The above question mark is ironic: like FOX Noise, I’m really outright claiming what I wrote. However, unlike FOX Noise, what I’m claiming has evidence:
But according to an online account, Premiere [the radio company that employs Limbaugh and Hannity] is hiring actors to fake on-air calls to radio shows who do not divulge the scam. Before being abruptly removed, their website read:
“Premiere On Call is our new custom caller service… We supply voice talent to take/make your on-air calls, improvise your scenes or deliver your scripts. Using our simple online booking tool, specify the kind of voice you need, and we’ll get your the right person fast. Unless you request it, you won’t hear that same voice again for at least two months, ensuring the authenticity of your programming for avid listeners”.
As reported, once the actor “passed the audition, he would be invited periodically to call in to various talk shows and recite various scenarios that made for interesting radio.” In addition, the source was specifically told there would be no on-air disclosure of the fabricated nature of the call. He subsequently landed the job, at $40 per hour and a minimum one hour of work per day.
This suggests an array of radio clients is broadcasting bogus calls by actors, categorized by their accents or vocal qualities. Next time you hear a “gruff”, “clean”, “crisp”, “deep”, or “textured” voice, you might just be hearing a Premiere On Call actor secretively playing a real person.
This report stems from an accidental posting that appeared on Premiere’s website. I can’t say I’m surprised at the revelation. Both hosts have a history of being very selective about what information they present; the fact that they would hire actors to demonstrate specific points makes sense. They just aren’t honest guys and this is perfectly within their characters.
Filed under: News | Tagged: Fraud, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity |
For the Sake of Science 
I rarely hear anyone I don’t have to make at least a small effort to understand, especially the more quackish ones on either end of the political spectrum.
That said, I don’t really care whether they are hiring callers to call in. I don’t see it as any different than picking stories to cover and rather than listen to callers that cover the same points over and over or hit on crappy points, having particular points covered might not be such a bad thing.
I’ve gotten through to a lot of talk programs before and I’ve never experienced behavior that was “intimidating” or anything of the sort. They are call screeners, and they screen calls for a reason, they ask me for various information from time to time, I don’t mind because I understand that if I were to make a threat they would want to be able to report that to the police. (that’s from a different part of the story)
Don’t you screen articles and viewpoints for your publication? You say you won’t publish anything too heavily conservative and that is perfectly understandable.
Talk radio is dominated by conservatives, but there is no reason for that to be so other than they can sell advertising. Air America, presenting mostly liberal hosts, went under because no one wanted to listen to them. Couldn’t stay solvent. Is that because there are no liberals? Because of a conservative media conspiracy? No. It’ because their programming didn’t draw enough listeners.
If certain conservative shows utilized this service or something similar, I’m sure the liberal ones would too. It’s just good marketing sense, they do exist to make money you know.
I am skeptical about the validity of this. It’s a pretty minor accudation to begin with, still a dishonest tactic if its true, but whats important here is that you do NOT have evidence. You have heresay. It may turn out to be true, but there is no smoking gun here.
I’m thoroughly convinced you have no working definition of “evidence”.
The fraud is everything Limbaugh says, because he is a drugged liar with no ethics,
An anonymous source with some typed paragraphs CAN be faked easily. So already my standard of evidence is higher than yours.
Good work bob.
Follow the links, Michael. The Internet has this amazing ability to not erase things.
Again I don’t see what real difference it would make, either way.
Fundamental dishonesty makes a difference to me.
Opinion programs using every means to illustrate whatever point they are making?
I don’t think that is dishonesty.
Either way, there is zero proof that they were ever used on either of these shows. Only that such a service exists.