by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright November 30, 1999
All Rights Reserved.

o they [Fox Broadcasting] have creative control over my mind?," asked self-fashioned, internet gossip columnist Matt Drudge, after learning that Fox censored a segment on his weekly talk show. Believing that Drudge wanted to showcase a graphic photo of a fetus responding to in-the-womb spinal bifida surgery—to dramatize his opposition to partial-birth [late-term] abortions—the network quickly clipped his wings. When Drudge failed to show up to his 4 p.m. (Pacific time) show, the network believed they were well within their contractual rights to shout foul. "I feel they’re violating my 1st amendment right to speak . . . Mr. Murdoch doesn’t need my money . . . ," remarked the indignant talk show host, wearing his emotions too visibly on his sleeve. Painful as this lesson seems, it reflects a clear difference between writing a completely autonomous internet gossip column and working for a corporate employer. A rude awakening to be sure, especially for someone as independent as Matt Drudge.

       After breaking the Monica Lewinsky story on his web site in January 1998, Matt Drudge has enjoyed an almost heroic rise in popularity and media appeal. Bucking the system, he’s been seen shooting from the hip, sometimes playing hardball with the spurious publicity and news leak game. Mainstream journalists reviled his cowboy style, often accusing the upstart Drudge of playing fast and loose. Whether his reports are less documented and corroborated than other journalists is anyone’s guess. With success usually comes sour grapes. But Drudge’s recent problems stem from his extraordinary success without learning some valuable lessons in political correctness. Refreshing as directness seems, violating the corporate rules carries some heavy penalties.

       Though most view Fox as lowering the boom too quickly, Drudge miscalculated the necessity of political correctness. Far from imposing heavy-handed censorship, Fox decided to exercise its proprietary rights of intellectual and creative control. "Do they have creative control of my mind?," asked Drudge, wondering just how far he had gone out on a limb. Common sense tells you 'free speech' doesn’t extend to zealous employees in corporate settings. Nor does it extend to the management personnel subject to the same labor laws governing the workplace. No matter how righteous, entitled and grandiose, even powerful employers run the risk of law suits by shooting off their mouths.

       Publicly disparaging or humiliating employees—or anyone for that matter—has its price. Just recall a recent case of a media conglomerate [with funny looking 'ears' in its logo] whose nasty 'breach of contract' suit cost shareholders nearly 500 million dollars, contributing to a nose-dive in share prices. Political correctness applies to management and labor alike. While exploiting power differentials is more commonly seen in management, overstepping important boundaries is also witnessed among subordinates. Words do matter. Venting your spleen and making regrettable public statements costs both employers and employees dearly. Doesn’t it make more sense to show restraint, remain diplomatic and measure one’s public responses carefully? When the doors are tightly sealed, expletives can bounce off the walls.

       When Matt Drudge launched his protest, voiced his discontent, walked off the job and denounced his employer was he out of line? Did he go too far? Or, given the circumstances, was he well within his rights? Judging by the outcome, it appears that Drudge may have pushed the situation to the breaking point. Though Drudge still had nearly two years left on his contract, both sides decided to 'amicably' terminate the agreement and part as 'friends.' While it’s OK for certain professional athletes to miss practice, it’s apparently not OK for talk show hosts to do the same. Actually, boycotting the show wasn’t the deal breaker. It was the unforgivable public ventilation that made the situation unsalvageable. Fashionable as it seems to be politically incorrect, there’s a quantum leap between entertaining talk shows and real world.

       Even maverick political candidates are learning that there are limits to politically incorrect statements. When Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura shared his 'secret' views on organized religion, even members within his own party went through the roof. Defending his statements only made matters worse. After presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan announced on Face The Nation his quirky position on World War II and that "he was reading a lot of Hitler lately . . ." his statements triggered a tsunami of fury and unwanted controversy. Miscalculating the exigency of political correctness nearly cost him his longshot campaign. Beyond that, shooting off your mouth and offending any group isn’t the best formula for winning friends and influencing people. Like Ventura and Buchanan, Matt Drudge is learning his lessons in political correctness the hard way.

       Matt Drudge didn’t have his 1st amendment rights trampled on by Fox Broadcasting. For a fleeting moment, he forgot who was signing his paycheck. While he’ll no doubt survive his temper tantrum and gaffes, he’s paid a heavy price for believing that political correctness doesn’t apply to him. Even Bill Gates' recent problems have as much to do with perceptions of conceit and arrogance as clear-cut violations of antitrust laws. If you’re down-to-earth, considerate and, yes, likable, all else is forgiven—including momentary lapses when you say and do things you don’t mean. Most people would like to shoot from the hip, but few can afford the unwanted fallout. For those climbing the slippery path of success—or hanging on to the plateau—paying closer attention to political correctness pays rich rewards. Ignoring it can be very costly.

About the Author

John M. Curtis is editor of OnlineColumnist.com. He’s also the director of a West Los Angeles think tank specializing in human behavior, health care and political research and media consultation. He’s a seminar trainer, columnist and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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