Thursday, February 22, 2007

Speculation On Pierce's & Michael's WNNS Departure

Brian Pierce's and Kellie Michael's Departure From WNNS

The State Journal Register ran a story today on the departure of Brian Pierce and Kellie Michaels from WNNS.

"Kevan Kavanaugh, Mid-West's general manager, confirmed the pair left the station Wednesday and will no longer be on the air. Kavanaugh didn't discuss details, calling it a personnel matter".
The SJ-R story written by A&E editor Nick Rogers went on to recap a recent, and heated blog exchange between Pierce, Dave of The11thhour, and myself over a quote which Pierce had attributed to Hillary Clinton. Pierce's blog post alleged Hillary Clinton had once stated that she "loathed the military". Both Dave of the11thhour and I had challenged the authenticity of the quote, and requested that Mr. Pierce provide a source for his citation. The SJ-R story continues by stating:

"By early afternoon Wednesday, the WNNS Web site, www.wnns.com, listed Steve Parker as assuming their slot and Jim Leach, primarily a WMAY-AM broadcaster, filling in for Parker's afternoon shift.

The site also disabled or removed links pointing to Pierce and Michaels' personal Web pages.

One such site is "Briblog," Pierce's personal blog (http ://pierceshow.blogspot.com) on which he writes about "all the stuff he doesn't have time to drone on about live on the air."

There is no obvious indication "Briblog" has had anything to do with Pierce and Michaels leaving WNNS. But a recent post drew Pierce into a fierce war of words among Springfield-area bloggers.

In a Saturday post titled "Hillary gets 'owned,'" Pierce questioned U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's support for the military as part of her presidential campaign.

The Briblog post included this passage: "Many have never forgotten that when she was co-president for eight years she was quoted as saying: 'I loathe the military.' "

However, another local blog, The 11th Hour (http ://the11thhour.blogspot.com/), challenged that quote, calling it "bogus information" taken from right-wing Web postings.

Another local blogger, Jerome Prophet (http://jeromeprophet.blogspot.com/), joined the call for Pierce to cite a "reputable source."

A heated online exchange among the three included this response from Pierce: "I simply don't take this thing as seriously as you guys do. I've been in media 32 years. I cume (reach a cumulative audience of) 35,000 people a day on the radio show. ... I can say anything I want here - that's the fun."

On Monday, Pierce edited his original post to remove the questioned quote and extended an olive branch. He acknowledged not "researching the topic completely," but added, "I hope you react similarly to the tens of thousands of blog posts that get the facts wrong."

The 11th Hour acknowledged the sarcasm, but accepted the apology. On Wednesday, that blog posted this response to the WNNS news: "Just to be clear, I really, really had nothing to do with this. I sent no bad karma or nothin'. I certainly would never wish anyone to lose their job. So best of luck to both of them in the future.""

..
Did Pierce's Blog Statements Befall Him?

First and foremost I want to mention that I have no knowledge about any actual meeting between Mr. Pierce, and his manager. I'm using total speculation as a vehicle to express my ideas on blogging. If you're reading this Mr. Pierce, and Kellie Michaels I want you both to know I have nothing but the greatest respect for you. In all honesty I have never listened to your radio program, but Mr. Pierce earned my respect when he deleted his Hillary Clinton quote, and stated that he had made a mistake. It takes a mature person to do that.

I believe it is very likely that Brian Pierce's blog post on Hillary Clinton started a chain of events which led to his, and his spouse's departure from WNNS. Brian had made an arrogant, and inflammatory statement, even citing his station's cumulative audience value in an attempt to impress his readers, and to belittle his critics.

I'm paraphrasing here (note the lack of quotation marks)

Most importantly Mr. Pierce went on to state that he did not consider making unfounded statements about Hillary Clinton to be all that serious of a matter, and that he would go on to say whatever he wanted in the future because it was fun.

From the stand point of his employer this could be considered a dangerous declaration.

Unlike most bloggers Pierce's employers provided publicity for, and a link to Mr. Pierce's personal websites. If an average blogger becomes embroiled in an online dispute most find themselves unable to play the CUME card which Mr. Pierce used. In that sense Mr. Pierce was not only relying upon his personal prestige, but also that of his employer.

Citing your employer is a double edged sword, which can indeed cut both ways. Pierce was essentially yoking his unfounded, and untrue quote which he attributed to Hillary Clinton around the necks of his employers. Furthermore his declaration that he'd go on making whatever statements he wanted in the future because it was fun, alluding to the wild west, had to set off alarms in the minds of his managers.

If Mr. Pierce had been a journalist, and had falsely quoted a candidate for the Presidency, and then said something similar to, "I don't take this as seriously as you do, I work for the New York Times, and the New York Times is read by millions of people, and I'll write anything I want on my personal blog, and by the way how many people read your blog?", then it would be all too obvious that that New York Times Journalist had stepped over the line of propriety, and that the New York Times would be right to terminate their relationship with that journalist.

Yet is being an on air radio personality different? Is there a lower standard for such personalities? Dave of the11thhour suggest that there has to be another reason for their dismissal, than just Mr. Pierce's blog postings. I feel that Dave who worked in radio for several years is a bit jaded when it comes to the motivations of radio station owners, and managers. I am not idealistic about the motivations of WNNS management.

I don't believe that Pierce was dismissed simply because he made up a quote, or used a quote without citation. Nor do I believe he was dismissed due to making an arrogant statement. I do however believe that his approach led to problems once he was asked about his blog by his employer.

I suspect that Mr. Pierce was brought in to discuss his blog post, and was told that it made the station look bad, and that according to the terms of his employment contract that WNNS could terminate him if he didn't stop. I suspect at that point Mr. Pierce argued that it was a violation of his privacy, and first amendment rights for WNNS to tell him what to write on his blog.

At which point his manager probably stated that he couldn't claim a right to privacy since the station had links to Brian's website, and that Brian himself had mentioned his affiliation to his employer on his blog.

Somehow in that moment, when things may have been resolved they only became worse, and Mr. Pierce was terminated. I'm totally guessing on all of this, but I'd guess at that point that Kellie Michaels in solidarity with her spouse quit.
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If True Was It Just?

I believe the lesson to be learned is not to mention your employer on your blog. You'll find no links, and no stories about my employer on this blog, and you never will. There won't be any company water cooler gossip, and no trade secrets posted here. There won't be any sly references to my mangers either. Especially important you'll find no statements on my blog which use my relationship to my employer as a means of propping up an invalid claim about anyone - including Hillary Clinton.

In the end we live in a rapidly changing world, and we're all sailing in uncharted seas when it comes to blogging, and so the safest course to sail is a conservative course. Assume that at all times everything you write will be read by your beloved grandmother, your pastor or priest, and your employer.

Where the private, and the personal meet has always been an area of contention, and blogging makes things all the more complex. What is clear is that WNNS has a right to defend itself from potential liability, and bad press just as Mr. Pierce has a right to blog. What is less clear is how those rights coexist.

My hope is that as time passes and employers, and individuals become more sophisticated about where the line falls on such matters that people won't find themselves victim to these types of events.

In the meantime I recommend to all bloggers looking for a safer blogging experience to either remain anonymous, or practice a high level of care when it comes to what you say, and in how you refer to your employer. Yes this is self censorship, but it will make a more responsible blogger out of you too.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Assume that at all times everything you write will be read by your beloved grandmother, your pastor or priest, and your employer.

This is so true. I remember cringing when my mother, shortly before her death, said she had finally gotten around to reading much of my blog. I was really expecting, even at age 46, to be grounded for a week.

It’s very sound advice to leave your employer out of the mix. Nothing good will come of it. But that’s my biggest problem with the notion that Pierce was terminated for something he wrote on his blog (which I don’t really believe anyway). Although you make a good argument above about how things MIGHT HAVE unfolded, I still don’t think there’s anything on BriBlog that is even remotely termination worthy. That is, unless WNNS management was simply looking for an excuse.

Anonymous said...

In fact he did an honorable, and highly mature thing by removing the quote.

My heart is heavy my friend on this whole event.

People may want to villify us, but really I would never want to see someone get canned over a blogpost.

I was quite excited about the prospect of involving him in some online debates, but that most likely won't take place now.

JP

Unknown said...

Take in consideration all conservatives crap from WMAY (the same company as WNNS) and it hosts blogs.

My guess is this was the time and a way to get cheaper talent. These two had to the most expense talent on payroll.

This town is so right wing knocking Hillary Clinton truthful or not better than noticing color coded tickets at a house divided speech of Barack Obama.

Radio is in trouble and cutting cost and short cuts we are going to see more of.

Only Springfield Illinois could find these two people no talents tollerable. She would say, it's 10 after the hour. Was she dreaming she had a national show?


Shalom,

--- Prof. Leland Milton Goldblatt

Dr. Goldblatt says: BOYCOTT ISRAEL! The boycott is not directed at any religious or ethnic group, but rather it is directed at those companies that are supporting the racist occupation of Palestine.

I supports universal health care and opposes free trade, which deprives American workers now even white-collar workers of their jobs while exploiting foreign workers in sweatshop factories. The US Government shall be a supporter of progressive healthcare and science (i.e., stem cells.)

Anonymous said...

You guys all think that you are superstars because of your stupid blogs. Do you really think that much of yourself to think they were fired over this stuff. The Spfld Bloggers really need to get a grip on reality and quit thinking that they are sooooo Special. Yes I am talking about your Dave, Jerome, Shoo. All of you need to get a life.

Anonymous said...

why, o why, do douchebags like anonymous (who is too big of a pussy to get a ID?) bother to visit our blogs if we are soo pathetic?

Perhaps he should take his mouth from his father's lap and take his own advice and get a life.

Anonymous said...

Anon -

I actually don't think that they were fired over this blog thing. And I've said so repeatedly here and on my own blog. So I’m not sure what your problem is, a reading disability perhaps.

As for taking myself too seriously, well, you obviously don’t read my blog. And that’s just fine with me. Feel free to keep that up.

And I really do have a life. A very busy life involving a job, a wife and children, a house, several cars and a fucking lawn that’s going to soon start demanding my attention. But thanks for caring. How ‘bout you, buddy? What are you up to other than trolling blogs?

Anonymous said...

Oh and Anonymous -can I call you An? An, we didn’t start this nonsense about our blogs perhaps being responsible in some way with the firings. That was the State Journal-Register. They dragged us into the story. I’ve received several messages in various forms blaming me for what happened. Again, thanks to the SJ-R. So what you are seeing here is us trying to defend ourselves and figure out what really happened. Believe me this isn’t some big ego trip. I would just as soon it never happened. In fact, I’ve completely stopped writing about it on my blog and have cut off comments to the related posts because I was getting a lot of “You suck, asshole” comments that added nothing to the discussion. So if you think we’re enjoying this, you’re sadly mistaken.

Anonymous said...

Hey, JP, I found this on www.illinoisairwaves.com. I wonder if it is real:
Re(2): End of the world
Posted on 2/22/2007 at 11:16:39 AM by Scoop

Here is the "official email" sent out to the MWF staff regarding the B/K departure. Is this guy paranoid or what?


Effective today, Kellie Michaels and Brian Pierce have separated from their employment with Long Nine, Inc. Because this is a personnel matter, I am not at liberty to provide any additional details.
If you have questions or concerns, please see me. If you receive questions from clients or listeners you may tell them OFF THE AIR that you received an e-mail saying Kellie and Brian no longer work here, and that’s all you know. Further inquiries should be directed to me.
If you receive phone calls from Kellie or Brian at work or at home, you may speak to them (if you choose to) but you must NOT discuss anything about work or the circumstances of their departure. It is up to you whether you speak with them at all.
Until further notice, no phone calls should be put live on the air on any of our stations – except with a 7-second delay on WMAY. Be prepared to dump any calls that make reference to WNNS or Brian or Kellie, and do not put either of them on the air if they call. On the FM stations, all calls must be pre-recorded and edited for playback. DO NOT air any calls from Kellie or Brian, and do NOT air any calls that make reference to Brian or Kellie.
I know it’s upsetting when long-time employees leave the company. Rest assured, WNNS and Long Nine, Inc. will be just fine. I will find and hire a new program director and new morning show as quickly as possible. In the interim, Steve Parker has agreed to do mornings and will act as interim program director with assistance from Valerie Knight. Deb Kennedy will continue doing middays and music logs. Jim Leach will voice-track afternoons until a new morning show is in place and Steve can return to afternoons.
Again, see me if you have questions or concerns.
Thank you!
Kevan
Kevan Kavanaugh
President & General Manager
Mid-West Family Broadcasting
WMAY / WNNS / WQLZ / WLCE
P.O. Box 460
Springfield, IL 62705
217-467-2800

email jp

  • jeromeprophet@gmail.com

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