This case is tragic:
Radio station fires 10 in wake of contestant's death
By Christina Jewett - Sacramento Bee Staff Writer
Published 1:42 pm PST Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Ten employees of The End (KDND, 107.9 FM) were fired Tuesday and the "Morning Rave" morning radio show has been cancelled in wake of a water-drinking contest Friday that left a Rancho Cordova woman ill hours before she died, apparently of water intoxication.
Jennifer Lea Strange, 28, drank one and three-quarters of a gallon of water - according to another contestant - Friday morning during a "Hold your Wee for a Wii" contest in which competitors had to drink as much water as they could without going to the bathroom for a Nintendo game system.
...Coroner's officials said Saturday that Strange's autopsy revealed no life-threatening medical conditions and appeared "consistent with a water intoxication death." It added, however, "the final cause of death will not be available for several months."
Even more tragic is that an RN called in to the show during the contest to warn them that water intoxication can be fatal.
Apparently those listening to the radio show heard a DJ minimizing a warning that a nurse gave that drinking too much water was dangerous. cite
The attorney representing the late Ms. Strange's family is Timothy O'Connor of Sacramento, who said on KCRA TV News the family has a case (of wrongful death) against the station, KDND of Sacramento.
Here is one landmark case from the California Supreme Court in which a radio station was held liable for negligence and wrongful death.
For example, in 1975, in Weirum v. RKO General, Inc., the Supreme Court of California held that a radio station could be held liable for its broadcast, which inspired two listeners to drive recklessly toward an announced location, killing another driver in the process.112 The plaintiff in Weirum brought a wrongful death action against a radio station for its promotion that urged people to drive to the location of a disc jockey to receive a prize.113 Two listeners, incited to reach the disc jockey, drove recklessly toward his location and in the process drove another vehicle off the road, killing the driver.114 The Supreme Court of California affirmed the jury’s determination that the defendant radio station was liable under a negligence theory for the "foreseeable results of a broadcast which created an undue risk of harm . . . ."115 Cornell Law; First Amendment
See also: California Radio Station Held Liable in Negligence Case (w/ SPOCKO Update)
My question is:
How long until some listener of KSFO Hate Speech Radio takes their dangerous rhetoric seriously and violently attacks Speaker Pelosi, Muslims, immigrants, Chinese Americans, gays, liberals, editors, or photojournalists? When can we expect a new day of responsibility and fairness regulations from the FCC?
Kucinich: Congress To Take On FCC
January 15, 2007
Also in consideration at the National Conference for Media Re is the "Fairness Doctrine," which required broadcasters to present controversial topics in a fair and honest manner. It was enforced until it was eliminated in 1987.
Kucinich said in his speech that "We know the media has become the servant of a very narrow corporate agenda" and added "we are now in a position to move a progressive agenda to where it is visible."
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps was also on hand at the conference and took broadcasters to task for their current content, speaking of "too little news, too much baloney passed off as news. Too little quality entertainment, too many people eating bugs on reality TV. Too little local and regional music, too much brain-numbing national play-lists." Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein also spoke at the event.
It is really tragic that a young woman died due to the misinformation and craziness of one radio station in California. Does anyone else have to die before ABC/Disney/KSFO cops on to itself?