Shock jock
A
shock jock is a term used to describe a type of radio broadcaster (
disk jockey) who uses crude, lowest-common-denominator humor to attract radio listeners. Shock jocks became popular in American radio during the
1980s. Their popularity apparently reached its peak in the mid-
1990s when
Howard Stern, the most popular of the shock jocks, was at his most popular level. Shock jocks continue to be a staple of many mainstream commercial radio stations, with their crude antics attracting younger audiences (especially teenage males).