DJ’s rap over ‘Jump’ joke

Controversial DJ Steve Penk breached the broadcasting code when he played Van Halen’s “Jump” as a woman threatened to leap from a motorway bridge.

Regulator Ofcom ruled that Penk breached Rule 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code — which relates to offence-causing material — after it received 57 complaints.

The TV and radio personality, who owns local station 96.2 The Revolution, played the track following a request from a frustrated driver during his breakfast show in January.

Police spent nine hours trying to coax the woman off the Nut Bank bridge near junction 19 at Middleton but she still jumped — shattering both heels in the process.

The incident closed all three lanes of the M60 anti-clockwise and two lanes of the clockwise carriageway between junction 19 and 21 at Chadderton with hundreds of drivers affected.

The Revolution said the segment was “an excellent example of entertaining, engaging and highly interactive local radio presented by an edgy but warm presenter totally in tune with his audience.”

The station said it was inundated with messages from frustrated listeners, two of which asked Penk to play the track.

Prankster Penk — famed for his on-air wind-ups — is said to have thought very carefully about the requests and took the view that playing the song — and making a point of it — would have been insensitive, cheap and likely to cause offence.

Despite this, the track was still played at 8.28am while the woman was on the bridge.

The station added: “We acknowledge the issue of suicide is a sensitive area and, with the benefit of hindsight, Steve Penk accepts that it may have been inappropriate to attempt to derive humour from a serious incident which could potentially have ended in tragedy.”

Ofcom said the decision was based on seeking an appropriate balance between The Revolution’s right to freedom of expression and the regulators duty to protect members of the public from offensive material in accordance to the code.

The regulator recognised the song had potential to be tasteless and insensitive and that listeners had been aware of Steve Penk’s continuing comedic references to the incident, including his reading out of the song request.

They also thought Steve’s wording to introduce the song: “Just get on with it,” may have been construed by listeners as a direct link to the incident.

Ofcom considered the manner in which the potential suicide attempt was discussed on air breached generally accepted standards.

Mental health charity Mind said Penk’s decision to play the song was “in very poor taste” while the Samaritans said it showed a “lack of compassion”.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/35467/dj-played-jump-as-woman-threatened-suicide-leap