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F-bomb bursts into media vocabulary
By Brooke Meyer
The Daily Universe (Brigham
Young U.)
(U-WIRE) PROVO, Utah - Television and radio
have expanded their vocabulary to include a famous four-letter
word.
The word isn't flip, but the mother of all
the curse words in the English language.
The Federal Communications Commission issued
a ruling saying the word can be used as an adjective as long
as it doesn't describe any sexual activities.
"It's all about what you can get away
with," said Rob Boshard, program director of Clear Channel
Radio.
Stations like KROQ that sponsor shows like
Howard Stern and X96 with Radio From Hell are always pushing
the limit, he said.
It's not just the cursing, it's the whole
program, said Jennifer Robison, a sophomore from Colorado.
The shows do all sorts of outrageous things
to keep people interested, she said.
"Shock radio has been around for almost
25 years, and its purpose is to try and bring attention to itself
and bring in money," said Jim Fisher, assistant professor
and lecturer at the University of Utah Department of Communication.
Fisher said that although the new ruling could
make some radio trashier, it would allow freedom of speech the
FCC hinders.
Local radio doesn't allow the f-word Boshard
said, but even with the other vulgarities and out-of-control
morning shows, radio stations aren't breaking any laws.
Some Brigham Young University students said
they don't like the new wave in radio.
"I only really listen to the country
stations because it is a lot cleaner," said Codee Cope,
a senior from Colorado. She said with country, she doesn't have
to worry about all the curse words that flood the airwaves.
Some students said they think radio has turned
its focus to a more youthful generation.
"The radio stations are focusing on the
hip-hop generation," said Autrey Duke, a sophomore from
Texas. Duke has stopped listening to radio and turned to listening
to CDs.
When it comes to radio and cursing "they
try to bleep it out, but we all know what they said, and you
can hear that word in your head," Duke said.
So why then is there so much vulgarity on
radio?
"Radio in Salt Lake is so competitive, and every program
director is trying to carve out their own niche," Boshard
said.
Even though there hasn't been a change in
radio in the last 20 years, the attitude and spin have changed,
Boshard said.
It is not just the FCC or program directors
that decide what goes on air and what doesn't, Boshard said.
"There has been a big change in values,
even Latter-day Saints in a way have accepted things,"
Boshard said. "Radio belongs to the community, and as long
as they are willing to accept what the radio stations do, it's
okay."
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