Conservative
Christian broadcaster James Dobson beat out shock jock
Howard Stern and others in national online balloting for
induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Dobson's Focus on
the Family radio program is the first religious program
to receive the honor, started in 1992 by the Chicago-based
Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Gay rights group
TruthWinsOut.org opposes Dobson's nomination and has
vowed to stage a protest at the induction, which is set for
November 8.
Dobson joins a
class of eight also headlined by Art Bell, host of a
paranormal-themed AM radio show. Those who did not make the
cut included Stern, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, and Bob
Costas.
Dobson was chosen
in the "national active" category, which required a
national broadcast contribution of at least 10 years. Orson
Welles, Jack Benny, Paul Harvey, and Rush Limbaugh are among
the past honorees.
"Our radio
program has not been a solo effort," Dobson said in a
statement. "It has been a symphony performed by more than
10,000 people over the past 32 years. I am indebted to
them all."
The program airs
on more than 3,000 North American stations and in 27
languages in 160 countries. (AP)