Ohio-ans beware as well as everyone else

This is the response I received (within 10 minutes) from my complaint which
1) looks canned because they are getting tons of e-mail and 2) basically says we can be jerks
because we have a radio station.

I feel sorry for the cyclists of Cleveland.

July 11th 2003

Thank you for your e-mail message regarding recent Lanigan & Malone broadcasts on WMJI.

The Lanigan & Malone show has a strong following of listeners that enjoy our tongue-in-cheek
approach to humor. Recently, some of our callers and on-air personalities discussed cyclists and
road rules. During a lively discussion, comments were made which we felt were humorous in nature,
and we think most of our regular listeners understood these comments in context. However, in
retrospect, let us be perfectly clear. We do not advocate any harm to cyclists. It was not and is
not our intent to provoke violence towards cyclists. In fact WMJI supports cycling events through
sponsorships and promotions.

Many responses we have received appear to be from people who did not hear the program and who
received an inaccurate account of what was said and the context of the show. We choose not to rebut
any misrepresentations. Instead, we simply extend our apologies if you were offended.

Again, we truly regret offending anyone who misunderstood our satirical exchange with callers. Our
intent is to offer a public forum for the cares and concerns of our listeners and to entertain
through humor. Please feel free to write or phone me in the event I can be of service.

Best regards,

Dave Popovich Program Director WMJI/Majic 105.7 216-520-2600

--
[email protected]

I got the same thing. That'll be the line they take in court too probably. Bill C

TritonRider wrote:
>
> I got the same thing. That'll be the line they take in court too probably. Bill C

What line do you suppose they'd take if we joke about using a deadly weapon on the talk show host?

Forwarded from Lois Cowan......

-----------------------------------------------------------

Due to a flood of e-mails, phone calls and letters, Clear Channel Communications and WMJI-Majic 105
in Cleveland have agreed to help correct the wrongs that their broadcasts caused last week.

Negotiations are underway and Clear Channel has agreed to a number of items revolving around:

- Running Public Service Announcements on all six of their stations in the northern Ohio market.

- Donating a substantial amount of money toward local bicycling causes.

- Helping with programs and events such as Safe Routes to School and public safety education.

- Supporting and promoting the America Bikes agenda with national and local politicians.

- Public apologies from those DJs who offended all of us with their anti-bicycling comments.

AS OF TODAY, FRIDAY JULY 18th, WE CAN STOP E-MAILING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEIR REPREHENSIBLE
BROADCASTS.

Station management and the DJs understand that what they said was wrong. They are in the process of
making things right, but for them to focus on turning things around we need to free up their
computers.

Thank you for your quick response. It's great to see freedom of speech used in a positive way.

Please forward this to anyone that you may have sent the original Call to Action to so that the word
gets out. If you are the administrator of a webpage or see the original Call to Action still posted
on a webpage, please post this update as soon as possible.

Lois Cowan

Century Cycles

"NS>" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This was forwarded to me... email me if you want the whole message...
>
> NS>
>
> Subject: incident at another Clear Channel station
>
>
> I was copied on a series of emails from cyclists in Ohio (Larry Varney). I noticed Deborah Komar
> copied you as well). There are enough Ohio cyclists in this list that I thought all should be
> made aware of what happened. The main letter is from Lois Cowan:
>
> To those who have already sent letters and e-mails, here's an update. To anyone new to this
> issue, please read, respond and forward this to others:
>
> On Wednesday, July 2nd, the morning radio show on WMJI-Majic 105 read an e-mail from a listener
> saying that bicycles should not be on the roads in the Cleveland Metroparks. At least one of the
> DJs told listeners who were in cars to do things like:
>
> - speed past the bike, pull back into the lane and slam on your brakes.
> - speed past the bike, have your passenger open their door and put on the brakes.
> - yell and/or honk at all cyclists as you pass in your car.
> - throw things like cans or rolls of pennies out your window at
cyclists.
>
> Apparently, there was a caller who said that what they were telling people to do was wrong. The
> caller tried to explain that bicycles are allowed on the roads and are vehicles just like cars.
> From what I understand, the DJs made fun of the caller and didn't take her comments seriously. I
> contacted one of the DJs, Jimmy Malone, about the content of the program. He said that he would
> try to get "the other side of the story" on Thursday's show and I agreed to be interviewed.
>
> My interview started with me explaining that bicycles are allowed on the roadways and why some
> cyclists don't use the multi-purpose trails in the Metroparks. During the "interview", I was
> repeatedly and relentlessly called a buffoon, idiot, clueless, pms-sufferer, couldn't take a
> joke, didn't understand satire and stupid. For the remaining three hours of their "show", they
> took calls from listeners and further encouraged drivers to do whatever it takes to get cyclists
> off the roads. Callers who agreed with their viewpoints were awarded a gift certificate to a
> local restaurant. They aired loads of people who called in to say that they agreed that
> bicyclists are basically moving targets.

> I heard of only one person that said they felt that their "jokes" were wrong. I was left
> wondering if they were just putting the ignorant people on the air or (as they said) did no
> cyclists call in with their opinion?
>
> On Monday, July 7, they were again making comments about bicycles being on the roadways. The
> biggest offender, Chip Kullik, again said he pulls over and opens his doors into cyclists.
>
> We need every single person who rides a bike to call or e-mail the Federal Communications
> Commission, the station, Clear Channel Communications and the Cleveland Metroparks to say that
> the program during these two mornings is wrong. It is DEAD wrong if someone is killed because
> the radio station spent over four hours "joking" about swerving into cyclists, throwing things
> at riders, honking, yelling, or passing and then slamming on your brakes. Please take a few
> moments to call, write or e-mail any or all of the following:
>
> Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau 445 12th St SW Washington, DC 20554 phone
> 202-418-7450 fax 202-418-2810 [email protected]
>
> Go to www.wmji.com to e-mail the Program Manager Dave Popovich and/or Jim Meltzer WMJI 6200 Oak
> Tree Blvd Independence, OH 44131-6933 [email protected] [email protected]
>
> Clear Channel Communications, head offices, San Antonio, Director of Public Relations -
> [email protected]
>
> John Hogan, CEO Clear Channel Radio 200 East Basse Rd San Antonio, TX 78209
> [email protected]
>
> Bob Rotatori-PR Manager Cleveland Metroparks 4101 Fulton Parkway Cleveland, Ohio 44144
> 216-351-6300 ext. 3263
>
> Someone needs to stand up against this aggressive and selfish behavior that some motorists feel
> against bicyclists in the Metroparks and on the roadways. We need to educate the public, both
> motorists and cyclists, about the correct rules of the road.
>
> Please copy me on any e-mails or letters that you send. I can be
reached
> at:
>
> [email protected] phone 440-519-0006 fax 440-519-0079 Lois Cowan Co-owner Century Cycles
> 33351 Aurora Rd Solon, OH 44139
>
> One of the other emails included a note from Doug Dobrozsi in
> Cincinnati,regarding a subject discussed on the list earlier:
>
> I'm especially sensitive right now since the VP of our club and his wife on tandem were in the
> 40 rider group mowed over by a Lincoln Continetnal in Tampa this passed Sunday. What they're
> doing up in Cleveland is pathologic, anti-social, criminal.
>
> William is the president of the cycle club in San Antonio. He wrote:
>
> What's happened so far is this:
>
> 1) I have been contacted by riders in Houston (the program was also broadcast on KLOL in
> Hosuton) and we are trying to get firm verification, preferably an authorized transcript or
> a tape.
>
> 2) I have also contacted the City of Houston Bicycle Coordinator who is also now involved.
>
> 3) The executive director of the Texas Bicycle Coalition in Austin is trying to get a meeting
> with an executive for Clear Channel here in San Antonio. If successful, I will be at that
> meeting.
>
> 4) I have alerted the Bexar County/San Antonio Bicycle Mobility Task Force of which I am a
> member and which is chaired by councilman Julian Castro. If I can get enough hard data, he
> might be prepared to write to Clear Channel on behalf of the city of San Antonio.
>
> Thanks again
>
> William
>
> I'll be writing my letters today. I've hated Clear Channel ever since they bought up most of the
> radio stations around here and, and now they air
all
> the same ****.
>
> Shari Bernhard Plantation, FL Bacchetta Giro RANS V-Rex RANS Screamer Greenspeed GTO ~0 ~0 0 ~0
> ~0 \\/\% \\/\% \\/\_\\/\% \\/\-% _____O___o________O___o_______O____+___O______O--O-O_____
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>
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
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