Why Are So Many TV Anchors And Radio Hosts Being Suspended? Bad Management
My number is now five. That’s the count of shows where I have been a guest and the host has been suspended because of harassment allegations.
The latest happened at the end of this week. WBUR suspended Tom Ashbrook, the host of On Point, which airs on 378 public radio stations nationwide.
Meanwhile, WNYC suspended Leonard Lopate, whose daytime radio show is a New York staple for discussions of literature, the arts and food.
They join a growing legion of television and radio personalities that are no longer heard on the air because of allegations of sexual misconduct, or unprofessional behavior.
Because I know a number of these people personally, and have been among their guests, I’ve been thinking a lot about the common thread between them.
It is bad management — of the host, by producers and bosses, and by the host, of the way they treat those around them.
In some cases, it was station and network management that simply didn’t reign them in, or have firm policies in place that everyone, no matter their position, was required to follow.
In other cases, it was the star themselves, whose ego and insecurities led to situations that made things miserable for those around them.
Let’s be clear: public radio and television programs are a pressure cooker atmosphere. Putting a show on the air five days a week, or even weekly, takes an enormous amount of work, often on deadline.
It’s not for sissies. But it also should not be a haven for bullies, either.
I’ve been in the unusual situation of being on both sides of the microphone, both appearing on the air, and working behind the scenes in public radio. I’ve watched, and I’ve listened to what was happening around me.
Here are some first hand observations of how to spot the signs that something is wrong.
The host above all. One of the biggest problems that broadcast media faces is the cult of personality. Stars draw fans, who watch or listen to shows. It’s an intimate relationship, especially in radio. The host is in your car, your kitchen, your ears, if you’re listening on a device.
