Update On "Jay Severin"

SAG HARBOR RUMBLINGS

Severin Returning To WTKK?





Is talk host Jay Severin poised to return to Boston's WTKK-FM?

Severin's been off the air since a Boston Globe piece slammed him for falsely claiming an "online journalism" Pulitzer Prize (there's no such award category). It also revealed his real name: Jimmy Severino.

At the same time, it was disclosed that the Sag Harbor, New York-based host had signed a deal with Infinity Broadcasting to appear on several CBS/Infinity news-talk stations around the country. It's a competitor to WTKK's Greater Media Broadcasting.

Earlier this year, Severin(o) left his position as a regular panelist on Tucker Carlson's MSNBC show under strange circumstances.


Late in the week, industry chatter had Severin returning to WTKK. Recently, the Radio Equalizer heard from Matt Mills, VP/General Manager for Greater Media Boston, who gave this update:

Brian, Yes, the Infinity deal does have something to do with Jay's absence.

We are working on a new deal with Jay, and if we can come to a good conclusion for both parties, Jay will be back on the air.

Nothing new to report on the accusations against Jay.

While Mills wins his own award for fast, professional responses to media inquiries, he may need to check out one other Severin credibility issue from the past.

Reader Richard Murphy brings this to my attention:

One of Jimmy Severino's claims that I find hard to believe is his stand on civil rights as a student.

I don't know if you have any evidence on this, but he claims to have been arrested over 50 times, fighting for civil rights as a youth.

From an article by Bill Shanley in the Boston College school newspaper on May 1, 2001:


"As a young person, Severin was arrested over 50 times while fighting for civil rights. Today, he says he hasn’t changed his views, but rather the parties have changed theirs. "


As to the 50 arrests, I cannot say they did not happen. There may have been a demonstration that went by his car while a ticket was being written and he counts that as an "arrest" and inflated it a lot.

If there were five arrests for demonstrating for civil rights, I'd be shocked, let alone fifty. He appears much too self absorbed to worry about the well being of others.

The Radio Equalizer's advice for CBS, Greater Media, or anyone else looking to hire Jimmy Severino: nothing less than a full background check will be sufficient. Otherwise, you'll never know which long-buried land mines will be exploding next.


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