2008 Woodie Awards
Imus fighting for job as networks weigh cost of recent racial insults
Associated Press
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: Local, State & World
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NEW YORK (AP) _ After a career of cranky insults, radio star Don Imus was fighting for his job Monday following one joke that by his own admission went ``way too far.''
Two of the nation's biggest media companies CBS Corp. and NBC Universal will ultimately decide the fate of Imus' daily program after he referred last week to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as ``nappy-headed hos.''
Imus continued to apologize Monday, both on his show and on a syndicated radio program hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is among several black leaders demanding his ouster.
Imus could be in real danger if the outcry causes advertisers to shy away from him, said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade publication Inside Radio.
Imus isn't the most popular radio talk show host the trade publication Talkers ranks him the 14th most influential but his audience is heavy on the political and media elite that advertisers pay a premium to reach. Authors, journalists and politicians are frequent guests and targets for insults.
On Sharpton's program Monday, Imus said that ``our agenda is to be funny and sometimes we go too far. And this time we went way too far.''
The Rutgers comment has struck a chord, in part, because it was aimed at a group of young women at the pinnacle of athletic success. It also came in a different public atmosphere following the Michael Richards and Mel Gibson incidents, said Eric Deggans, columnist for the St. Petersburg Times and chairman of the media monitoring committee of the National Association of Black Journalists, which also wants Imus canned.
CBS has denounced Imus' remarks and said it will monitor his show for content.
Two of the nation's biggest media companies CBS Corp. and NBC Universal will ultimately decide the fate of Imus' daily program after he referred last week to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as ``nappy-headed hos.''
Imus continued to apologize Monday, both on his show and on a syndicated radio program hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is among several black leaders demanding his ouster.
Imus could be in real danger if the outcry causes advertisers to shy away from him, said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade publication Inside Radio.
Imus isn't the most popular radio talk show host the trade publication Talkers ranks him the 14th most influential but his audience is heavy on the political and media elite that advertisers pay a premium to reach. Authors, journalists and politicians are frequent guests and targets for insults.
On Sharpton's program Monday, Imus said that ``our agenda is to be funny and sometimes we go too far. And this time we went way too far.''
The Rutgers comment has struck a chord, in part, because it was aimed at a group of young women at the pinnacle of athletic success. It also came in a different public atmosphere following the Michael Richards and Mel Gibson incidents, said Eric Deggans, columnist for the St. Petersburg Times and chairman of the media monitoring committee of the National Association of Black Journalists, which also wants Imus canned.
CBS has denounced Imus' remarks and said it will monitor his show for content.
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