• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

2 FRIENDS LET GO FROM WTAG

W

WCRiNsider

Guest
Program Director George Brown (who has been with the station for about 20 years) and Newscaster Tim Cooney have been let go in yesterday's rounds of Clear Channel cuts. When I worked with George he was always professional and I hope he lands on his feet. Tim was a newer addition to the staff, but with some more experience (already in talks to bring him over to WCRN) he will do fine.
 
It really sucks the way this business, and for that matter all others, are going. George Brown is a dedicated professional and a great guy. Frankly, it's not a stretch to call him one of the giants of local media. Tim Cooney was a great prospect. I hope they both land on their feet.
 
RadioAutomation said:
LOL! WCRN won't hire your friends! LOL! :D
Click to expand...

RadioAutomation, since your arrival on these boards with your 4 posts....you've had a lot to say, a lot of opinion, and very little to back it up. If you don't start offering more than potshots and anonymous drivel...then you'll be amrginalized by everyone as just another board troll.
 
As pointed out in an earlier thread (http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,125215.0.html ), WTAG won a slew of awards from Worcester Magazine for their news coverage. This was especially evident during the infamous 2008 December ice storm when WTAG featured wall-to-wall coverage from early in the morning to well into the evening. Sadly, I don’t think this kind of coverage will ever happen again at WTAG.

They have always prided them selves as Worcester’s News leader with the largest radio newsroom but now they are down to a newsroom of 1, Sherman Whitman. Sherman is now manning the fort until producer Mike Messina spells him during PM drive newscasts. Even a well know “workaholic” like Sherman will get burnt out quickly with those hours. And that’s not even counting the fact that WTAG was providing the local news to sister station WHYN in Springfield. I’m not sure what their doing now because I haven’t listened since the latest Clear Channel cutbacks.

P.D. George Brown used to handle the mid-day newscasts and if a major story broke, you could usually count on George going with live local newscasts even if it was on the weekend.

In one fell swoop, the powers that be destroyed what was left of a once great radio station that provided news & information to Worcester County for decades.

In a city that does not have a major TV station, a rapidly declining newspaper, and a radio competitor on life support…listeners depended on WTAG. Just yesterday, they had the story about the fire at Grafton High that sent scores of children to the hospital on the air soon after the 9:15 incident without a mention on the www.telegram.com web site.

I constantly here from everyone that the Internet is replacing traditional news sources but I disagree and this story about the fire is a prime example. In a mid-size city like Worcester, a radio station is still the life blood of the community. Corporate ownership destroyed this connection that radio stations had with their community of license long ago and I’m afraid that it is gone forever. :(
 
Don Juan said:
RadioAutomation said:
LOL! WCRN won't hire your friends! LOL! :D
Click to expand...

RadioAutomation, since your arrival on these boards with your 4 posts....you've had a lot to say, a lot of opinion, and very little to back it up. If you don't start offering more than potshots and anonymous drivel...then you'll be amrginalized by everyone as just another board troll.
Click to expand...

I don't care - I do know that the WCRiNSIDER doesn't work at the station. LOL!!!!!!!!!!
 
RadioAutomation said:
Don Juan said:
RadioAutomation said:
LOL! WCRN won't hire your friends! LOL! :D
Click to expand...

RadioAutomation, since your arrival on these boards with your 4 posts....you've had a lot to say, a lot of opinion, and very little to back it up. If you don't start offering more than potshots and anonymous drivel...then you'll be amrginalized by everyone as just another board troll.
Click to expand...

I don't care - I do know that the WCRiNSIDER doesn't work at the station. LOL!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Who gave the twelve year old a password?
 
George is a super nice guy and I really hope he lands on his feet. Never worked with or talked to Tim, but whenever anyone gets cut for a job, unless they do some ******y stuff, it's always a shame.
 
I have to throw my two cents worth in about George Brown. I started at 'TAG shortly after him, and he is talented, smart and all class. His dismissal shows how radio has thrown away its biggest asset---PEOPLE---and how desperate Clear Channel is to pinch a penny. A great example of George's worth to 'TAG is the December 11 & 12 ice storm. There is nothing left in terms of a staff at 'TAG, and you can bet George was pulling all the coverage together, with very little help, both on and off-the-air. A terrible mistake to cut him loose. I have no doubt someone, either in media, or another industry, will recognize he's a winner and hire him at a better $ rate $.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom