"Shock-Jocks"

Paper Summary:

In this paper the author looks at journalists and media personalities in America that are considered to step over the line in their communications. These people have been given the nickname "shock-jocks". The author looks at the ways in which they reach the limits of accepted behavior with their toilet humor, locker room talk and, in some cases, bigotry, to political wit and biting social commentary. He examines the damage some of this behavior can cause especially to children who can hear and see the "shock-jocks" easily through mediums like radio and television. In conclusion, the author clearly states that thanks to the First Amendment that was added to the Constitution, there is freedom of speech and without it we would not have people like the "shock-jocks" reminding the mainstream who and what exist on the fringes of civilization.

From the Paper:

"The major concern over "shock jocks" is the availability of their message to children. Whereas most objectionable material in books and movies can be regulated and kept from the eyes and ears of children by responsible adults, the reality is that radios are common fixtures in any child's room, and radio broadcasts of any type can reach these radios without any sort of regulation. Since these messages are free, parents cannot refrain from activating certain radio stations, as they can with cable stations such as HBO and Showtime, nor do radios possess the capabilities to supply parents with a V Chip option to help filter out inappropriate radio programming."

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