons? I’ve only seen innocent parade attendees, black folks at the supermarket or church and now an Islamic child get murdered after right wing agitation boiled over.
Comment by Chicago Blue Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:16 am
Here is the quote: Radio hosts (and companies) who are purveyors of political porn and poison shouldn’t be allowed to stand behind the rationalization “it’s just business”. The cartels use the same excuse.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:18 am
I live close enough to the house that happened, to see it standing on my roof.
While radio might have been involved, and I don’t doubt it at all, we also have the unfortunate reality of having public officials stoking those flames too. On the ground here, it’s not inexplicable at all. It was uncomfortably predictable.
Religion is used to justify all sorts of nonsense and discrimination by those in office.
Not that long ago, This happened;
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/9/19/18383364/brown-muslim-group-buys-church-but-can-t-get-permit-to-pray
“In about as clear-cut a case of religious discrimination as you’re going to find, the Plainfield village board this past week denied a zoning permit to a Muslim group”
Many of those same votes from the board who did that, still sit on this board.
And yes, they do own this. It was repulsive watching those same people attempt to distance themselves over the past week from the environment they created locally over the years, and jump into the crowd giving comfort to the family impacted.
But who is going to hold them accountable? The same people who keep electing them locally even *after* knowing what they did? Nope. Not a peep. The approach instead seems to be to pretend those things in the past never happened, and just ignore it because it is an ‘uncomfortable’ reality. After all, it’s not a positive thing to discuss ugly things, so it never gets discussed. That’s the mindset. It’s a situation which sits in wait of the next loony on the radio to push them just that extra bit further.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:19 am
I mean… conservative talk radio is about “the fight for America”, the “crusade to save our country’s soul”.
There’s always a fight. It’s not like there’s thoughts outside of open minded disagreement.
One only needs to re-listen to a former talk radio host that was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and you only need to delve into his basic thoughts, not try to parse or find a mistake to words.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:19 am
===I do know this: Radio companies, stations and especially hosts have to stop peddling lies, fables, conspiracies and corrosive content under the guise of “It’s just business.” I’ve said this a hundred times: If you break the stupid, you own the stupid. The excuse “I didn’t think they’d believe me” doesn’t wash in this environment. Too many crazies waiting for their marching orders.===
It’s the degree the zealots believe the kayfabe of these hosts that at times giggle at the gullible… until “they” believe the kayfabe and go too far…
“I didn’t know they’d…”
Just admit it’s a gag for ratings and cash.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:28 am
-H-W- is correct, that is the quote. to be fair, he wrote about both far sides of the political equation and tactics used to exaggerate which are bad. Howell is right to remind that the vast majority of listeners are not influenced but a small number of people are and that being a responsible creator of content is necessary.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:28 am
==go ahead and blame conservative radio now anyway.==
It’s not like their words ever incited violence…except for Sandy Hook (crisis actors), January 6th (antifa) and everything in-between.
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:32 am
===I’ve only seen ===
Really? Have you missed the disgusting left-wing social media/real life garbage since the October 7 Hamas attack?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:34 am
There will be a direct line drawn to one local talk station, and one of their programs in particular. They knew who “Joe from Plainfield” was.
Comment by The Truth Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:34 am
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post reported the Al Ahli Arab Hospital was bombed. CNN and MSNBC reported the Al Ahli Hospital was bombed. It was actually the Al Ahli Baptist Hospital. The first victim in War is the facts.
Comment by Al Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:37 am
===Have you missed the disgusting left-wing social media/real life garbage since the October 7 Hamas attack?===
Hate can never be acceptable.
No one has cornered the market of hate. The goal is always to call out hate, and never let hate be acceptable. It’s work. Needed work.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:39 am
–There will be a direct line drawn to one local talk station–
Yep.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:44 am
==Have you missed ==
For crying out loud you just reported on one here the other day.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:51 am
Well said, OW.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:52 am
Occasional Quipper, the alleged killer’s wife said her husband listened to conservative radio on a regular basis per an article in the Patch. Whether it be far left or right programming, there has to be accountability for what is said as well as a level of ownership for creating this radicalized environment we are all having to deal with. John Howell is right on with his analysis.
Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:53 am
=Have you missed the disgusting left-wing social media/real life garbage since the October 7 Hamas attack?=
Absolutely. But I believe there is a distinction in how this is playing out. The hate of the left isn’t being embraced and monetized. In most instances it is called out by others on the left as our Comptroller did yesterday. The right sees an opportunity to exploit these divisions and profit from them. The radical left does not have a stranglehold on the Democratic Party. The same simply cannot be said about the right.
While we do need to recognize rhetoric on both sides of the equation, we also need to acknowledge that there are very different reactions to it.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:54 am
Yikes if any of whack job took the advice there would be a lot of dead air…which is not all bad.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 9:58 am
Living downstate I’ve seen firsthand the corrosive influence of anger-filled talk radio for decades. Add that to the course incivility on facebook and (mainly) FOX, and no wonder someone stabs a 6-year-old boy 26 times for political reasons.
When Reagan tossed the Fairness Doctrine, he helped unleash a very negative influence on society.
Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:11 am
Yes I’ve seen the social media stuff.
On one side we have social media cruelty, and here the other we have decades of blood libel going out over the airwaves 24/7, and literal murder. How is it credible to draw an equivalence between those two things?
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:20 am
“Really? Have you missed the disgusting left-wing social media/real life garbage since the October 7 Hamas attack?”
I’ve seen several rather insignificant left-wing voices say horrifying things. I’ve seen next to no Democratic leaders or progressive media voices say such things. I have also seen the vast majority of those on the left who say ghoulish things held to account nearly immediately by members of their own political party/faction:
Sarah Chowdhury - Immediate fired, removed from boards, and publicly condemned.
Democratic Socialists of America NYC Rally - Immediately, publicly condemned by Democratic NY Governor, Democratic NYC Mayor, and AOC, among others.
The Illinois GOP candidate for governor compared abortion to the Holocaust and then doubled-down on it? Crickets from the right.
The daily firehose of racist dreck on AM radio? Show me the last time a host of one of these shows was fired for what they said rather than for low ratings. Heck, show me the last time a GOP party leader criticized a racist statement from a major right-wing radio or TV host.
It is false equivalency to “both sides” racism and hate in America these days between the major political movements. For the right, it is a feature. For the left, it is a bug.
Comment by Skokie Man Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:27 am
=When Reagan tossed the Fairness Doctrine, he helped unleash a very negative influence on society.=
Amen.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:29 am
(Tips cap to - H-W -)
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:30 am
===When Reagan tossed the Fairness Doctrine, he helped unleash a very negative influence on society.===
Repealing NY Times v. Sullivan would end the excesses enabled by the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine.
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:32 am
– Repealing NY Times v. Sullivan –
This would definitely fall under the category of “Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes”
Comment by JB13 Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:45 am
Pundent hits on the distinction we are seeing today. We have a right-wing media base that focuses on divisive messages, many false or conspiracy theories that foster a hate response. Both sides use social media to spread hate messages that must be condemned. One side is at war with any attempt to correct misinformation on social media.
Bottom line is that we all need to fight hate from whatever direction it comes.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:00 am
===I’ve seen several rather insignificant left-wing voices say horrifying things===
One of the mayor’s top outside advisers posted eliminationist rhetoric shortly after Oct. 7 and literally nobody in that office has called her out.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:07 am
“Don’t pander to the…(and I’m being kind here) under-informed. You’ll regret it.”
There’s a lot of money and power in pandering. It’s a successful formula because certain people with barely a commode or two who are whipped up with fear and hatred are going to run out and vote for right wing billionaire policies that by far benefit Trump and others like him. That’s the ultimate irony. Trump flies away from his rallies on his own jumbo jet, while his rabid supporters trudge through whatever inclement weather.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:17 am
===literally nobody in that office has called her out.===
It’s shocking. Letting hate fester unchecked by those close to the Mayor is speaking to what can be acceptable.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:20 am
Agree with Skokie Man, it’s also a little disingenuous to associate something an advisor to a politician says to something someone with a media career says. There’s a disconnect on the impact those statements will have to the public. That is, one has a public platform and one doesn’t necessarily have that.
Comment by Left of what Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:43 am
===one doesn’t necessarily have that===
lol
Not true.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:48 am
Personnel is Policy.
Words. Actions. Pubic statements. All of it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 11:53 am
===One of the mayor’s top outside advisers posted eliminationist rhetoric shortly after Oct. 7 and literally nobody in that office has called her out.===
Admitting ignorance here… to whom/what are you referring?
Comment by Skokie Man Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 12:00 pm
As we discuss the both sides issue I took a look to see the proportions of conservative vs liberal talk radio. Ran across this article showing conservative talk radio dominates the market and in some areas in the only voice heard. 91 percent of talk radio is conservative (and this is despite conservatives yelling their voices are being silenced). https://www.americanprogress.org/article/talk-radio-by-the-numbers/
Comment by illinifan Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 12:08 pm
===Really? Have you missed the disgusting left-wing social media/real life garbage since the October 7 Hamas attack?
Yep, it’s mostly what is referred to as the Dirt Bag Left (For example Chapo Trap House), but it’s there and it’s loud.
I have friends and colleagues from different parts of this conflict for years and too many forget we are talking about human beings many of whom don’t have any control over what is happening. That’s it. That’s the message, we are talking about human beings on both sides–let’s never forget that.
Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 12:10 pm
===to whom/what are you referring? ===
https://capitolfax.com/2023/10/10/afternoon-roundup-166/
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 12:11 pm
At one time, I was pretty far to the right and spent much of my commute listening to conservative talk radio. In time, I couldn’t stand most of them; they probably became more radical but I definitely became more liberal.
John Howell was the last one I listened to because he was generally fair, unlike his co-host.
I sure wish we had more fair-minded discourse instead of pie-throwing fights.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 12:35 pm
Don’t stop there
Alderman Carlos Ramirez Rosa is Mayor Johnson’s City Council Floor leader, head of the zoning committee and has recently chanted “from the River to the Sea” at a rally
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/9/6/18399040/gov-hopeful-biss-dumps-alderman-as-running-mate-over-israel-remarks
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 1:02 pm
“Repealing NY Times v. Sullivan”
NYT vs Sullivan has absolutely nothing to do with the allowed ownership share of media in a region for a single company.
A lot of people don’t understand what the fairness doctrine did in its totality.
It was FCC chair Michael Powell who mostly caused these issues, and that didn’t happen until 2003. And those changes stemmed from the 1996 telecommunications act which defined how the ownership rules passed in 1975 were to be applied. So the FCC just took out the rules completely in 2003.
The fairness doctrine is what gave us things like “Hannity and Colmes”, or “Kudlow and Kramer”. Which was basically two people with different viewpoints screaming at each other.
It was just wrestling, but in suits. There was a heel, and a face. Which one was elevated, and which one was denigrated depended on the programs bias.
It’s a nice thought, but the fairness doctrine wouldn’t help the monopoly ownership problems which are the root of the issues today.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 1:03 pm
== the dirtbag left ==
2017 called and wants its op ed columns back
Comment by Left of what Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 1:29 pm
There are stations that are music only…one is located in DuPage near the College of DuPage. Music is available to stream on a computer or FM signal.
No need to listen to voices babbling nonsense on the airwaves. Some folks choose what speaks to them. Others seek out noise and conflict.
Prefer notes to noise.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 3:43 pm
==Don’t stop there
Alderman Carlos Ramirez Rosa is Mayor Johnson’s City Council Floor leader, head of the zoning committee and has recently chanted “from the River to the Sea” at a rally==
LP. Whataboutism at it’s finest.
Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 4:53 pm
“Pie throwng fights”.
Oh they sling stuff but it aint pies…
Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Tuesday, Oct 24, 23 @ 10:20 pm