PRESS RELEASE: SavageStupidity.com Calls on ClearChannel/KNEW-AM 910 to Dump Savage

Contact: Thomas Leavitt, co-founder SavageStupidity.com, 408-591-3342 or info@savagestupidity.com

July 7th, 2003

SANTA CRUZ, CA - SavageStupidity.com, an Internet site devoted to raising awareness about Michael Savage's history of hate-filled commentary, called on ClearChannel and KNEW-AM 910 to follow MSNBC's lead and fire Michael Savage. East Coast Bob (URL: http://www.eastcoastbob.com), a well known media prankster, called into Savage's MSNBC TV show on Saturday and precipitated a homophobic diatribe by Savage, which included a suggestion that he "get AIDS and die". MSNBC spokesman Jeffrey Gaines said, "His comments were extremely inappropriate and it was an easy decision."

We think that firing Savage should be "an easy decision" for KNEW-AM 910 and ClearChannel as well. The comments that lead to MSNBC's termination of Savage are only part of a long history of hate-filled commentary aimed at women, minorities, queer folk and immigrants (to name just a few of his targets), as has been well documented in the media and by numerous web sites and organizations, including GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), michaelsavagesucks.com, and this web site.

Despite Savage's history, last month San Francisco Bay Area station KNEW/ClearChannel signed a contract luring Savage away from his longtime home station, rival talk show station KSFO-AM. According to media reports, Savage was signed at a substantial premium to his existing compensation at KSFO. We do not believe that Savage should be rewarded for filling the airwaves with hate. If you share this view, contact KNEW and ClearChannel and let them know.

Ask Clear Channel how they reconcile the "The Clear Channel Creed" (URL: http://www.clearchannel.com/ci_oc.php) with providing a vehicle for Savage's hate-filled rants. Contact them at pr@clearchannel.com.

Contact info for KNEW-AM 910

Business Line: 415.975.5555

Mailing Address:
Talk 910 KNEW
340 Townsend Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Source: http://www.910knew.com/contactus.html

Detailed contact info for Clear Channel Executives

Lowry Mays
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
LLowryMays@clearchannel.com

Mark Mays
President and Chief Operating Officer
MarkPMays@clearchannel.com

Clear Channel Radio:
URL: http://www.clearchannel.com/radio/

John Hogan
Chief Executive Officer,
Clear Channel Radio
Email: unknown

Lisa Dollinger
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communication - radio public relations
200 East Basse Road
San Antonio, TX 78209
210-822-2828
lisacdollinger@clearchannel.com

Michael Savage's "The Savage Nation", syndicated by TRN to over 300 radio stations nationwide, is the fifth most highly rated radio talk show in the nation according to Talkers Magazine, reaching an audience of between 4 and 8 million daily. Until today, Savage had hosted a television talk show of the same name on MSNBC. Savage's history of controversial statements led to widespread protests when news of the latter became public, with organizations such as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamaation (GLAAD), the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) all launching efforts to discourage sponsors from advertising on it.

ABOUT SAVAGESTUPIDITY.COM

Founded in May of 2002, SavageStupidity.com's goal is to raise awareness about Michael Savage's hateful diatribes and the attitudes they foster and support among his listener audience. To that end, it has generated over 750,000 page views, including nearly 250,000 in June of 2003 alone, published a wide selection of "hate mail" from Savage supporters demonstrating Savage's noxious influence, and been repeatedly cited as one of the primary sources for information on Michael "Savage" and "The Savage Nation".

A copy of this release in HTML format is available at http://www.savagestupidity.com/pr-07-07-2003-knew.html