Monday, June 10, 2002
KIESWETTER: WLW should drop the male-product ads, readers say
Some do see value in them
I was standing in my front yard, watching my sons get on the school bus last week, when my neighbor called out: “I agree with you, and not with Mike McConnell! I don't like those ads either!” Dozens of people have responded to my column last Monday critical of WLW-AM (700) for selling advertising during Reds games to Enzyte, pills which promise a larger male sex organ (“natural male enhancement”).
The Reds say they have no control over the commercials on their flagship station. In fact, the Reds turned down “considerable money” from Enzyte to advertise at Cinergy Field, says Cal Levy, Reds marketing director.
“We've tried since Day One to get (WLW-AM) to take them off,” Mr. Levy says.
The Reds have directed fans to contact Mike Kenney, Clear Channel's market manager here. He's at 1111 St. Gregory St., Cincinnati 45202.
"Call to action'
The Citizens for Community Values, which opposes sex-oriented businesses and material harmful to children, e-mailed my column to more than 850 members.
With it came a “call to action” from CCV President Phil Burress urging people to ask WLW-AM to drop the ads “when children are likely to be listening. Politely ask them to refuse to accept further Enzyte ads during Reds broadcasts,” the e-mail says. (Enzyte only bought a half-season Reds radio contract.)
Mr. Burress also says people should request that their letters be placed in WLW-AM's “public file,” for anyone to see.
You could also contact Greg Cossman, president of LifeKey Healthcare Inc., the Sycamore Township company that makes Enzyte. It's one of the few Tristate companies with an unlisted phone number. The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce says LifeKey, a chamber member, is at 4181 Crossgate Lane, Blue Ash 45236.
Most — but not all — of the 90 e-mails and calls I've received support my contention that the commercials are inappropriate for my 9-year-old son and other young Reds fans.
A sample of comments:
• “I have a 10-year-old who has really gotten into baseball this year, and I also find myself having to change the station when I hear those commercials. What really bums me is that my son wants to listen to the games as he goes to sleep, and I don't like the thought of those garbage ads being on as he dozes off, so he gets penalized,” Doug Jaeger says.
• “I just think it is another example of how baseball is insensitive to young fans. I can't imagine anyone thinking those ads are appropriate during baseball games,” says Darren Orloff, father of four sons (ages 4-12).
• “I hate when those commercials come on because I'm usually listening to the game with my daughters around. I quit listening to SportsTalk and the Hot Stove League because of the (Enzyte ads),” Steve Goddard says.
• “I have stopped listening to WLW-AM except for the ball games, but now they seem determined to stop me from listening all together. Do the other sponsors (Frisch's, Pro-Scan Imaging) have any say in this matter?” Griff Brown says.
• “I expect to hear commercials like that listening to WEBN-FM, but not on WLW-AM, and definitely not during the Reds,” Brent Matthews says.
• “I had called the station to complain months ago, only to have a snotty, arrogant woman tell me I was the ONLY one to complain,” Marie Oliver says. “Maybe WKRC-TV should run a poll to see if WLW listeners are offended by the Enzyte commercials?”
• “Let's hope that WLW pulls the Enzyte commercials off of Reds games. I called WLW a few months ago to complain. Hopefully this will lead to more complaints,” says Jim Porter.
The other side
Not everyone agrees. Here are some dissenting opinions:
• “I would think with the city coming down around you, you could find more important things to whine about. But, then again, your "real world' revolves around watching TV!” Dave Lacks says.
• “Will you ever stop bashing WLW-AM radio? You've had an ax to grind against those people for years and it's making you look foolish ... Your poor little kid is more exposed to filthiness at school and on video games than what that station will ever expose him to,” Brian Koerner says.
“Every Sunday your paper is loaded with all those half-naked women in their underwear. But I guess since the Enquirer is doing it, that's protected under the First Amendment, but radio needs to change, huh?”
• “The proper way to protect our children is not to shield them from exposure, but rather, prepare them for it. You are of the mind that if we bottle up anything regarding sex ... until the teen-age years, so much so the better. You are hence the cause of the sexual impropriety and misconduct due to the ignorance you and your kind perpetuate,” says Cliff Adams.
“Instead of wasting (newspaper) space ... how about explaining to your second-grader that as people grow older, they run into trouble with different parts of their body?
“I would feel more comfortable calling your act "journalism' if you were kind enough to present even a single divergent perspective. Then again, you are withthe Enquirer.”
• “You have got to be kidding me! You clowns at the Enquirer come up with more stuff. What next? Tampax? Massengill? Vagisil? You left-wing radicals are the ones who create these messes in Cincinnati,” Brad Bocskor says.
“If the world ends up your way, our children will reach the age of 25, and be lost in the "real world.' It's called "the dumbing down of America' ...”
• “There are vast numbers of us who are as offended by puritanism as there are of you who wish anything sexual should be forbidden. If you were worried kids would see something sexual, why did you write about sex?” Michael Zempter says.
“To say the airwaves belong to 'Da People' is absurd, and you know that too, if you would give it some thought. America is not a country, it is a marketplace, and everything in it is a product. That's what we'll be remembered for.”
What a depressing thought.
E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com. Past columns at www.enquirer.com/columns/kiese
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KIESWETTER: WLW should drop the male-product ads, readers say
