Well, here’s a shocker: Some of the people who phone in to talk radio shows (that caller with the pitch-perfect rant, provocative comment or burning question) may actually be hired actors reading from scripts. I’m not an angry listener, but I play one on radio!
Via Tablet Magazine:
If [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. He would never be identified as an actor, and his scenarios would never be identified as fabricated—which they always were.
“I was surprised that it seemed so open,” the actor told me in an interview. “There was really no pretense of covering it up.”
Curious, the actor did some snooping and learned that Premiere On Call was a service offered by Premiere Radio Networks, the largest syndication company in the United States and a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications, the entertainment and advertising giant. Premiere syndicates some of the more sterling names in radio, including Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity. But a great radio show depends as much on great callers as it does on great hosts: Enter Premiere On Call.
“Premiere On Call is our new custom caller service,” read the service’s website, which disappeared as this story was being reported (for a cached version of the site click here). “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.”
Ensuring the authenticity of your programming… with paid, planted callers.
I have a call in to Premiere On Call, asking which of Premiere’s many radio programs have used the “custom caller service.” I’ll update if I hear back.
I knew about this for some time but my creditability isn’t strong enough to put it out there and it killed me every time I listened to radio knowing the caller could be an actor. I worked with a cousin who ran remotes for a radio station here in Milwaukee WI and we saw it first hand. People should be made to know this doesn’t only happen with call in people, it happens with people on the street as well. Thank you for breaking this
#1 Posted by Matthew, CJR on Fri 4 Mar 2011 at 11:46 PM
The more jaded of us would ask, so this is new?
#2 Posted by crayegg, CJR on Sat 5 Mar 2011 at 01:56 AM
I listened to an interview the other week, because of the person being interviewed. After listening to a couple of segments, I realized the interview was flowing like an infomercial rather than a serious interview. Since then, I've got the same impression from some callers on some shows.
#3 Posted by WhichTruth, CJR on Sat 5 Mar 2011 at 05:37 AM
Clear Channel operates an AM station near Boston featuring right-wing syndicated shows and click-click ONE local host. The station as a whole has miserable ratings, and the locall host gets ZERO calls. I'm surprised that CCU hasn't utilized this "service" to make him appear to have listeners.
#4 Posted by Laurence Glavin, CJR on Sat 5 Mar 2011 at 01:57 PM
In the interest of intellectual honesty, why don't you list all the non-political talk programs Premiere also syndicates? The truth is, this service is used almost exclusively by music morning shows and syndicated shows, when they need a 'caller' to set up a pre-planned bit. Trust me, I've been that caller.
#5 Posted by CCProgrammer, CJR on Sat 5 Mar 2011 at 08:39 PM
This is flat out bullcrap.
#6 Posted by M. Thatcher, CJR on Sat 5 Mar 2011 at 09:43 PM
You liberals will stop at nothing to keep us from being rich and successful!
This reminds of me of a friend from Canada, he once had to wait over a year to get a life saving cancer treatment....and now with Obamacare.... and the death panels and death taxes...............
#7 Posted by Vance Decker, CJR on Sat 5 Mar 2011 at 11:07 PM
With respect to the "sterling" programs mentioned in this story, the actors making the phony calls are the most authentic and factual moments of these "shows".
#8 Posted by Jay Diamond, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 03:46 AM
Liz Cox Barrett and Columbia Journalism Review had better be squelay clean in accuracy and precision in this little smear piece. If not, this career and site is over.
======================
Are we so sure this is not more the case for inane sports talk? NPR pseudo-intellectual lib-radio propaganda? "Doctor" Dean Adell?
=====================
I can set up a website and advertise for anything I want to set up a ghost factory of goblins against my enemies, and then arrange for it to "disappeared as this story was being reported (for a cached version of the site click here)."
===================
This invent-a-scam "story" is insulting to anyone's intelligence, and the roboposters who lap it up here are rabid.
#9 Posted by workingstiff, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 11:41 AM
I used to do phone sales. Where do I apply.
#10 Posted by Tom, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 11:47 AM
in the interest of being accurate and precise ... I obviously should have typed "squeaky"... I was distracted by all the NOISE in this site, from the article to the naieve posters.
#11 Posted by workingstiff, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 11:57 AM
THere are paid posters too, you know. People get paid to make posts to stories like this one. Isn't that true "working stiff?"
#12 Posted by Publius, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 12:09 PM
Coming from somebody who works in radio, and listens to a lot of radio, this is not surprise and should not be blown out of proportion.
If you listen to Hannity, you can tell that he is not live after 4 or 430 pm. So he must be pre-taping all those call in segments, which means that those "callers" are prepared by the Hannity staff.
But moreover, I don't even think this is a big deal. Hannity can go on the air, report a total lie like the First Lady is taking a 200 billion dollar vacation, and there is no reprecussion. And still, he is on 350 stations nationwide.
Lets face it folks, this is the industry now. Get used to it.
#13 Posted by radioHUD, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 01:11 PM
Mentioning political figures in relation to a distasteful practice and not offering anything to connect them to it so on one can actually say that you lied, but leave people with the impression that they are being accused of the practice. That’s a propaganda tactic, not journolism. Also I'm not usprised to find the George Soros funded Open Society Institute is a funder.
#14 Posted by Dragon_Slayer, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 09:14 PM
Easy to accuse. How bout the learned Columbia Journalism Review putting up some proof? Or is that out of vogue these days?
#15 Posted by Stephen M. Rapp, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 09:25 PM
Umm, their own website said this was a NEW service they are offering.
#16 Posted by patty, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 10:41 PM
From all the party-line replies, it appears their companion web site commenter service is certainly going strong.
#17 Posted by JamesB, CJR on Sun 6 Mar 2011 at 11:54 PM
I must agree with JamesB; the shlls are up and about defending the indefensible.
It is also amazing how fast corporates come up with 'commenters' when their services are being questioned as well. There is an entire industry around countering the reality of vox pop and talk radio and instead turning it into his masters voice, like all the rest of MSM.
#18 Posted by truthherenow, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 03:51 AM
Leibovitz and Barrett are connected to the Columbia Journalism Review-
Columbia Journalism Review major funders The Open Society Institute.
WOW no wonder they attack right radio but names like Jesse Jackson and Randi Rhodes were not mentioned were they. That part they leave out, Why?
#19 Posted by joe, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 09:21 AM
The "may" qualifiers tell any person with half a brain that guys like Keith Olbermann are not faking callers. Until you have solid evidence, it's just a bunch of people repeating Obama's secretly born in Kenya-type conspiracy kook theories. Yes, it's wonderful to believe the worst of people you hate, but the JOURNALISM review of all places shouldn't be reporting this kind of rumor.
#20 Posted by Millard, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 12:13 PM
Astroturf being laid here I see.
#21 Posted by DannyK, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 12:36 PM
From another one of their cached pages:
"Whenever you need voices to get your phones going with pranks, bit-starters, opinions, confessions, stories... "
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:qqiOmr5LdpcJ:www.premiereradio.com/category/format/prep_and_research/7.html+premier+on+call+site:premiereradio.com&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com
#22 Posted by DannyK, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 12:41 PM
This is painful to see. Speaking as the host and producer of a daily local talk show that does NOT screen or pre-arrange calls but invites the whole range of live, genuine, honest opinion on the topics we discuss, this can do nothing but damage the credibility of the whole radio medium, especially news and talk.
I have seen this website, and it clearly solicits actor/callers to take part in a variety of shows of all formats, including, presumably, the issue talk programs which are Premiere's, and Clear Channel's, bread and butter.
Now that people know that what they believed was genuine dialogue may actually have been rigged for either entertainment or for political effect, perhaps by some of the biggest players in the business, how can anyone, even those of us who play it straight, expect to be regarded as anything but phonies and shills?
#23 Posted by Bob1370, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 02:49 PM
I'm amazed at how many nameless people in this forum "work in radio" and can confirm that this is true?
Really?
Not to mention, why did CJR jump on this story when the only confirmation that there is a basis for it is an anonymous actor?
#24 Posted by John Abbott, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 03:58 PM
I am a paid actor and I often make the circuit on the Conservative radio talk shows! I make an extra $100 per call 2 or 3 times a week. It helps me pay for my text books, and lunches at GSU Gainsville.
I've been doing this for 2 years;)
#25 Posted by Robert, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 05:15 PM
@ truthherenow: I can see nothing defending the practice of using fake callers. Rather I saw several comments about this subject being used as a smear political smear tactic.
#26 Posted by Dragon_Slayer, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 08:56 PM
Barret and Leibovitz you have 0 credibility ...no names... no sources .. zero
#27 Posted by summersun, CJR on Mon 7 Mar 2011 at 09:45 PM
Looks like the paid plants have shown up to discredit this article....
#28 Posted by EmperorNorton, CJR on Tue 8 Mar 2011 at 12:43 AM
Does somebody have to be paid to discredit this article?
Real facts can be ignored, but not discredited!, I'd think that would be in journalism 101. Else anyone could write anything, about anyone, and the simple writing would be unintelligible from truth, or fiction.
Perhaps if a journalist built up his reputation over years as extremely well documented, and truthful would lend a story credit, but once lost would never be regained.
Todays journalists have proven themselves to be very lazy in that they don't provide any material that can withstand a serious scrutiny.
#29 Posted by Robert, CJR on Tue 8 Mar 2011 at 01:26 AM
I am a paid actor and I often make the circuit on the Conservative radio talk shows! I make an extra $100 per call 2 or 3 times a week. It helps me pay for my text books, and lunches at GSU Gainsville.
I've been doing this for 2 years;)
Posted by Robert on Mon 7 Mar 2011
--------
You're a liar, and not a very good one, either.
This is a NEW service, and it is not utilized by the top conservative talk shows AT ALL. It's appalling that the CJR would put up a trash column like this with no facts and nothing but innuendo.
#30 Posted by akw, CJR on Tue 8 Mar 2011 at 03:45 AM
This unadulterated BS is going to backfire on its perpetrators at CJR and George Soros. What a crock!
Columbia "Journalism"? You really are so full of it.
#31 Posted by jgreene, CJR on Tue 8 Mar 2011 at 12:35 PM
The service mentioned in the article may be new, but the major shows have been paying callers for years. It's a well known practice. However, if you're certain Rush and Hannity and the rest of the hardworking boys and girls in talk radio don't, it shouldn't be hard to prove you're right. Ask them to open their shows' budgets to public scrutiny as befits such public figures. That'll guarantee any accusations of wrongdoing or misuse of funds can be nipped in the bud immediately.
#32 Posted by Robert, CJR on Tue 8 Mar 2011 at 03:34 PM
It would be really cool if one of the talk show hosts could be proven to use this service. However this artical only infers it . Kind of guilt by association. You have to rememeber with a good call screener only those loyal to the cause get on the air and the screener can coach them on talking points the host wants to push. Why pay for actors when there are so many followers that will spout the party line for free? I would suspect that only talk show hosts who get few calls would be desparite enough to use this service.
#33 Posted by Art Zinn, CJR on Tue 8 Mar 2011 at 06:05 PM
Remember- it's an ARTICLE and the reader or listener "infers" something. The writer or the speaker "implies" something.
#34 Posted by Roadzkill, CJR on Wed 9 Mar 2011 at 12:58 AM
I used to be a regular listener to Hannity when I was on the road. After a while, I started noting patterns to the callers and his responses and realized how scripted the show actually is. This piece affirms my opinion that talk radio and cable "news" is nothing but the verbal equivalent to professional wrestling. It exists not to inform but to entertain. The business thrives by keeping us artificially divided and big dollars are made in the process... and we lap it up.
#35 Posted by Bob, CJR on Wed 9 Mar 2011 at 04:19 PM
Right until proved wrong isn't a position funded in reason and fails as a journalistic standard.
P.S. Ed Schultz has admitted to doing this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKAE9IOg-hg
#36 Posted by Dragon_Slayer, CJR on Wed 9 Mar 2011 at 11:56 PM
I have investigated this. Premiere On Call does not provide callers to Beck, Hannity and Limbaugh.
It's time that Barrett updated this story to note this, and then she might want to take on the double standards being exercised over at Beck's "news" site, The Blaze (of bulls$%t). You see, Beck does not contact the people he points his angry finger at either. I have documented this on The Glenn Beck Review under my series on Crime Inc.
#37 Posted by The Glenn Beck Review, CJR on Thu 10 Mar 2011 at 08:30 AM
Good article -- I give tastier details here:
Limbaugh / Hannity Parent Company Admits Hiring Actors to Call Radio Shows: Sean Hannity program busted using 'fake' callers
http://GordonWatts.com/HealthCareQuestionTooHard.html
or
http://GordonWayneWatts.com/HealthCareQuestionTooHard.html
-G.W. Watts (R-FL - uber-conservative)
#38 Posted by Gordon wayne Watts, CJR on Mon 14 Mar 2011 at 08:07 AM
I am an idiot
#39 Posted by yul nevanomi, CJR on Sun 17 Jul 2011 at 11:58 PM
No! I'm the idiot!
#40 Posted by blue.*.boy, CJR on Wed 14 Sep 2011 at 08:35 PM
The website is still up for me. Here is the 'confidentiality agreement' that the actors who make the calls to the radio stations agree to:
"Confidentially agreement:
By joining this roster/agreeing to perform work for Premiere On Call you are also agreeing to keep the type of work that you perform confidential. This applies to information acquired while working for Premiere or any of its affiliates.
Maintaining the belief that these are real people is part of the job – Disclosure to any third party, sharing project information or publicizing what you do (including via social media) may be considered grounds for dismissal or further action. "
It's on their audition link on the Premiere On Call website.
#41 Posted by Don't Need Proof, CJR on Thu 20 Oct 2011 at 05:42 PM
Rush is the leader of the GOP not because of the telephone calls, but his audience of 20 million of the faithful. Hannity et al are well paid for their rants and the election of B. Hussein Obama energized the GOP conservatives who listen to Rush and gave rise to the Tea Party.
#42 Posted by Ronald W. Gumbs, CJR on Thu 20 Oct 2011 at 06:41 PM