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Monmouth/Ocean FMs: Utter Embarrassments

O

orange434

i'm shocked i haven't read about this lack of coverage anywhere yet, so figured i'd make a post about it. after looking at some of the pictures from the shore areas in monmouth and ocean counties, particularly brick, point pleasant, seaside, and LBI, and seeing the katrina-like devastation portions of these communities received, i thought it would be a great time to survey the FMs covering those areas specifically and see how they were covering the event. from where i am i can't reliably hear any of the AMs in that area, so i can't comment on those. but i can comment on the FMs, and one word describes their performance tonight during the aftermath of the worst natural disaster in the state's history: DISGRACEFUL

92.7, 94.3, 95.9, 98.5, 100.1, 105.7, 106.3/106.5, and 107.1 are all on the air tonight and were playing regular music all evening! i realize last night during the storm several of these stations were off the air and it would have been tough to cover what was going on as it was happening. but they were all on tonight! i heard a 2 minute top of the hour news bit on 92.7 that was also heard on 105.7. 94.3 I believe also had a top of the hour news item. and that was it! i understand nobody has news staffs anymore and no one was prepared for this. but at MINIMUM, the townsquare stations HAVE to be simulcasting NJ 101.5, where at least useful dialogue of the situation is ongoing around the clock. or even simulcast one of the NYC TVs doing around the clock coverage, perhaps helpful since portable TVs are useless these days. but they couldn't even do that! another unbelievable black eye for radio. one of the defenses of the medium now is that it's the only reliable way to get information out during events where power is not available. well certainly not with any of these UTTERLY useless jersey shore FMs!
 
It made no sense to keep 101.5 internet-only when the transmitter failed when it could air on 92.7, 105.7, 97.3
 
First, let me say that my heart goes out to all you folks in New Jersey. Your beautiful state now looks like ground zero, and your people have a long road ahead. I couldn't even imagine what you are going through. I've worked in public health and safety for 14 years and have never seen the vast amounts of destruction you all now call home. I know you will rebuild and become stronger than ever.

Having said this, the situation of your FM dial is not limited to the Jersey shore. When we had a tornado touch down in downtown Atlanta (a ripple in a toilet bowl compared to your situation I realize), NONE of the FM stations did squat except for WSB-FM. The corporate owners don't give a rat's ass about their communities, it's all about money. The FCC is no longer in the business of ensuring broadcast licenses actually serve their respective communities. This ended years ago.

My advice to any citizen who looks to RADIO to stay informed: forget it. Consider getting a scanner (if your local agencies aren't on encrypted digital systems), and if you want to stay in touch, get an amateur radio license or GMRS license. You'll fare much better this way.

Again, my best wishes to all of you Jersey Shore residents, I wish you the best in rebuilding and coming back stronger than ever.
The worst of scenarios often bring out the best in people.
 
Being out of the area, it has been shocking to see how few stations are covering this event properly. Maybe they assume everyone in Monmouth/Ocean is listening to the NYC stations? The Townsquare stations definitely should be simulcasting 101.5 when not doing their own coverage. The others should be simulcasting any TV coverage that may still be going on... SOMETHING! I kept thinking that maybe what was on the streams wasn't actually what was going on the air. What an embarrassment... another nail in radio's coffin.
 
I was going to start a thread on this subject if one hadn't already been posted. This is my first time with Internet access since Monday afternoon. The coverage of Sandy by every commercial FM station in Monmouth/Ocean was not only appalling, it was downright embarrassing. Not a single one of them could be bothered to change their regular programming to bring listeners more intricate coverage of what occurred during the storm and in its aftermath. Not even the local Townsquare Media stations changed their programming to temporarily simulcast New Jersey 101.5, which would have made perfect sense as they did something similar with their AC/Cape May FMs broadcasting local weather discussion from News/Talk station WPG-AM. I extensively sampled WOBM & WJRZ, and both gave us not even 5 minutes of news pertaining to Sandy at the top of the hour before resuming their regular programming. I listened a bit to every other station that I could receive, and it was business as usual for all of them (i.e. the regular Free Beer & Hot Wings simulcast from Michigan for 105.7 The Hawk).

NEARLY every local broadcaster ought to be ashamed of themselves. This is further evidence of why so many have absolutely no use for local radio. The only exception: 91.9 WBNJ, in between songs, provided all kinds of news and information about how to deal with the effects of the inclement weather. From comments by Gov. Christie & President Obama, to information on all shelters in the area (including those that are pet-friendly), they were without question the best source of storm information on the airwaves - and it came from a small family-run non-commercial station, NOT from a station run by a million-dollar multi-state company like all the others. Again, the local operators of Townsquare, Greater Media and Press Communications stations should hang their heads in shame over their pathetic (lack of) coverage of Sandy.
 
Listening to the WOND stream right now, I just heard a caller from someplace further up the shore who asked some kind of local specific question. The host didn't have an answer, and asked the caller something like "are there any radio stations on the air up there you could call?" She said "NO, there's a station in Toms River, but all they have is MUSIC!"

Gotta be referring to the embarrassment that is WOBM-FM.

Good job WOND/102.7!
 
nobody expects personnel to come out to the station in the middle of the hurricane. but several of these aforementioned stations have had live jocks on the past two days, as the damage has been cleared particularly in inland spots. i don't think that's a valid excuse.
 
Aside from Townsquare, none of the stations at the shore have a "news" department to speak of. Press has Al Brooks, Charlie Torres, and one or two part timers. GM has zilch.

WBNJ should be commended for the coverage, as should WOBM and NJ 101.5. I heard Shawn & Sue taking phone calls at night, talking to local residents and trying to get info out as best they could and coordinate efforts.

Every time I punched up Thunder or The Breeze, it was music. Message - 101.5, 92.7, 91.9, or the NYC AM's if you want info during disasters.
 
Nick said:
It made no sense to keep 101.5 internet-only when the transmitter failed when it could air on 92.7, 105.7, 97.3
Click to expand...

I thought the same thing.
 
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