So how did area radio stations do during the "Blizzard of '09"? Many of the family owned stations did very well. WHVR/98.5 THE PEAK as well as WGTY and WGET did their best duing this weather event. To the south in Maryland, WFRE and WAYZ did a decent job as well. These are the stations that have people on duty most of the time. Any observations on any other Central Pa stations that went above and beyond this past weekend.
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- Thread starter bossjock 56
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WDAC is another station that does an outstanding job. Many area stations were up tp the task this past weekend. I can remember many overnight stays during these weather events....sometimes an entire weekend. Never got paid extra....so in today's radio climate.....that shouldn't be an issue. Many of the people lucky enough to still be employed in the business would probably do the same. Alot of good people in today's workforce. I can only hope hope the powers that be will come to appreciate them.
WDAC utilizes Accuweather for their weather forecasts, although my guess is that they contractually are not permitted to use the term "Accuweather" on the air because another Lancaster station probably has exclusive rights. Daily weather forecasts/updates are usually provided by well-known Accuweather meterologists Joe Lundberg and Frank Strait. Occasionally you might even hear Joe Bastardi or Elliott Abrams on a weekend forecast. During this time of year, the announcer might even mention the "RealFeel" temperature which is an exclusive Accuweather term for wind chill temperature.
Overall, most stations did an incredible job handing the weather situation last weekend with the changing forecast and tons of cancellations. One of the things that has helped is that many stations now permit organizations to submit cancellations right through the station web site. Kudos also go out to WGAL as they mentioned on-air that they were going against policy to broadcast church cancellations on Sunday morning due to the nature and timing of the storm.
Overall, most stations did an incredible job handing the weather situation last weekend with the changing forecast and tons of cancellations. One of the things that has helped is that many stations now permit organizations to submit cancellations right through the station web site. Kudos also go out to WGAL as they mentioned on-air that they were going against policy to broadcast church cancellations on Sunday morning due to the nature and timing of the storm.
WDAC & WJTL get my vote. I was listening to WARM & WROZ to try & catch the school reports on Mon. morning, & it was incredible; Numerous traffic reports, commercials, back & forth between the host w/ silliness talk...oh, and the regular announcement to "stay tuned for the school closings/delays" that are coming up.
I started listening to WARM & WROZ at around 5:00 am; by 6:30, still no school report... WJTL & WDAC was reporting all through that time period...go figure...
They really need to get with the program at WARM & WROZ :-\
I started listening to WARM & WROZ at around 5:00 am; by 6:30, still no school report... WJTL & WDAC was reporting all through that time period...go figure...
They really need to get with the program at WARM & WROZ :-\
WARM getting with the program. That issue has been well documented on this board most of this year.
That being said, in this day of schools texting closings/delays to parents, accessing info at school websites and radio station websites, the constant scrolling of school information at the bottom of the TV screen, etc, are school closings on the radio becoming passe? Some stations supposedly still do it but is it more to be a sales vehicle than anything else?
Kudos for WDAC and WJTL for a great job, as been mentioned in this thread.
That being said, in this day of schools texting closings/delays to parents, accessing info at school websites and radio station websites, the constant scrolling of school information at the bottom of the TV screen, etc, are school closings on the radio becoming passe? Some stations supposedly still do it but is it more to be a sales vehicle than anything else?
Kudos for WDAC and WJTL for a great job, as been mentioned in this thread.
Sorry...but you've ALL got to be kidding me... you listen/monitor RADIO for cancellations?...when it's instant info on the net?...
Radio Babe said:
I was just going to say the same thing. In fact I forgot to cancel the school closing alert for our son's school in Pittsburgh and a couple of weeks ago I got a text alert - which reminded me to cancel it and subscribe to a local one. In the computer age it is so convenient to just go to www.wgal.com or the Fox43 website and click on cancellations. I don't picture myself ever turning on WARM 103 or WDAC or whatever to wait 15 minutes just to hear if my son has a 2 hour delay. Get the instant text message or click on the web. After being away from this area since 1996 and just coming back, I'd have thought central PA would be more into the digital age.
Radio Babe said:
Umm....yes...
Some of us are delivery drivers & unfortunately do not have an internet hookup/pc in the vehicle. My child has to be up at 5:45 am on a "normal" day to be ready for the bus by 6:30. I am still out on the road at that time. If I am to make preparations to be ready for school, I need that cancellation info. as soon as possible. :
I'm not about to pay Verizon for texting charges for free information... :
katzradio said:Radio Babe said:
Umm....yes...
Some of us are delivery drivers & unfortunately do not have an internet hookup/pc in the vehicle. My child has to be up at 5:45 am on a "normal" day to be ready for the bus by 6:30. I am still out on the road at that time. If I am to make preparations to be ready for school, I need that cancellation info. as soon as possible. :
I'm not about to pay Verizon for texting charges for free information... :
Dude....you're a grownup. Figure out for yourself how to get that information. It's NUTS to have school delays on the radio because people can't figure it out for themselves. Just call the phone number the school gave you from your cell phone from your delivery truck. The prerecorded message will let you know if the school is open, closed, or delayed. Or, if you can't call from the delivery vehicle, do it while you're feeding the horses.
Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls, welcome to the 21st century. We have come to an age where we do not need radio, not even TV to be alerted when the schools are delayed or closed. Yes, internet sites alert us now. That's great. But now schools have the ability to broadcast directly to parents using phone technology that makes the rest obsolete. In fact, during this last snowstorm, our senior's school sent automated phone messages directly to my phone at 6:15am, telling us that school was delayed for 2-hours. I didn't have to turn on the radio, the TV or the internet. Granted, they woke me up early, but they saved me the time and effort.
Yes, that $0.20 you saved by not getting the message was worth waiting listening to the school delay on the radio. Are you able to afford internet or a computer at your house?I'm not about to pay Verizon for texting charges for free information... :
katzradio said:Some of us are delivery drivers & unfortunately do not have an internet hookup/pc in the vehicle. My child has to be up at 5:45 am on a "normal" day to be ready for the bus by 6:30. I am still out on the road at that time. If I am to make preparations to be ready for school, I need that cancellation info. as soon as possible. :
Find out if your school offers automated phone alerts. If so, get your cell phone number listed as the main number at your kid's school. That way it won't matter where you are when they call. Plus, you'll get the call around the same time the radio & TV stations get it - if not, before.
...If your child is already up at 5:45...I would suggest they turn on WGAL and read the alphabetical scroll?
and you can continue concentrating on driving!...
and you can continue concentrating on driving!...
School closings are invaluable if you own them. That means taking pride, doing them frequently. Jocks hate doing them and tend to think if they've announced them twice, everybody should have heard them. It also requires promoting the fact that you are doing them and that you are the station for cancellations, perhaps giving them a name like "Snowwatch or "Weatherwatch" and not changing it year after year. If you can own the perception, that's one less move towards your extinction as a local station.
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RockOfHbg...I sure hope you are not a programmer, and if you are I hope I get to compete against you someday with that mentality!
RockofHBG said:
You're right on the money. Despite all the new technologies making school closings and cancellations available in many (not all) communities, a shitload (the official term) of folks still depend on radio to provide that information. Radio continues to have massive reach--more than 90 percent weekly and around 80 percent daily--and no other medium can match radio's ability to provide immediate information to mass audiences. You are absolutely correct in your understanding that owning this perception is invaluable, and that it carries over into everyday/year-round allegiance--P1 listening.
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AMFMXM and RockOf Hbg..You are both out of your minds, Snow Closings do NOTHING for your P1's and are atiquated and worthless in this day and age.
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