May 6, 2008
Whale Whacked Following Boris Booster
Talksport's James Whale has been sacked after breaching Ofcom rules that ban presenters from showing bias towards a political party prior to an election. During a late-night broadcast on March 20th, the veteran DJ importuned his listeners with an unequivocal and highly motivational rallying cry: "Vote Boris, vote Boris!" The incident sparked a record number of complaints, Whale was summarily removed from the airwaves pending an investigation, and Talksport decided to fire him before Ofcom's own report was complete.
Whale himself was mooted (by his own ego if by nobody else) as a candidate in the mayoral race two years ago, and was reputedly courted by UKIP, before deciding that the best route into City Hall was to lock his lips onto the posterior of the blond Tory charmer and hold on for dear life. Perhaps a coveted place on Boris' new team will be his reward?
Talksport's decision to fire an employee for biased reporting in the run-up to an election could set a new precedent. We expect to hear any moment now that a tear-choked Andrew Gilligan has been spotted milling around outside Associated Newspapers' Kensington HQ, a crumpled P45 in his hand and one of Veronica Wadley's stilettos poking out of his backside.
Photo courtesy of jaimelondonboy's Flickrstream
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And for the sake of balance... Maybe Dave Hill and Zoe Williams might be found crying into their frappucinos?
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/dave_hill/2008/04/the_london_list.html
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/zoe_williams/2008/05/be_afraid_be_very_afraid.html
Well he had to go, since he was Broadcasting, i.e. over the air (and hence in Ofcom's remit), unlike AG, ZW and other presspersons, who can write what they like.
By 'record number of complaints' I assume you mean the THREE people that complained to Ofcom. Probably Red Ken, Brian Paddick and Diane Abbott.
So because of 3 people millions of happy, satisfied listeners must forgoe their evening enjoyment.
So much for power to the people.
Power to the beaurocrats anybody?
Dear Mr. Badger - I don't think Zoe Williams (admittedly awful) article, nor Dave Hill's online-only piece, quite equate to the spectacular campaign that Gilligan ran in London's only paid-for newspaper. Future students of political propaganda will be foregoing the old copies of Pravda and instead scanning dear Andrew's columns.
But hang on... you say that it's the 'decision to fire an employee for biased reporting in the run-up to an election could set a new precedent' - and there's no question the Guardian was doing the same.
If you do want to make facetious comparisons to Pravda* you'd be better off looking at The Londoner** than the Evening Standard.
*(a state run newspaper dedicated to reporting the activities of the government in a positive light)
** (see *)