Call for DJ’s sacking

11:17am Tuesday 12th August 2003

RADIO shock jock Nick Ferrari says campaigners calling for his sacking over a phone-in programme on asylum will not scare him from tackling the topic.

A listener’s complaint about “the encouragement of racist remarks by the presenter” in a discussion about asylum seekers on LBC was upheld by the Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC).

Now the National Assembly Against Racism and the Black Londoners’ Forum are calling for Mr Ferrari to be sacked.

But the DJ says he will not be frightened from tackling the issue.

He said: “We have been talking about this issue for two years. Thousands of people have phoned, emailed and faxed us. Let’s put this into context. This is one complaint in probably 50 hours of radio.” He added: “I will abide by the judgment. But it won’t scare me from talking about the issue. Thank god we live in a country where we can talk about these things and where somebody who feels offence can report it and get it adjudicated.” Callers into the March 10 programme had been encouraged to provide stories about the treatment of asylum seekers in comparison with the treatment of UK citizens.

The BSC upheld a listener’s complaint after finding “the programme’s active reinforcement of prejudiced views about asylum seekers had exceeded acceptable boundaries for transmission”.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has written to LBC asking what measures the station has put in place to ensure this does not happen again.

Milena Buyum, vice-chairman of the National Assembly Against Racism, said: “Is LBC a radio station for all Londoners? If so, the station’s management has a duty to take disciplinary action immediately as a result of the BSC’s findings and sack Nick Ferrari.” LBC’s managing director Mark Flanagan says the station accepts the BSC ruling and will take its findings on board.

He added: “Nick has a rumbustious, opinionated style which is well known and enjoyed by many thousands of listeners each day. Callers generally know what to expect and are quite willing to take part in often highly-heated arguments on a wide variety of subjects.” What do you think? Text the editor on 07781482502.

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