I couldn’t believe my ears Monday morning when I tuned in to see what was happening.  Did I have the wrong radio station? Had the circus commandeered our precious information resource ? What the hell???

High Park Fire raged while Al and Sue at KCOL left Ft Collins with out a voice. they could have done something.

I expected to hear Ft Collins news talk radio station 600 KCOL to be pumping out information about the High Park Fire: You know the stuff we residents need right now during a raging wild fire.  The latest evacuations, escape routes, where is the Red Cross located? Where can I eat? Where can I sleep?. Is there a medical team , my aunt is having a hard time breathing? Where are are some clean clothes?  What roads are open.? Is my house still standing.? Little things like that.

Al Malmberg refused to give information that would save lives

Instead I got the idiot team of Al Malmberg and Sue Sutton acting as though they were on vacation in Disneyland. Worse they were having endless banal jokes about duct tape, her husband, their weight as though the city was not on fire at all.  Their insensitivity and and complete lack of broadcast news professionalism is the reason for this column.

This radio station failed so completely to be there for Ft Collins in its greatest time of need, the entire morning show should be fired. The GM should be fired. And Clear channel the corporate vampire should absolutely lose it license to operate this radio station.

When I called Sue and Al, they were insulted that I dare question their programming decisions.  They absolutely did not understand why they should suspend all programming and help the community while it burned.  That is the chief criteria for an FCC license: Be good stewards of the airwaves we entrust in you. They could have taken calls, brought in volunteers, gotten out information, listened to the fire scanners.  Did they do any of that? Hell no.  They twiddle twaddled each other. These two are the worst kind of incredibly stupid broadcasters. So thoughtless.

Sue Sutton told duct tape jokes instead of Evacuation routes

When I talked to the Managing director of the FCC in Washington, he launched an immediate investigation of Al, Sue and KCOL.  Nicky Shears the special agent in charge of Colorado called me.  She was incensed by the morning show. ” I have been listening and they are not doing much on the fire. I understand your concerns and the concerns of the city. Frankly we are concerned. Every 15 minutes they give very brief update” she said.  “We are taking the KCOL situation very seriously and it will not end here, I assure you.” she said.

What could the FCC do. ?? Suspend the KCOL license, yank the million dollar investment from Clear Channel and hand it to a real community minded person for  $1.00. They could do that.

Since KCOL radio in Fort Collins Colorado has clearly violated the spirit of broadcasting, the FCC will likely enact some law that will force the local radio station to go on the air and help with the disaster.

To make matters even worse KCOL pumped out Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and other haters all day and night and never addressed the fire at all.

Jann Scott

Jann Scott’s Journal