Yesterday proved a big point that I have been talking about in these pages for sometime. It was almost impossible to find any information about the Eastern Guilford High School fire on radio in the Triad. WSJS did have some information--just copy stories when I tuned-in as I was driving from Elkin to Mebane. I also heard some info on WPTF in Raleigh. But the music stations were playing the hits, as far as I heard!
At 5:00 pm, WNAA--A&T's campus station, which carries WFMY-TV's 5:00 o'clock news--of course, had the feed. Then later, 102 JAMZ was talking about it.
This shows most radio stations are truely NOT SERVING the public's best interest! During the WFMY audio broadcast on WNAA, a reporter talked with a concerned parent, who was waiting to pick-up her child at the church, where the staging point had been established. The parent said it pretty well--"we're not getting any information about what is going on!"
It's a shame there is no more concern for radio news--especially "big news" stories that affect lots of folks, even beyond the students, parents, faculty and staff! Everybody was talking about the fire--except most radio stations where people could have gotten instant information in their homes, at work and in their cars! Once again, radio handed the story of the day to television!
If you will remember back when 9-11 occurred, most radio stations did provide information--even going to networks for coverage! Granted, that was a huge story about national security, which concerned us all. But radio is a local medium and once again, it failed! Winning begins at home!
Some may say--it really didn't concern folks outside the immediate area. I say BULL-XXXX! There were fire departments from all over with personnel placing their lives in danger. Family and friends had concerns--not just in Guilford and neighboring Alamance counties, but in counties elsewhere. I spoke with a gentleman last night in Randolph County, whose wife had two cousins on-the-scene, who were fighting the blaze! They were concerned!
I know that many programmers, station managers and possibly even owners check out this web site. I say to you--think you can win with just playing the same, small list of songs with fewer staff members? Well, I think not! It used to be a rule that you had to provide a certain amount of news and public affairs. With federal deregulation, those days are gone--but they are not forgotten! Get your collective heads out of whatever hole you have them in! You can hand the current radio audience over to I-pods, C-Ds and satellite radio....or....you can spend the dollars to have quality news folks on your staffs, who give a damn about what happens, who go to the scene (of whatever story) and report on what is happening! Make the smart decision and try to regain listeners by providing programming elements that listeners want and need! That is going beyond having traffic reports and weather!
Ralph Shaw
[email protected]
[email protected]
At 5:00 pm, WNAA--A&T's campus station, which carries WFMY-TV's 5:00 o'clock news--of course, had the feed. Then later, 102 JAMZ was talking about it.
This shows most radio stations are truely NOT SERVING the public's best interest! During the WFMY audio broadcast on WNAA, a reporter talked with a concerned parent, who was waiting to pick-up her child at the church, where the staging point had been established. The parent said it pretty well--"we're not getting any information about what is going on!"
It's a shame there is no more concern for radio news--especially "big news" stories that affect lots of folks, even beyond the students, parents, faculty and staff! Everybody was talking about the fire--except most radio stations where people could have gotten instant information in their homes, at work and in their cars! Once again, radio handed the story of the day to television!
If you will remember back when 9-11 occurred, most radio stations did provide information--even going to networks for coverage! Granted, that was a huge story about national security, which concerned us all. But radio is a local medium and once again, it failed! Winning begins at home!
Some may say--it really didn't concern folks outside the immediate area. I say BULL-XXXX! There were fire departments from all over with personnel placing their lives in danger. Family and friends had concerns--not just in Guilford and neighboring Alamance counties, but in counties elsewhere. I spoke with a gentleman last night in Randolph County, whose wife had two cousins on-the-scene, who were fighting the blaze! They were concerned!
I know that many programmers, station managers and possibly even owners check out this web site. I say to you--think you can win with just playing the same, small list of songs with fewer staff members? Well, I think not! It used to be a rule that you had to provide a certain amount of news and public affairs. With federal deregulation, those days are gone--but they are not forgotten! Get your collective heads out of whatever hole you have them in! You can hand the current radio audience over to I-pods, C-Ds and satellite radio....or....you can spend the dollars to have quality news folks on your staffs, who give a damn about what happens, who go to the scene (of whatever story) and report on what is happening! Make the smart decision and try to regain listeners by providing programming elements that listeners want and need! That is going beyond having traffic reports and weather!
Ralph Shaw
[email protected]
[email protected]