Glenn Beck

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Glenn Beck appears on the cover of his 2003 book, The Real America: Messages from the Heart and Heartland
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Glenn Beck appears on the cover of his 2003 book, The Real America: Messages from the Heart and Heartland

Glenn Beck (born February 10, 1964) is a conservative American talk-radio and television host.

His radio show, The Glenn Beck Program, is syndicated by 232 radio stations and on XM Satellite Radio, in the continental United States and Puerto Rico. The Glenn Beck Program is the third highest-ranked national radio talk show among adults ages 25 to 54, according to Premiere Research/Arbitron.[1]

Beck hosts an hour-long television show weeknights on CNN Headline News, which launched May 8, 2006.

Contents

[edit] Career

Beck started in radio when he was 13 years old in Seattle, Washington by winning a local radio contest to be a DJ for an hour. Beck quickly drew the favor of his new colleagues and was granted a part-time job. He hosted Christian radio on Saturday, rock on Sunday and country on weeknights, but lost the job when he failed to complete a shift due to a migraine headache.

After high school graduation, Beck pursued his career as a Top 40 DJ, and experienced success and rapid growth in radio during his 20s. Beck was a DJ on WKCI-FM (KC101), a Top 40 radio station in Hamden, Connecticut, hosting the local morning show. Originally the show was billed as the "Glenn and Pat Show" with co-host Pat Gray. Later when Pat left the show, Beck continued with co-host Vinnie Penn.

Years later, he began to explore the world of talk radio with a one hour program on KC101's sister station WELI. Beck then worked at WFLA-AM and launched The Glenn Beck Program during the afternoon drive, filling the slot vacated by Bob Lassiter. Beck hosted the new radio show, combining politics and comedy. In the first year, The Glenn Beck Program moved from 18th place to the #1 position. Within 18 months, Premiere Radio Networks, the leading radio syndication company in the country, offered Beck the opportunity to go national. In January 2002, The Glenn Beck Program launched on 47 stations growing to 234 stations by September 2006. With over three million listeners it was ranked 8th in the nation[2] and 3rd among listeners age 25 - 54.

Also in January 2006, CNN Headline News announced that Beck would host an hour long show during prime time. Glenn Beck on Headline News debuted in June 2006.

[edit] Political views

"I am a conservative who doesn't happen to be a Republican," Beck often says while on-air. On his show, Beck addresses many current political, social, and economic issues.

[edit] Political correctness

Beck dislikes political correctness and often mocks emerging politically correct phrases. For instance, during the Christmas season Beck plays a "politically correct" version of O Holy Night. The lyrics have been changed to remove all reference to religion and gender, and the song is re-titled, O Somewhat Important Night. Beck has said "political correctness is the classic Great Idea Gone Wrong. All it's done is shut us up. It hasn't changed anybody's mind. It hasn't changed our hearts. It's changed our faces. It's taken every opinion we have, it's taken every joke we have, and it's forced us to conceal it and hide it and bury it. It's made us superficial." [3]

[edit] George W. Bush

Beck generally agrees with the policies of George W. Bush. On November 3, 2004, the day after the 2004 presidential election, Beck had a special show entitled "Gloat Fest 2004," where he gloated over the victories of Bush and the Republicans over John Kerry and the Democrats. (He stated that, had Bush lost, it would have been called "Pity Party 2004." Indeed, he held a "Pity Party 2006" after the Democrats took Congress in 2006.)

Beck sometimes questions the Bush administration, however, including border security, government spending, some aspects of the Iraq War, and the nomination of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court. As illegal immigration and other issues came to the forefront in the early summer of 2006, Beck became much more critical of the Bush administration, to the point that some of his listeners accused him of becoming a liberal Democrat or pandering to the CNN audience. Beck asserts that he is more conservative than the President, and that his conservative fans need not worry.

[edit] Global warming

Beck has ridiculed environmentalism and the theory of global warming. Beck argues that global climate change is always occurring, but he is skeptical of the scientific opinion on climate change that global warming is largely attributable to human activity and that it may pose a threat to human civilization. Beck argues there is an under-reporting of scientific findings that do not support the theory of global warming.[4]

[edit] Other issues

Beck's stated opinions include being pro-life, including being opposed to euthanasia and capital punishment. He approves of torture as a means of exploiting known terrorist information. He is critical of the entertainment industry, and is opposed to anti-smoking regulations. He describes himself as pro-business and against raising the minimum wage. During the summer of 2006, he began to repeatedly refer to the War on Terror as the Third World War.

[edit] Glenn Beck Program

Main article: Glenn Beck Program

The Glenn Beck Program began in 2000 airing on WFLA (AM) in Tampa, Florida, and took the afternoon time slot from 18th place to #1 within a year.[5] In January 2002, syndicator Premiere Radio Networks launched the show nation wide on 47 stations. The show was then moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where it picked up new flagship station WPHT-AM. In the spring of 2006, Beck relocated his studios to Radio City Music Hall in New York City in preparation for his new TV show with CNN Headline News.

Beck's show is often compared to talk radio programs of hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage. Beck's show contains less discussion about politics, and more social commentary and humor. Beck frequently says that he hates politics, and claims that his show contains "half the politics and twice the comedy" and "is not about Left and Right, it's about right and wrong."[citation needed]

The program can be heard live on weekdays from 9 a.m. - noon ET (with a "best of" weekend edition on some affiliates). During this time, listeners may call into the show to voice their opinions.

[edit] Glenn Beck on Headline News

Beck is the host of a weeknight hour-long show on CNN Headline News which premiered on May 8, 2006.

CNN Headline News calls Beck's show "an unconventional look at the news of the day featuring his often amusing perspective on the top stories from world events and politics to pop culture and everyday hassles."[6] Beck's TV program is not supposed to be a traditional news program. He says it is a news talk show for people who can't take the news anymore.[7]

At the time CNN hired Beck, his radio show was the third highest-ranked national radio talk show among adults ages 25 to 54 according to Premiere Research/Arbitron.[8]

Beck's special on Islam entitled "Exposed: The Extremist Agenda" on November 15, 2006, was rated the #1 show on all cable news in the 25-54 demographic.[9]

Glenn Beck on Headline News airs nightly at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, repeating at 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.

[edit] Criticism

Beck has been accused of using "hateful rhetoric" by his critics, some going so far as to call him a "professional hatemonger". A left-leaning media watchdog group, FAIR, has specifically criticized Beck for statements he has made concerning Michael Berg, Michael Moore, Hurricane Katrina victims, and 9-11 victims.[2]

[edit] CNN announcement (2006)

Criticism of Beck from liberal critics rose sharply in January 2006 when CNN Headline News announced that Beck would host a daily television program. The progressive watchdog group Media Matters had posted a total of six articles relating to Beck from the years 2004 and 2005. During the first six months of 2006, Beck and CNN were criticized in 43 articles.[10]

 The neutrality of this section is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.

[edit] Ellison interview

In November 2006, Beck drew criticism on Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" and Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" for part of his interview with Congressman-Elect Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress.[11] Olbermann named Beck the winner of the "Worst Person in the World" award for his comments,[12] while Ellison shrugged the incident off. "It's just shock TV," he said. "Some pundits think they have to ask the most outrageous questions."[13]

[edit] Response to Criticism

Beck responds to criticism by saying that his quotes are taken out of context. When specifically asked about the "I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore"[14] quote, Beck responded:

The words reported were technically accurate, but they neglected to note the whole setup of the conversation and how it was all part of a comedy monologue. They didn't include my obvious joking with a caller and commenting that "this whole conversation is all so wrong." ... The problem is, the folks who were protesting are just not paying attention. The people writing in to newspapers and complaining the most were people who don't even listen to the show.[15]

[edit] Live events

Glenn Beck on stage during his "Rally for America" in 2003.
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Glenn Beck on stage during his "Rally for America" in 2003.

In March of 2003, Beck ran a series of rallies called "Glenn Beck's Rally for America" in support of troops deployed for the upcoming Iraq war. While generally attended by war supporters, Beck spoke of those who "disagreed with the war, but still supported the troops." He ran the final rally at Marshall University over the Memorial Day weekend. The event drew an estimated 25,000 people.

In subsequent years, Beck has toured American cities twice a year, presenting a one-man stage show. His stage productions are a mix of standup comedy and inspirational speaking.[16]

For his annual winter tour, "Glenn Beck's Christmas Tour," Beck focuses on a Christmas theme.

In 2005, the summer show "Glenn Beck on Ice" focused on the need to diminish the role of politics in our lives. The 2006 summer show "The Mid-Life Crisis Tour" featured life's lessons from the perspective of a middle aged man.

Each year in January, Beck and Steve Burguiere return to their original home station of 970 WFLA to provide commentary on the yearly Gasparilla Parade.

[edit] Book and magazine

Beck has authored The Real America: Messages from the Heart and Heartland (ISBN 0-7434-8633-1). Beck is the founder and editor of a comedy magazine called Fusion, which is a play on The Glenn Beck Program's motto, "The Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment." A recurring feature in Fusion is the future obituary of famous people. Those included in this segment so far are Michael Jackson (Vol. 1, Issue 1), J.K. Rowling (Vol. 1, Issue 2), Osama bin Laden (Vol. 1, Issue 3), and Helen Thomas (Vol. 1, Issue 4). Others include Yo Mama and the South Beach Diet. Fans who went to the 2005 "Glenn Beck: On Ice" tour received the first issue.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Anchors & Reporters, Glenn Beck. www.cnn.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
  2. ^ The Top Talk Radio Audiences. Talkers magazine. Retrieved on 2006-08-07.
  3. ^ Glenn Beck. The Real America: Messages From the Heart and Heartland.
  4. ^ The Real Story: Global Warming. GlennBeck.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-17.
  5. ^ About the Glenn Beck Program. www.glennbeck.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-02.
  6. ^ Glenn Beck. www.cnn.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-30.
  7. ^ Tom Dorsey. "Beyond headlines", The Courier-Journal, 2006-07-20.
  8. ^ Anchors & Reporters, Glenn Beck. www.cnn.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-30.
  9. ^ Beck #1 In Demo On Cable News Wed.. Media Bistro. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
  10. ^ Glenn Beck Search Results. www.mediamatters.org.
  11. ^ CNN's Beck to first-ever Muslim congressman: "What I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies' ". mediamatters.org. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
  12. ^ ‘Worst Person in the World’: Glenn Beck. [1].
  13. ^ Averill, Brady. "For freshmen on Capitol Hill, it's the luck of the draw", Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, November 17, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
  14. ^ CNN's "Cordial" Hire. www.fair.org. Retrieved on 2006-08-10.
  15. ^ Al Peterson (June 2005). "Not Just Another Conservative". radioandrecords.com.
  16. ^ Al Peterson (June 2005). "Not Just Another Conservative". radioandrecords.com.

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

[edit] Official websites

[edit] Sites opposed to Beck

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