Entercom, Jennifer Strange Death, David Field, Personal Politics

NO REMORSE?

Entercom CEO Reveals Real Priority: Politics






*** Update below: Strange's family suing Entercom ***

Several days after the death of a young Sacramento mother of three caused by a moronic radio contest, why hasn't the company's top manager personally apologized?

So far, Entercom CEO David Field has apparently said nothing, remaining as brash as ever and placing his personal political agenda above all else. More on that in a moment.


To this point, we've seen Entercom respond to the crisis by firing ten local staffers, without regard for whether all of them actually had the power to stop KDND- FM's now- infamous water- drinking contest. In addition, statements have seemingly emerged only from the firm's Sacramento office, rather than corporate headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

As a result, it's quite clear who's been thrown under the bus here, with no concept of corporate responsibility for the actions of its stations. And now, with the wagons circling around Entercom, it's hard to imagine how the company's damaged reputation could ever recover.

With a homicide investigation now underway, tapes of the program have emerged as well and they don't paint a pretty picture. In fact, it seems clear KDND's morning jocks knew the contest could have dangerous results. In today's San Francisco Chronicle, columnist C W Nevius has a damning assessment of what occurred in Cow Town.


So what has Field instead been up to? Yesterday, he visited Entercom's Seattle operations, where it was announced that the KIRO- AM host who has recently called for Bush Administration executions (though he now denies it) will see his airtime doubled.

So this is what again comes first: Field's personal political agenda, as extreme, angry and defiant as ever. At SaveWRKO, Matt Margolis previously outlined some of Field's recent partisan contributions.

Between the recent hiring of a convicted felon to host WRKO/ Boston's morning drive show, the arrest of a WWL/ New Orleans talker on murder charges, a previous KIRO host's arrest on insurance fraud charges and Entercom getting caught up in New York State's payola investigation, in addition to these new flaps, Field seems eager to see his company self- destruct.

But why? That's something only the man himself could answer, if only he would address his company's rapidly- escalating crisis. In the meantime, Entercom's shareholders, as well as Wall Street's media sector analysts, should be asking tough questions.


UPDATE: Strange's family intends to sue Entercom, according to MSNBC:

Those comments, and others made during the Jan. 12 “Morning Rave” radio show, appeared to give little regard to the risk of water intoxication — until a woman died just hours after imbibing nearly two gallons in the contest.

On Wednesday, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department launched a criminal investigation into the incident, and attorneys for the family of Jennifer Lea Strange said they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the radio station.

The county coroner said preliminary autopsy findings indicate Strange, a 28-year-old mother of three, died of water intoxication.

DJs allegedly joked about dangers

Authorities decided to pursue the investigation after listening to a tape of the show, obtained by The Sacramento Bee, during which DJs joked about the possible dangers of consuming too much water, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran said. At one point, the DJs even alluded to a college student who died during a similar stunt in 2005.

JUST IN: Entercom trades away news/talkers KIRO-AM and KTTH to Bonneville International, according to All Access. This is excellent news for Seattle and station staffers!

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Technorati tags: talk radio partisan politics david field entercom sacramento kdnd kiro wrko wwl boston new orleans san francisco chronicle jennifer strange death water drinking contest payola investigation bush administration executions democrat party contributions

Images: Field at opening bell: NYSE, Strange: CBS 13/ Sacramento