Readers' blog: Newstalk is hardly diverse or innovative

Recent events on radio station Newstalk resulted in the dinosaur (aka George Hook) being fired for his insensitive remarks.

Subsequently, he has been given another slot on the radio station at weekends (to start in January). The ‘firing’ has turned into a ‘sabbatical’ — for three months; nice one.

We live in a democracy. Speech is free (thank goodness). Most businesses will target certain customers, and Newstalk is no different. It targets male listeners by employing mainly male presenters with, for the most part, a machismo style of presentation that typifies much of the entertainment industry. If they miss their mark, advertisers and sponsors will withdraw and the station will go out of business.