Big props to Big Jay Fink
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/n...ring-the-storm.html?google_editors_picks=true
Nick Seneca
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/n...ring-the-storm.html?google_editors_picks=true
Nick Seneca
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Live and local - nuthin' like it
- Thread starter Nick Gerard
- Start date
Sad thing is, if the FCC drops in there in mid-October and discovers that the "Issues Programs List" for third quarter hasn't been placed in the public file, the station would still be fined $10,000.
At least he was getting his vacation pay...
Thoroughly heartwarming story. Anybody who's been in the eye of the storm (floods, hurricanes, blizzards) knows that radio people especially live to have a sense of purpose and are dedicated to informing, entertaining and even consoling their listeners. For as good a job that Big Jay did, there are many in larger markets who have provided equally valuable service and dedication but have gone unappreciated by upper management and their corporations. Jay's reward is knowing he provided a service to his listeners that they couldn't find anywhere else and appreciate his dedication.
JimPastrick said:
That's the only reason to do it. If you're doing local radio, or any job, to receive appreciation from upper management and their corporations, you'll just end up unhappy. Do it for yourself, your listeners, and your immediate supervisor. Let him deal with upper management.
TheBigA said:
Yeah, heaven forbid that you should go over the head of your immediate supervisor, or question upper management.
I love stories like this. Most of the on-air folks I worked with got into the business to be associated with the music industry. For me, it was a fascination with the communication process when the mic was on. I admired air talent who could make the technology between us disappear.
And I look back most fondly on the times I was stuck at the station during a storm, doing just what Big Jay did.
Now, of course, it's just as likely a storm would hit when a station was unstaffed with the lights out...
And I look back most fondly on the times I was stuck at the station during a storm, doing just what Big Jay did.
Now, of course, it's just as likely a storm would hit when a station was unstaffed with the lights out...
Like many posters here, one of my favorite childhood memories is that of snowy mornings, clicking on WBEN to hear "your AM MC" announce that my school was closed. It wasn't just getting out of school that was fun - it was listening to all the on-air stuff about the terrible weather. It was mesmerizing.
16 or 17 years later, working at full-service WGAN in Portland, ME (kind of a mini-WBEN), on snowy mornings I'd get the 5AM phone call to come in and fill in for the regular morning guy, who couldn't be bothered to come in during stormy weather.
My apartment was literally across the street and I leapt at the chance to be on-air in these conditions. From 5:30 'til 9 it was school closings, throwing it to the road reports guy, throwing it to the AM drive news anchor, q and a with our contract meteorologist....it was heaven for a radio geek. And it was inspired by my 60's-era boyhood enthrallment during winter mornings with Clint.
On those mornings, I knew that every parent in town was listening to our station. (No one else had the coverage.) At those moments, I had a real on-air "sense of purpose." I knew that what I was doing was important. I never had quite the same feeling again, even at bigger stations.
I love the quote from Big Jay Fink at the end of the article: “This is just what we do,” he said. “We are not a big operation, but we are here, and right now that is what matters.”
Nick Seneca
16 or 17 years later, working at full-service WGAN in Portland, ME (kind of a mini-WBEN), on snowy mornings I'd get the 5AM phone call to come in and fill in for the regular morning guy, who couldn't be bothered to come in during stormy weather.
My apartment was literally across the street and I leapt at the chance to be on-air in these conditions. From 5:30 'til 9 it was school closings, throwing it to the road reports guy, throwing it to the AM drive news anchor, q and a with our contract meteorologist....it was heaven for a radio geek. And it was inspired by my 60's-era boyhood enthrallment during winter mornings with Clint.
On those mornings, I knew that every parent in town was listening to our station. (No one else had the coverage.) At those moments, I had a real on-air "sense of purpose." I knew that what I was doing was important. I never had quite the same feeling again, even at bigger stations.
I love the quote from Big Jay Fink at the end of the article: “This is just what we do,” he said. “We are not a big operation, but we are here, and right now that is what matters.”
Nick Seneca
This thread reminds me of a major Rochester snowstorm back in the mid-60s while at WBBF, at that time a Top 40 station with audience shares somewhere in the 40s. The storm started on Sunday afternoon and since I lived just a few blocks from Midtown Tower, I was called into the station. Little did I know that it would be 3 or 4 days later that I would return home.
There were just six of us manning the station on a 24 hour basis - 2 techs/board ops, 2 newsmen and 2 jocks for the entire time. If I recall correctly, we worked four hours "on" and four hours "off" for the duration of the snow emergency giving our listeners the information that the needed to make it through a difficult several days. Luckily, there was that 3 story hotel at the top of Midtown that provided us a place to get some rest and a daily shower.
Not only was there the personal sense of satisfaction knowing that we had provided a much needed service, but when it was all over, I received a personal handwritten note from VP/GM Bob Kieve thanking me for my service.
Enclosed was a check that Bob suggested I use to take my wife out to dinner on him. The check was small by today's standards, but back then as a 21 year old kid not making big bucks, a check equal to about a third of my weekly paycheck felt pretty good.
There were just six of us manning the station on a 24 hour basis - 2 techs/board ops, 2 newsmen and 2 jocks for the entire time. If I recall correctly, we worked four hours "on" and four hours "off" for the duration of the snow emergency giving our listeners the information that the needed to make it through a difficult several days. Luckily, there was that 3 story hotel at the top of Midtown that provided us a place to get some rest and a daily shower.
Not only was there the personal sense of satisfaction knowing that we had provided a much needed service, but when it was all over, I received a personal handwritten note from VP/GM Bob Kieve thanking me for my service.
Enclosed was a check that Bob suggested I use to take my wife out to dinner on him. The check was small by today's standards, but back then as a 21 year old kid not making big bucks, a check equal to about a third of my weekly paycheck felt pretty good.
B
Bob1370
Guest
Amen to everything that's been said.
I can remember the days at WBEN when the station manager and news director always reminded everyone, both new hires and veterans, that we were "on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in case of just about anything worth a break-in over regular programming." It was also suggested strongly that we live within a few minutes' drive of the studios (which just about everyone did--lots of comfortable, affordable housing in North Buffalo, Kenmore, Tonawanda and Amherst). I can remember lots of days when the overnight op called at 3:00 AM, woke me up and said. "Gonna be a rough one today, we got 8 inches of snow overnight"--and lots of those mornings the front bumper of my Oldsmobile served as the first plow down Delaware, Kenmore and Elmwood Avenues. Jeff Kaye came in from Williamsville and Lou Douglas from a few blocks away from me in Kenmore, doing similar "plowing duties" with their respective big Buicks, and we pulled together and got the morning going, sometimes blowing out the last hour of Larry King to kick things off early if there was information that had to go out right away. We'd do that any time the situation warranted--broadcasters in cities like Buffalo where weather emergencies were frequent (though never treated as routine) meant you got a lot of practice at gearing up for special coverage on the fly.
I'm sure if you ask John Zack or Susan Rose about it they'll tell you they've had plenty of mornings like that too.
I can remember the days at WBEN when the station manager and news director always reminded everyone, both new hires and veterans, that we were "on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in case of just about anything worth a break-in over regular programming." It was also suggested strongly that we live within a few minutes' drive of the studios (which just about everyone did--lots of comfortable, affordable housing in North Buffalo, Kenmore, Tonawanda and Amherst). I can remember lots of days when the overnight op called at 3:00 AM, woke me up and said. "Gonna be a rough one today, we got 8 inches of snow overnight"--and lots of those mornings the front bumper of my Oldsmobile served as the first plow down Delaware, Kenmore and Elmwood Avenues. Jeff Kaye came in from Williamsville and Lou Douglas from a few blocks away from me in Kenmore, doing similar "plowing duties" with their respective big Buicks, and we pulled together and got the morning going, sometimes blowing out the last hour of Larry King to kick things off early if there was information that had to go out right away. We'd do that any time the situation warranted--broadcasters in cities like Buffalo where weather emergencies were frequent (though never treated as routine) meant you got a lot of practice at gearing up for special coverage on the fly.
I'm sure if you ask John Zack or Susan Rose about it they'll tell you they've had plenty of mornings like that too.
This brings back memories of the Ice Storm of 1991, driving across broken tree limbs at 4:00 am in the morning, with one tree branch almost crashing through my convertible top of my Jeep which I am sure would have killed me.
Also there was the infamous Ginna nuclear power plant incident in 1981; the northeast power blackout in early 2000's, the Thurston Road bank robbery, and the fatal fire at the Holiday Inn in Greece.
The beauty of radio was, and still is, the ability to inform and connect with an audience, especially during emergencies like Hurricane Irene.
It's a shame that most station owners and managers don't understand that automation and voice-tracking can not replace in-house on-air talented and qualified personnel.
Also there was the infamous Ginna nuclear power plant incident in 1981; the northeast power blackout in early 2000's, the Thurston Road bank robbery, and the fatal fire at the Holiday Inn in Greece.
The beauty of radio was, and still is, the ability to inform and connect with an audience, especially during emergencies like Hurricane Irene.
It's a shame that most station owners and managers don't understand that automation and voice-tracking can not replace in-house on-air talented and qualified personnel.
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