It has been very refreshing today to hear most everyone on the air discussing the firing, even if they really left more unsaid than was actually said.
During my 30 years in the business, it was unheard of to discuss someone who was fired or who quit on the air. Their name usually was never mentioned on the air again, like they never even existed. In fact, often any spots or promos using their voices were almost always pulled and re-recorded by someone else. I can even remember getting memos or having meetings where the staff was told not to mention the departed.
Larson made a lot of good points this morning even though he didn't tell the whole story. From what I heard today it appears that management had grown tired of Jeff getting more and more ugly on the air with callers and not letting people who didn't agree with him state their points. I had noticed in recent months that he tolerated dissenting opinions less and less and getting to the point of telling anyone who disagreed with his point of view how stupid they were in so many words then cutting them off.
That is no way to conduct a talk show, at least not in this market. Larson has a much better way of doing things when he says "agreement is not required".
I am not disappointed to see Jeff go, but I wish him well wherever he lands.
I have to join those who say that Tara is not ready for prime time, and I am not sure she ever will be. While she makes great points, and she is well read and informed on her topics, she tends to drone on and on repeating the same points over and over again ad nauseum. On top of that, even though she is very informed on her topic, she is just not entertaining to listen to. She may improve in afternoon drive because as Rick and Bill noted, there are a lot more callers in afternoon drive so thankfully there is much less room for a monologue.
I will give her a chance, but I suspect she will not last long.
I really don't think this is cost cutting, I believe that WBT and Greater Media are not in that business. I believe they will cue un necessary costs as any good business man would, but I do not believe that is the main focus of thier business. After all as Larson pointed o ut this morning, WBT is the top billing station in both carolinas. They didn't get there by just cutting costs, it was a combination of keeping costs under control, serving the public, offering services that other stations do not offer, and keeping the quality high.
