Blog

In a blistering attack on WBEZ-FM (91.5) Monday, the PBS host and bestselling author disputed the reasons given for canceling the weekly radio talk show he co-hosts with Dr. Cornel West, the Princeton University professor. "One could argue that it is easier for an African American to be president of the United States than it is to host a primetime radio program on Chicago Public Radio," Smiley declared.

It all started here last week with news that WBEZ had dropped Smiley & West from its lineup. The show, distributed by Public Radio International, had been airing at noon Sundays until late last month.

Chicago Public Media officials explained the decision by citing audience erosion (noting a decline in weekly listenership from 37,900 to 13,200) and expressing concerns about the program's fairness and balance. "The show had developed much more of an 'advocacy' identity, which is inconsistent with our approach on WBEZ," a spokesman said.

Torey Malatia, president and CEO of Chicago Public Media, was more pointed in his criticism of the show, telling PRI and others that it was "showing signs of significant declines in production effectiveness and focus," and that it was no longer serving the needs of his audience.

Supporters of Smiley & West inferred more sinister motives, claiming that the hosts were punished for their outspoken criticism of President Obama on the show, in their bestseller The Rich and the Rest of Us, and on their 2011 "Poverty Tour" highlighting the plight of the impoverished. (For the record, Chicago Public Media officials denied that any political pressure was involved.)

Source: TimeOutChicago.com | Robert Feder