Saddened to learn that Gainesville's John W Jacobs, Jr. passed Wednesday 11/23. He would be 89 this coming Monday. A great broadcaster, community servant, and all around good guy who set a high standard for all of us who have hoped to follow his example of operating a radio station as a public servant for the community. Since 1949, when he put WDUN on the air, the Jacobs name and WDUN call letters have epitomized what a great community radio station should be. I share with countless others a deep appreciation and respect for his many contributions to the broadcast industry just as I know the citizens of Gainesville do for the many contributions and efforts he made for the betterment of Hall County. Our thoughts are with his family and staff at Jacobs Media. He'll be missed by all who had the privilege to know him.
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Premiere Georgia Broadcaster has died
- Thread starter artsutton
- Start date
You're right about WDUN. What a tremendous, community serving station it has been through the years. I hope the family continues with the same approach.
It's really sad.....there were many broadcasters like the Jacobs in years past. Mostly because the FCC required actual service to the licensed community but also because many of these folks really loved radio and understood the importance of the medium.
Today, many, if not most station owners think of their properties as "investments".....not services. I understand a station is first, and foremost, a business but it also uses a finite resource that is never really "owned." Radio spectrum is "owned" by the public and is licensed for use with rules and regulations as to it's use attached. Our elected representatives have slowly eroded the requirements of service to the community over the years to where, today, a station is considered "serving the community" if they're on the air!
The John Jacobs of this world are a dying breed being replaced by the Mays and Dickys. Does anyone think this new world is better?
It's really sad.....there were many broadcasters like the Jacobs in years past. Mostly because the FCC required actual service to the licensed community but also because many of these folks really loved radio and understood the importance of the medium.
Today, many, if not most station owners think of their properties as "investments".....not services. I understand a station is first, and foremost, a business but it also uses a finite resource that is never really "owned." Radio spectrum is "owned" by the public and is licensed for use with rules and regulations as to it's use attached. Our elected representatives have slowly eroded the requirements of service to the community over the years to where, today, a station is considered "serving the community" if they're on the air!
The John Jacobs of this world are a dying breed being replaced by the Mays and Dickys. Does anyone think this new world is better?
the FCC stopped requiring any broadcaster to be a service to the community about the time the FCC became "RF Spectrum Sales, LLC"
None the less, a sad loss. Another legend passes.
None the less, a sad loss. Another legend passes.
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