Westcott's Plea
To The Mexican Government
On February 28, 1997, I forwarded the following letter to the Government of Mexico via their
Diplomatic Embassy in Washington, D.C. and Consulate Offices in Los Angeles, California.
In addition, under the leadership of Chairman Alex Nogales,
the National Hispanic Media Coalition
enjoined the issue which brought the matter to a swift conclusion.
The Howard Stern Show is no longer welcomed in Mexico.
February 28, 1997
C. Secretario de Gobernacion
Mexico Districto Federal
C/O The Embassy of Mexico
1911 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington D.C. 20006
RE: The Howard Stern Show and radio station XTRA-FM
Dear Mr. Secretary:
This letter is in regard to radio station XTRA-FM located in San Diego, California and utilizing broadcasting facilities located in Tiajuana, Baja California. The program at issue is The Howard Stern Show (aired Monday through Friday, 3:00 AM until 11:00 AM).
Factually, Mr. Stern broadcasters, have paid more than $1.7 million in United States federal indecency fines for their continual and repeated violation of federal indecency statutes, specifically, 18 USC, paragraph 1464, which deals with broadcasting indecent material to children.
As a matter of introduction, I am proud to state that I am singlehandedly responsible for every penny of that $1.7 million in federal indecency fines.
I am aware that you are in receipt of a letter from Mr. Alex Nogales, Chairman of the National Hispanic Media Coalition which also addresses this issue. I would like to echo Mr. Nogales' concerns and attempt to provide you with additional information regarding this matter.
As Mr. Nogales has informed you, Mr. Stern has offended the Latin community with his racist anti-hispanic presentations. Mr. Stern's comments regarding the death of Tejano singer, Selena, are enclosed as well as transcripts of some of Mr. Stern's other comments.
Although I am unable to give you the location of XTRA's broadcast facilities in Tiajuana, on the U.S. side of the boarder, radio station XTRA-FM is located in San Diego, California at:
891 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92110-4082
XTRA-FM is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to:
Jacor Communications Inc.
201 E 5th Street, Suite 1300
Cincinnati, OH 45202-4115
Randy Michaels, President
513-621-1300 - FAX: 513-621-0090
I have long been an adversary of Mr. Stern and his broadcasters. I am not associated with any organization and I maintain the fight on my own using my own funds. I mention this only to give you an indication of my commitment to combating the broadcasting of indecency, obscenity and racism on both sides of the US/Mexico boarder. I have even created a "Stop Howard Stern" web site on the Internet located at:
http://shell.idt.net/~westcot9/SternHomePage.html
My investigation of radio station XTRA-FM reveals that The Howard Stern Show is originally broadcast daily in New York and 'uploaded' to a satellite where it it picked off the satellite at Jacor's facilities in San Diego and then transmitted to Tiajuana and rebroadcast via Jacor's broadcasting tower back into the US. Essentially the path is from New York to San Diego to Tiajuana back to San Diego.
Some misguided individuals may consider this to be a matter of freedom of speech, a freedom that is shared by the citizens of both our countries. I can assure you that I am a firm believer in this freedom for all people, however, there comes a point where freedom of speech must be accompanied by responsibility. In the issue of Jacor's broadcasting anti-hispanic material into this country from Mexico, I suggest it is not a matter of freedom of speech, but rather, it is a matter of forcing an American corporation (Jacor) to be responsible for their actions.
Simply stated, Mr. Stern's anti-hispanic propaganda is being broadcast from Mexico directly into the United States as well as throughout northern Mexico and it is being done via licensing of the Mexican government.
I simply ask that you intercede in this matter and revoke Jacor's broadcasting license, thereby eliminating Mr. Stern's racist, anti-hispanic program from the airwaves in both San Diego, California and Mexico.
To do otherwise would send a terribly bad message to those of Mexican descent both in America and Mexico.
I believe you will agree that this type of racist broadcasting can not, should not, and will not, be condoned by the government of Mexico through the continued licensing of Jacor Broadcasting Corporation.
Thank you for your time and I anticipate a appropriate action in this matter.
Sincerely,
__________________________________________
Al Westcott
cc
Mexican Consulate
2401 W. 6th St.
Los Angeles, California 90057
Alex Nogales, National Chairman
National Hispanic Media Coalition
3550 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 670
Los Angeles, California 90010 (Hand Delivered)
The Results
The San Diego Union Tribune Dateline: May 28, 1997
By John Freeman
91X Lost Stern After Rants Stirred Mexico's Rancor!
Howard Stern's radio show was moved April 30 from 91X/FM to Rock 105.3/FM.
That's an undisputed fact. But what is in dispute is why Jacor Broadcasting -- which operates both stations -- moved 91X's highest-rated show to Rock 105.3.
According to documents obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the owner of 91X/FM, a Rosarito Beach-based firm known as XETRA Comunicaciones, was forced to remove Stern from 91X/FM to avoid disciplinary sanctions by the Mexican government.
A copy of a letter from XETRA's attorney to Enrique Rubio, Mexico's director general of the Department of Radio, Television and Cinematography, states that XETRA/FM agreed to "suspend starting April 30 the program of Howard Stern that is presently broadcasting on this station."
Those Spanish-language documents contradict statements made by the management of 91X/FM, which has insisted that Mexico placed no pressure on the station. Jack Evans, regional vice president/programming for Jacor Broadcasting's stations in San Diego, characterized the Mexican government's actions against the Stern show as "concern, not pressure" to move it.
"As we were acquiring our radio stations from (previous owners) Noble, Nationwide, Gannett and Par, it was always our intention to realign the morning shows based on format compatibilities," said Evans.
Jacor Broadcasting executives have claimed that the main reason for the switch was that Rock 105/FM, which has a contemporary hard-rock format, better fits Stern's irreverent, risque form of social satire.
While Stern's show clearly better fits Rock 105/FM's male-dominated audience, the evidence indicates that Jacor had no choice but to move it to one of its other stations, one licensed by the U.S. government. (Jacor's roster of San Diego stations includes Rock 105/FM, KOGO/AM, KSDO/AM, KKBH/FM, Channel 93.3, KGB/FM, and KPOP/AM. In addition, it owns U.S. sales and marketing rights to 91X/FM and XTRA/AM, which are owned by Mexican businessman John Detmold. (He did not respond to repeated phone calls to his Rosarito Beach home.).
Why did the Mexican government -- officially, the country's Department of Radio, Television and Cinematography, located in Mexico City -- act to remove Stern from 91X/FM?
According to documents, the government was incensed at Stern's repeated anti-Mexican remarks, especially those during shows that aired late last year. The government charged that such remarks violated Mexican law.
"(The program) offends the essential human dignity . . . of people in our country (and) demerits the values of the Mexican nationality," reads the translated document. It also states: "It is perceived in the absurd speech of Howard Stern the intention of generating the impression of intolerance and hostility of Mexicans toward Americans (that) contradicts the permanent effort of the government of our country to promote the cordial relations and growing flow of tourist travel."
What did Stern say that the Mexican government found so offensive?
On Dec. 20, according to the documents, he went on one of his characteristic rants, aimed against Mexico. Sample comments included: "I think they should build a gigantic wall around the United States. . . . Illegal immigration is killing this country. We can't support them. We can't take care of them. . . . It's a disaster."
Stern then stated: "They hate us, and what have we done to Mexico? . . . I went there on my honeymoon and let me tell you, the hostility I felt. I was at Acapulco Princess (hotel). It's a swindle for tourists. They think you're dumb. They think you're going to get off of (the) bus and buy their trash they sell at the side of the road. Oh, the look they give you, a look (of), you disgusting American."
Then, according to the transcript, Stern made explicit comic references to "donkey shows" in Mexico.
Jacor's Evans said that Detmold, the station's owner, asked if Stern's show could be moved off 91X/FM. In addition, he said, some 91X/FM advertisers had expressed concerns.
"We looked at his concerns and the opportunities we had and it made sense to make the changes we did," said Evans.
So how did the Mexican government agency become so active in the Stern controversy? And who sent the recordings and transcripts to the agency?
Victor Diaz, who until recently was president of Z90/FM, a rival station to 91X/FM, said he was a major part of that effort. Several months ago, Diaz joined with a Spring Valley-based minister, the Rev. Samuel Fosu-Mensah, who has formed the activist group End Radio Air Smut Effectively (ERASE).
Diaz said he and the Rev. Fosu-Mensah went to the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, as well as to Mexico's Secretariat of Communications in Mexico City. Their complaint was that Stern's show contained indecent material that was offensive and harmful to youngsters who might be listening.
Diaz said he has contributed to ERASE, but he declined to say to what extent. In recent months, ERASE has taken out two half-page ads (costing approximately $5,000 each) in the Union-Tribune that decry "pornography" in local morning radio. (Five other local stations were cited, all owned by Jacor.)
"I support his organization because I believe that children shouldn't be exposed to that kind of filth," said Diaz.
Lourdes Sandoval, spokeswoman for the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, said, "We only voiced our concerns (about Stern to the Mexican Secretary of Communications). . . . In Mexico, it's very difficult to defend a Mexican radio station having a disc jockey making those kind of comments. It's insulting to our people and to our country."
According to a copy of a summons sent from Mexico's Department of Radio, Television and Cinematography to XETRA's attorneys, XETRA was cited for violating Mexican law, including "Article 5, Sections I, III and IV, and Article 63 of the Federal Radio and Television Law," among others.
Last week, Stern -- whose vulgar, combative style is part of his multimedia appeal on his syndicated radio show, his two best-selling books and a recent movie ("Private Parts") that's based on his career -- vowed that he plans "to take on" the leaders of ERASE. He then ridiculed a list of his alleged misdeeds, as printed in a recent ERASE fund-raising letter.
Stern's antics that day and every morning since May 1 were heard on Rock 105/FM, a station operated and licensed in the United States.
Said Evans: "We have something here called freedom of speech. That's the difference."
On today's show, Howard reacted to this article by saying, "Anytime the Mexican Government hates me, I must be doing something right."
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