TO: Advocates for all Persons Affected
by Mental Illness
FROM: Sylvia Axelrod, Executive Director, NAMI NEW JERSEY
RE: 101.5 FM Broadcast
NAMI NJ is outraged by the hateful prejudice and stigma
against people with mental illness expressed on Radio Station
101.5 FM.
What has NAMI NJ done? We immediately responded
to this ignorant attack on people with mental illness by
contacting the Station Manager who supported the radio host’s
“freedom of speech.” In our communication we said:
“While we respect freedom of speech we also believe
that people suffering from a mental illness have the right
to live with freedom from stigma and discrimination. The
remarks made on your station abridge their rights. Your
station owes an apology to all people who are now or may
be affected by these illnesses. We request time on your
station for people who have a mental illness to tell their
personal stories and for mental health professionals to
give appropriate information about mental illness, but not
as part of Craig Carton's show. Obviously we do not want
to encourage an increase of listeners to that show. In fact,
we are discouraging people from tuning in to the show except
to get the names of advertisers so they can boycott their
products. We are holding them and you responsible.”
We have sent out media alerts, have been quoted in a number
of newspapers and interviewed on WGBO radio. We asked NAMI
national to make this a national Stigma Busters issue. NAMI
responded immediately and sent a letter to Mr. Andy Santoro,
Vice-president and General Manager, Millenium Radio, and
also to Jeff Linkous/NJ Associated Press.
Click
to read NAMI national's letter to Mr. Andy Santoro (in pdf
format).
We know that you share our outrage.
What should you do?
Contact
the station managers to let them know what you think.
The Station Manager is Mr. Eric Johnson, (whose email address
is: ej1015@nj1015.com)
New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio
P.O. Box 5698
Trenton, NJ 08618
Mr. Andy Santoro,
Group Vice-President and General Manager,
Millenium Radio New Jersey 101.5 FM
P.O. Box 5698, Trenton, New Jersey 08638
******
LINKS TO NEWS ACCOUNTS:
Codey vs. shock jock - Bergen Record
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NjQ1NDc4
Radio host's barbs at wife rile Codey - Phila. Inquirer
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/10743330.htm
Clueless on the radio - Editorial by The Record
http://www.bergenrecord.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzOTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2
NDU4MzYmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNA
Mental illness advocates object to radio comments -
Sentinel
http://nbs.gmnews.com/news/2004/0203/Front_Page/037.html
