For the last few years, WBFO has given airtime to a variety of citizen-prepared commentary, but this extended opportunity came to a screeching halt when the radio station abruptly cancelled all commentary after the airing of controversial opinions about the Israel/Hezbollah conflict.
WBFO hastily stopped running these commentaries, leaving passionate listeners and heated incoming commentators out in the cold. It would have been understandable - if haphazard - if WBFO had officially cancelled all commentaries with advance notice. Although it would be a setback in public radio broadcasting, a warning shot would have eased the cancellation and looked far more respectful to the commentators and all involved in the fiery issue.
However, the station cancelled this debate with many commentators still in line waiting for their turn. Instead of following through with the rest of the discussion or apologizing to all involved, WBFO claimed they have 'no more journalistic, moral or regulatory obligations.'
There are a multitude of angles and sides to any controversial issue, and WBFO is absurdly mistaken if they believe that the opinions of two commentators can speak for all sides of any issue. A crisis as complicated as the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict cannot be described by only a black-and-white, for-or-against set of standpoints. Presenting one 'pro-Israel' and one 'anti-Israel' viewpoint is not balanced or well-informed coverage, and WBFO cannot truly believe they have met this standard.
WBFO set a high bar in on-air commentary, but past achievements don't excuse the editorial cut-and-run. Whether in print or radio there is an element of journalistic responsibility, and for WBFO to suddenly cancel such a vital community outlet does not adhere to that standard.
