Despite previously sparking a full-on racist riot and doing [gestures vaguely] all the rest of that, Alan Jones is only now copping a “full review” from his radio bosses as the advertising fallout from his remarks about NZ PM Jacinda Ardern deepens.
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Macquarie Radio boss Russell Tate has written to advertisers promising a “full review” into Jones and the content that fills his screaming show for deadshits, after scores of companies pulled sponsorship from the program after Jones suggested Prime Minister Scott Morrison should “shove a sock down” Ardern’s throat over a diplomatic stoush regarding climate change.
Jones quickly offered a rather half-hearted attempt at a reply and Ardern herself chose not to comment on the issue at any great length, but unlike other incidents of “controversy” that 78-year-old Jones has managed to stir up on his multi-million dollar radio show, this one has had enduring consequences.
Social media groups have instigated a boycott against Alan Jones and 2GB, urging advertisers to remove their financial support of the show. Remarkably enough, it’s worked. Reports suggest some 100 brands have pulled out of The Alan Jones Breakfast Show, costing the station somewhere in the vicinity of $1 million.
That financial hit comes at a very inopportune time for the station, given its parent company Macquarie Radio is the subject of a takeover bid from Nine Entertainment Co. (which, full disclosure, wholly owns this publication, but still lets me write shit and balls in articles while calling Alan Jones a fossilised toilet monster without fear of managerial reprimand).
As a result of all that, Macquarie boss Tate has taken the extraordinary step of writing directly to advertisers promising a full review into not just Jones and his show, but the entire slate of 2GB/4BC content as well.
“This incident has brought into sharp focus the need for all Macquarie Media broadcasters to ensure that the debate they bring to the microphone and the words they use are, at all times, respectful and reflect the standards expected today by our listeners, our clients, and the wider community.”
“Through this incident, we have experienced the ability of offended groups to greatly amplify their complaints and to actively disrupt you, our clients and your staff, who have done no more than seek to engage with the audience which chooses to listen to us.”
“Of course, we have seen valued commercial partners withdraw from Alan’s program, but the fact is we got it wrong in the first place and we must now do everything possible to ensure that doesn’t happen again.”
“To that end, we have already commenced, with Alan’s encouragement and support, a full review of the 2GB/4BC Breakfast Show’s content, presentation and controls with a specific focus on audience and guest/third party engagement. That review will extend into all 2GB/4BC programs.”
Of course, this amounts to not much in terms of real consequences for Jones himself, because he’s nearly fucking 80 and has gotten away with all the various things that he has, so to say he hasn’t well and truly won by now is to blatantly lie through your own teeth.
The good news though is that he’ll be dead soon. And with any luck it’ll happen many decades before any of us.
