Honor for Dobson
Sparks Protest

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)