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Date Posted: 07:15:19 05/14/03 Wed
Author: Rockford
Subject: Interview or infomercial ?

Last night, Jeff Katz had a guest from a group called No Tax, No Crime. It's a group that's opposed to ciggarette taxes, especially the steep New York City taxes. Jeff's guest discussed how the tax benefits organized crime, and hurts small business. I honestly don't know enough about the
issue to say that his arguments were valid or not. Here's the problem:

No Tax No Crime is an arm of the Lorillard Tobacco Co. They've been involved in a media blitz the past few weeks for their anti-tax campaign. Don't you think that Jeff might have mentioned that? As a caller pointed out several
minutes later, Katz presented a paid spokesman for a tobacco company as if he were just doing an interview with a newsmaker. Katz denied that they are a front for a tobacco company, saying that they "get some funding" from Lorillard. I guess Jeff's math skills need some work. 100% is more than "some".

That's bad enough, but it gets worse.

As part of their media blitz, No Tax No Crime has bought time on WPHT. Their spots have been running for at least several days. The spots at least carry the disclaimer "paid for by Lorillard Tobacco Company", which is more context than Katz was willing to provide his audience with. But the buy raises this question:

Just what in the hell did we hear last night at 7:00? Was it an interview, or a paid infomercial with no disclaimer? Are there any ethical standards at PHT? Can we trust the sincerity of anything being discussed, or are the hosts opinions up for the hightest bid? Remember PHT hosts, before you criticize the New York Times for their ethics, take it look in your own nicotine stained mirror.

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Replies:

[> Bingo! -- Freddy, 10:30:07 05/14/03 Wed

You do make valid points Rockford. I don't listen to WPHT nearly as much as I used to for reasons very similar to what you indicate. That station is being infected with too much of a carnival barker mentality and a symbiotic relationship with their sponsors. They are trying anything to attract callers. I am particulary disappointed with Dom G. doing everything he can do to cater to women callers and with Smerconish's dream of becoming the new Larry King. Bring back Evil Uncle Irv.


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[> Sounds a lot like a former Beasley station, who, in the "last days," had such questionable enterprises as Radio Booksellers, The Penis Pump, and Liquid Oregano. ‘DB blurred a lot of lines back then. History does repeat itself. What’s that smell of garlic dip and Doritos? Oh, it’s the Sports Babe warming up in the wings. -- Heidi Ho, 16:33:23 05/14/03 Wed


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[> [> And Beck continues to have a job....? -- Captn Hank, 17:10:19 05/14/03 Wed


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[> Katz On Smoking -- Bill, 11:27:28 05/21/03 Wed

Jeff Katz has been clear for as long as I can remember as being on the record as opposing these anti-smoking laws and had done a couple of stories on Bloomberg's high ciggie tax, so this is all consistent with his already well established point of view.


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