Jay Severin
| Jay Severin | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Political commentator |
| Spouse | Renee Melanie Klock |
| Parents | Iris Severino (f) James Thompson Severino (m) |
Jay Severin,[1][2] (born James Thompson Severino III), is an American political talk radio personality. Severin has signed a multi-year contract with Boston's WXKS-AM Talk 1200 as an on-air personality.[3] He had been heard on WTKK-FM (96.9) for a decade, and briefly in syndication beyond Boston.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Jay Severin's mother was a writer and his father was a direct mail advertising entrepreneur.[4] He spent at least a portion of his childhood and teen years in Poughkeepsie, New York and later studied at Boston University.[5]
Severin worked in New York City for political consultant David Garth. In 1979, Severin started Severin Aviles Associates to direct strategy and produce media for Republican candidates[6][7][8] including campaigns for the U.S. House. U.S. Senate, Governor, and President (George H.W. Bush[9] and Pat Buchanan (1996 campaign)[10]).
Filling in for Gene Burns starting in October 1994, Severin began work as a talk show host on WOR, and worked there during the afternoon drive time slot until June 1996 when he was replaced by Bob Grant.[11][12] Severin accepted a late-night talk show position on WRKO which lasted from April to July 1999.[13][14]
Starting in late 1999, Severin began hosting an afternoon talk show on WTKK.[15]
In September 2005, CBS Radio announced that Jay Severin would host a show for select Infinity Broadcasting stations called "Jay Severin Has Issues".[16] Severin returned to WTKK on 9 October 2006, after nine months in syndication.[17]
[edit] Controversies and termination from WTKK
In April 2004, when a caller said United States citizens should "befriend Muslims living in the United States," Severin replied, "the vast majority" of those Muslims "... are not loyal to the United States and are ready, when the time comes, to take over this country." Severin added, "You think we should befriend them. I think we should kill them."[18] On 25 April 2004, Severin said his comments were directed at terrorists, not Muslims in general, and stated, "I certainly regret any discomfort that may have been caused by the misunderstanding of my remarks." The Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) unsuccessfully called for Severin's dismissal.[19]
On 30 April 2009, Severin said Mexicans were "the world's lowest of primitives," and said, "It's millions of leeches from a primitive country come here to leech off you and, with it, they are ruining the schools, the hospitals, and a lot of life in America." Severin was suspended[20] until 3 June 2009, at which time he apologized by saying (in part), "My remarks were hurtful, unkind and wrong. For these remarks and for failing to meet the standards you are right to expect of me, I am sincerely sorry."[21][22]
In March 2011, Jay said, "I slept with virtually every young college girl I hired to be an intern or an employee for my firm."[23] Following this statement, Severin was fired from WTKK. Greater Media said, "Severin was let go because he did not maintain an appropriate level of civility and adhere to a standard that respects our listeners and the public at large....it had become clear at several points in the past two years that Jay was either unwilling or unable to maintain our standards on the air. It's for that reason we have made the decision to end our relationship."[24]
[edit] Marriage and children
Jay Severin's first marriage was to Kathleen Cooney, one of his partners in the Severin-Aviles consulting firm.[25]
On May 17, 1997, Jay Severin was married to Renee Melanie Klock in Sag Harbor, N.Y. They were wed in the Old Whalers First Presbyterian Church by Rev. Christine Rannie Grimbol.[4] They currently reside in Manchester-by-the-Sea,[26] in Massachusetts.
[edit] Philosophical and political views
Severin has been described as libertarian leaning and fiscally conservative.[27] Within his capacity as a conservative talk show host and while on air, Severin has described Hillary Rodham Clinton as "the devil"[28] and Barack Obama as a "domestic enemy of the constitution".[27][29]
[edit] Awards
In July 2004, Jay Severin was nominated for a National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Radio Award for the Major Market Personality of the Year.[30]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Renee Klock, James Severin 3d". The New York Times. May 18, 1997. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E2DB1238F93BA25756C0A961958260. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ^ Lehigh, Scot (September 16, 2005). "Severin's phony Pulitzer". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/09/16/severins_phony_pulitzer/. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
- ^ Boston Herald: Jay talks his way into new gig.
- ^ a b NYT 18 May 97
- ^ Boston Globe 30 Apr 09 WTKK-FM suspends Severin for derogatory comments about Mexicans
- ^ NYT 07 Dec 81
- ^ New York Magazine, 12 Nov 84 p12
- ^ Mike Bird, campaign for CO Governor
- ^ New York Magazine 23 Sept 85 p9 "Bush Group Signs Garth Vets"
- ^ Media Matters 10 Jun 05
- ^ WOR Radio Network "About"
- ^ NY Daily News 21 Dec 95 "Politics Has Severin Percolating On Wor"
- ^ Boston Radio 27 Mar 99
- ^ Boston Radio 27 Jul 99
- ^ Boston Radio
- ^ CBS Radio
- ^ Boston Herald Archives 09 Oct 06 p.8
- ^ Boston Globe 05 May 2004 Scott Lehigh article
- ^ prnewswire
- ^ Boston Globe 01 May 09 "Severin suspended for comments about Mexican immigrants"
- ^ Boston Herald 03 Jun 09 "Jay Severin admits Mexican cracks wrong"
- ^ YouTube Video
- ^ U.K. Daily Mail 07 Apr 11
- ^ Boston Globe 06 Apr 11 "Jay Severin fired by WTKK-FM"
- ^ NYT 07 Sep 93
- ^ Boston Globe 12 Nov 2006
- ^ a b Bay Windows 19 Nov 08
- ^ Media Matters transcript 27 Jun 05
- ^ Media matters audio capture 23 Jun 10
- ^ Radiomag Online 21 Sep 04
