Good riddance to Ragashanti Live!
Dear Editor,
Anyone who is known as a media professional should have an understanding of the appropriate time slot for the appropriate content. This seems to have eluded the management of NewsTalk 93 FM. Listening to the content of Ragshanti Live on the radio, one could never have deduced that this media outlet was located on the campus of the University of the West Indies.
From 6 am to approximately 11 am (and to an extent 12 noon), is considered prime time for morning radio. Why did the management of NewsTalk think it was appropriate for listeners to hear Dr Stewart and his callers talking about “sort out” at that time of the morning?
I am very disappointed with Dr Kingsley Stewart for using such an important platform to promote uncouth and demeaning behaviour among his women callers. The first time I heard it I listened in disbelief, and I thought to myself: “Does the Broadcasting Commission know about the content of this show?”
After about my third encounter with the programme, I came to the conclusion that the callers were making up some of the stories. True, half-true or otherwise, the content of the show evoked my disgust, anger and pity for the women who called in. The constant pollution of our airwaves left me within an inch of throwing up.
Good riddance to Ragashanti Live! It is indeed a welcome development. At some point integrity and an element of class should be placed before profits and advertisement sales.
I also want to fully endorse the Jamaica Observer’s Editorial entitled A chance for renewal, Dr Kingsley ‘Ragashanti’ Stewart dated Sept. 3, 2010. I too sincerely hope that “by the next time his next performance comes around, he will -in his own words-have sorted himself out”.
Charlene Foote
Junction, St Elizabeth
foote.charlene@gmail.com