Rumors

[ricksegers]

I have been in the radio business nearly thirty years and have always been fascinated with the importance people in the business place on rumors. Not just on this board but elsewhere. I have even been a rumor victim a time or two. Once I was nearly fired when my boss heard I was going across town when I had never even had communication with the other station. I sometimes wonder if it isn't people in the center of the media world (read their mom's basement) just making things up about someone leaving a station or someone going to be fired or a station sold just to feel important. But why do radio people (including wannabees and think they are's) put so much importance on gossip and rumor?

Rick

 

[jjjohnson]

Probably because they often learn about ownership/format/staff changes through the rumor mill long before they hear it from management.

>why do radio people (including wannabees and think they
> are's) put so much importance on gossip and rumor?

 

[OgOgglby]

Exactly. These insecure morons who run stations should realize that keeping a secret from your staff is pointless and demoralizing, leading to the departure of some very good people who wash their hands of the business. Anything they do is all over the internet within seconds anyway, so why keep it a secret from those you need to make the changes successful?

> Probably because they often learn about
> ownership/format/staff changes through the rumor mill long
> before they hear it from management.

 

[JerryStevens]

I used to have a rule when I ran stations: Don't ever delude yourself into thinking anything is a secret. I once had an RVP who wanted me to hire an outsider to be PD at much more money than our other PD's. I told him that would never fly and that it would lead to resentment. He cheerfully told me: "Don't tell anybody! They'll never know." I told him my rule. There ARE no secrets in radio.

I've been the subject of a rumor or two. I actually created one of my own about me just to see who spread it.

> Exactly. These insecure morons who run stations should
> realize that keeping a secret from your staff is pointless
> and demoralizing, leading to the departure of some very good
> people who wash their hands of the business. Anything they
> do is all over the internet within seconds anyway, so why
> keep it a secret from those you need to make the changes
> successful?
>
> > Probably because they often learn about
> > ownership/format/staff changes through the rumor mill long
>
> > before they hear it from management.<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry

"If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research, would it." - Albert Einstein </P>