Researchers identify offensive language in radio shows

A recent preliminary report released by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center says that conservative talk radio shows have demonstrated increased frequency of hate speech in their programs.

Although the research is not complete, the center’s report thus far has led researchers to believe that there is a disproportionate amount of hate speech in conservative media, co-author of the report Francisco Javier Iribarren said.

The UCLA Newsroom Web site said the study categorized specific language used throughout the programs under four different types of hate speech: dehumanizing metaphors, flawed argumentation, divisive language and false statements.

Chon Noriega, director of the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, and Iribarren, assistant director of the center, conducted the study and observed two popular conservative radio talk shows called “The Savage Nation” and “The John and Ken Show.” The research is still in its early stages of development, and the results that were reported in late January are not definite, Iribarren said.

“We are looking at different transcripts and trying to develop a methodology for how to interpret these different transcripts,” Iribarren said.

The study will not be completed until spring when they finalize the research observations and interpret the data, Iribarren said. He added that they chose to analyze “The Savage Nation” because it is a national radio station, and they also observed “The John and Ken Show” because it is a local L.A. station.

Iribarren said that from now until spring, they will continue to study transcripts and clips from both conservative talk shows, as well as another radio show sample from “The Lou Dobbs Show.” The third show will serve as another angle and focus on observation for conservative media, Iribarren added.

Iribarren said that he and Noriega were trying to focus on their current research on conservative media until it is completed. He said he was not able to say whether liberal media will be a future research topic for the center, adding that it can only accurately conduct one study at a time.

“Many other people are more than likely to do that type of research, but we can only do so much, and we are not focusing on liberal media ““ someone else will do that,” Iribarren said.

Andrew Kreitz, chairman of Bruin Republicans and a third-year economics student, said he often listens to shows like “The Savage Nation” and “The John and Ken Show” and said that the study’s results are misleading and too general.

Kreitz said that considering that the researchers have so far observed only two stations ““ both of which have a history of expressing radical ideas and language ““ the study is clearly biased and should be discounted. Kreitz added that the definition of hate speech according to the report is too broad and generalized to be accurately used to measure the interpretation of hate speech in any form of media.

This broad definition of hate speech could be used to critically analyze liberal media as well, Kreitz said. He said that although some of the conservative radio shows use exaggerated language, it is just as exaggerated in liberal media.

Kreitz referred to a recent MSNBC news clip in which Keith Olbermann, a left-wing commentator, openly ridiculed the former Bush administration by saying that President George W. Bush should be prosecuted as a war criminal.

Members of the Bruin Democrats were not available to comment.

Timothy Rozelle, the Bruin Republicans’ media relations director and a third-year political science student, said that shows like the ones in the preliminary report do not accurately depict all conservative radio shows and puts them in a generalized false light.

Rozelle also said that although he agrees with the topics of discussion, he does not always agree with the dialogue used during the programs and thinks they need to be more sensitive to their audience.

“Michael Savage and John and Ken need to tone it down and focus more on the issue,” Rozelle said.

Iribarren said that he hopes to minimize conservative criticism, and that it is too early to judge the study because it is not completed yet.

With more research and observation on behalf of collaborating students, professors and researchers from the Chicano Studies Research Center, the study should have a more solid basis come spring, he added.