The only reason to wade into the KSSK/Larry Price flap is to point out the obvious: Nobody and no organization is beyond reproach. Larry Price’s unfortunate dialogue with Senator Hooser that prompted a pseudo-apology was proof once again that the only way off a pedestal is down. (Read the Price-Hooser conversation here.)
[5/7 Update: The Advertiser's "Breaking News" section today has one of the strangest apologies you'll hear or read. What Larry Price gives as an apology to Senator Hooser, sidekick Michael Perry takes away with his "You don't have to apologize" rant. There's not much room up there on that pedestal, so maybe Perry's just too close to "get it" -- which is what Hooser seems to think based on his afternoon response to KSSK's weird apology.]
KSSK’s personalities have been up there so long that it’s hard to think of them as mortal – subject to the same flaws that afflict us all. But they’re only human, and this latest evidence of their mortality may make our earlier criticism of their performance in October’s Earthquake Sunday emergency more believable.
CHORE takes no pleasure in watching the mighty tumble. We only hope this experience also makes the radio station humble and convinces KSSK’s management that ratings aren’t necessarily the measure of their performance.
We all will rely on KSSK to be there in our next crisis as one of the primary emergency communications stations. All we want is clear-headed thinking and professionalism from KSSK’s on-air personalities, who presumably will be rolled out as the “face” of our next emergency response.
A taste of humble pie may be what it takes to improve KSSK's performance.
CHORE was launched in 2006 after officials responding to an earthquake emergency obviously didn't measure up; see CHORE's earliest posts. Their performance left an opening for average citizens to weigh in with experience-based suggestions to improve crisis communications. The many deaths recorded after California's wildfires also revealed gaps in officials' ability to communicate effectively. Visitors are invited to comment with their own ideas.
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