Shock jock

This article is about the type of radio broadcaster. For the Australian television series, see Shock Jock.

A shock jock is a type of radio broadcaster or disc jockey who entertains listeners or attracts attention using humor and/or melodramatic exaggeration that some portion of the listening audience may find offensive. The term is usually used pejoratively to describe provocative or irreverent broadcasters whose mannerisms, statements and actions are typically offensive to many members of the community. It is a popular term, generally not used within the radio industry. A shock jock is considered to be the radio equivalent of the tabloid newspaper, for which entertaining readers is as important as, or more important than, providing factual information. Within the radio industry, a radio station that relies primarily on shock jocks for its programming is said to have a hot talk format.

Confusingly, the term has been used in two broad (but sometimes overlapping) contexts:

  1. The radio announcer who deliberately does something outrageous and shocking (to improve ratings).
  2. The political radio announcer who has an emotional outburst in response to a controversial government policy decision.

Background

The idea of an entertainer who breaks taboos or adopts a career role in the realm of the frequently offensive is not a new one. Despite the claims of decency activists, there are few eras of history in which there have not existed blue comedians; notoriously offensive performers (George Carlin, Petronius, Benny Bell, Le Pétomane, Redd Foxx and Lenny Bruce for example). African-American Ralph Waldo Petey Greene (1931–1984), who started broadcasting in 1966, has been called the original radio shock jock by some,[1] although the term was not used until 1986, two years after Greene's death.[2] Greene was an influence on Howard Stern, whose radio shows in the 1980s led to the first widespread use of the term "shock jock."

Shock jocks also tend to push the envelope of decency in their market, and may appear to show a lack of regard for communications regulations (e.g., FCC rules in the U.S.) regarding content. But nearly all American broadcasters have strict policies against content that is likely to draw indecency forfeitures, and air personalities are often contractually obligated to avoid broadcasting such content. Indecency fines are, in fact, rarely issued by U.S. regulators—no broadcaster has been issued a forfeiture for indecent content since 2003, although several earlier cases are in appeals court.

Popular envelope-pushing areas for shock jocks include sexual (especially kinky) and/or scatological (toilet humour) topics, or just unabashed innuendo.

Many shock jocks have been fired as a result of such punishments as regulatory fines, loss of advertisers, or simply social and political outrage. On the other hand, it is also not uncommon for such broadcasters to be quickly rehired by another station or network.

Shock jocks in the United States have been censored under additional pressure from the United States government since the introduction of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005, which increased the fines on radio stations for violating decency guidelines by nearly 20 times.[3]

Notable incidents

North America

Great Britain

Australia

See also

References

  1. Petey Greene - Radio's first shock jock: The Legacy Continues. http://www.wdkkradio.com/the-legacy/petey-greene/
  2. "Definition of shock jock". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  3. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN00193:@@@D&summ2=1&
  4. Brown, John W. (2008). Missouri Legends: Famous people from the Show-Me State. St. Louis: Reedy Press. pp. 210–211.
  5. http://web.archive.org/web/20070710182116/http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/metropolitan/selena/95/04/06/stern.html
  6. 'King of all media' loses toehold in Canada The Ottawa Citizen November 24, 2001
  7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1388131.stm 'Britney Death Hoax Fools Fans' June 12, 2001
  8. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/21/entertainment/main519365.shtml Shock Jocks Fired For Sex In St. Pats Stunt
  9. "Women's groups outraged by radio host". Reuters. 2003-07-23. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  10. "FCC Issues Steep Indecency Fines". CBS News. 2004-01-27.
  11. "Howard Stern suspended for indecency". CNN. February 24, 2004.
  12. Gavin, Robert. Cruel words have a price - Times Union - Albany NY
  13. David Bauder, "Don Imus loses job in stunning fall", Associated Press, April 12, 2007.]
  14. Zielenziger, David (August 15, 2012). "Limbaugh Boycott Draws Blood: Cumulus Media Cites ‘Drag’ In 2Q Revenue". International Business Times.
  15. Scorned wife sells Lotus for 50p
  16. DJ'S RADIO GA-GA FOR HIS WIFE'S SISTER; Tim in fantasy prank on live show
  17. http://theglobalherald.com/australia-shock-as-kyle-sandilands-quizzes-14-year-old-rape-victim-on-air/597/
  18. "BBC UK reports Tue 4 Dec 2013 prank call Australian radio". BBC News. December 8, 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  19. Marks, Kathy (June 14, 2013). "'Is your partner gay?' Shock jock sacked over Gillard interview.". The Independent (London). Retrieved 14 June 2013.
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