Tuesday morning past, I heard conservative talk radio host Michael Graham use thinly-veiled racist and classist rhetoric while reading an ad for 1-800-GOT-JUNK? on WTKK FM in Boston. I set out to determine who was responsible for the content of the ad. See my diary here for the details.
I have received the following statement from a PR manager at 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, along with the script they provided to WTKK-FM:
To update you and bring some closure to this situation, I am forwarding you the script 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has provided WTKK for the on-air ads. Our Boston Franchise Partners and corporate leaders have spoken with Michael Graham and the station at length since our last communication. Our official statement is that we do not condone any deviation from script of any of our marketing material, neither has any of our marketing even hinted at our competitors. We have made this explicitly clear to the station and are satisfied that this matter can now be resolved.
Here is the script they provided:
FALL IS HERE. WINTER IS ON ITS WAY AND ALL THE STUFF YOU PLANNED ON GETTING RID OF THIS PAST SUMMER IS STILL HANGING AROUND IN YOUR ATTIC, GARAGE OR SHED. THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT TIME TO CALL 1-800-GOT-JUNK. 1-800-GOT-JUNK WILL HAUL AWAY JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT’S IN YOUR WAY –OLD FURNITURE, APPLIANCES, CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS; THEY’LL EVEN DUMP ALL THOSE BAGS OF AUTUMN LEAVES YOU RAKED OFF YOUR LAWN! CALL 1-800-GOT-JUNK TODAY. ARRANGE FOR ONE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL CLEAN-UP CREWS TO CLEAN OUT, LOAD UP, AND HAUL AWAY ALL THE STUFF YOU MEANT TO GET RID OF LAST SUMMER. 1-800-GOT-JUNK CREWS WORK FAST, SO IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS, THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR CAR –AND YOUR SNOW BLOWER IN THE GARAGE, CREATE SPACE IN YOUR BASEMENT OR SHED TO STORE LAWN FURNITURE, OR JUST GET RID OF ALL THAT STUFF YOU REALLY WON’T BE NEEDING—EVER. CALL 1-800-GOT-JUNK TODAY. 1-800-GOT-JUNK. THEY WORK ALL YEAR LONG ... EVEN IN THE DEAD OF WINTER! CALL 1-800-GOT-JUNK. YOU CALL, THEY HAUL. 1-800-GOT-JUNK. TAKE BACK YOUR SPACE! 1-800-GOT-JUNK!
Compare that with what I heard on air as presented in my last diary.
Graham drew a comparison between the blue-uniformed and professional employees of 1-800-GOT-JUNK and those of their competitors, who he said hang out in the parking lot of Store 24 and jump into the back of pick-up trucks in the morning. He then stated that you don't want THOSE people in your home. Capitals are used because he emphasized the word THOSE.
Now that is quite a deviation from script by Mr. Graham. I must confess that I knew little of Mr. Graham's history when I wrote the first diary, but what I have learned since (and references therein) only reinforces the conclusion that this was a case of Mr. Graham going off-script and speaking his own mind.
I haven't heard that Mr. Graham has been railing about being treated unfairly in this matter, either on-air or in his blog, although I have not been listening to him since. Perhaps that is because the people who ultimately pay his salary, 1-800-GOT_JUNK?, stepped in to reign him in. Perhaps his employer, WTKK, is concerned about how the parent company of Store 24, who I helpfully called about this, might feel about being gratuitously associated with the offending ad. An e-mail from a station representative indicated that they have had discussions with Store 24 about this, but I do not know whether Store 24 contacted the station first or whether the station prophylactically contacted Store 24.
I commend 1-800-GOT-JUNK? for taking clear, timely, and appropriate action in this matter. I would suggest that any other company placing ads to be read by Mr. Graham or any other talk radio hosts with a penchant for inflammatory speech take note of the unfortunate experience described here and take appropriate steps to ensure the integrity of their ad content. Its not free speech that merits protection when someone like Michael Graham projects his views onto your company on your advertising dime. For every 24 per center who may be more likely to do business with a company when someone like Michael Graham pushes their buttons, there may be up to three people who are less inclined to do so if they hear about the positions invoked by someone like Michael Graham in an other otherwise blameless company's name without their knowledge.
I want to thank a certain dkos old-timer for words of encouragement when I was feeling a bit of pressure regarding the position I took with this. It meant a lot to me. Thanks also to anyone who read the last diary and contacted the company to voice their concern.
I have promised a more personal comment on why I took up this issue. Many years ago, when I was a youngster, I saw first-hand how business considerations passively perpetuated racism and it made a real mark at the time. I'll do a diary soon about that.