So THAT'S why WRR has such a high turnover...

[The Leaker]

This probably won't help that whole "classy" image thing...
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/02/wrrs_being_gutted.php

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Classic case of workplace bullying. Thankfully, there are initiatives around the country to criminalize such behavior on the part of bosses, and they are gaining ground. As a victim of workplace bullying myself, I can assure you it is no laughing matter. It was so bad in my case that I suffered a minor stroke. We need to get these monsters out of positions of authority over other people.

 

[JRZFM100]

Wow - I am so glad I saw this post today. Thank you to the originator!

In 2012 I stopped by the WRR studios specifically to perform a 'cursory' FCC diligence inspection on WRR under Colemark.

Multiple serious administrative FCC violations were noted (and documented) during my two visits to WRR. I attempted to bring the infractions to Sarah Colemark's attention in the nicest and most courteous fashion as to give Colemark (an inexperienced GM, particularly with regard to her never having personally been involved in an FCC license renewal process before) and this licensee, the City of Dallas, the benefit of the doubt - and an opportunity to recognize, rectify and 'self correct' the violations via self disclosure of the violations to the Commission as provided for on the upcoming FCC license renewal due for filing by April 1, 2013.

Colemark's response to my interest, discussion and comments concerning WRR's incompetence on FCC compliance was nothing short of flippant disregard.

In brevity, based upon my 2012 visits to WRR, which included meetings with both Colemark and Rogney, WRR would be exceptionally foolish to affirm compliance for the full duration of the previous license period across multiple dimensions of operation on its upcoming FCC license renewal application.

Copious records of these meetings were preserved... and I am well prepared to provide verbatim language used in the meetings to the demonstrate the overt lack of fitness of the present management concerning compliance, and subsequently the lack of fitness of this licensee to remain a licensee of the Commission, a direct result of miss management under WRR's present leadership.

As the license renewal approaches, I'd been debating how to proceed with the information accrued from my 2012 meetings with WRR; options included directly informing WRR's FCC Counsel before they file as a courtesy or just waiting for WRR to file their renewal application and moving toward outright objection via participation in the WRR license renewal process as a means of surfacing and demonstrating the abhorrent miss management of WRR under it's current leadership.

One of the reasons I had sought not to proceed against WRR was my professional respect for Mr. Rogney, who was ultimately involved in all dialogue with WRR. If the observer is correct, and Rogney is no longer an employee of WRR, I lack any motive to hold back from my option of complete personal participation in WRR's license renewal process.

Anyone who would like to contact me regarding this matter, including Mr. Rogney, any other former employee, representatives of the Dallas Observer, and especially the licensee's Washington based FCC Counsel, may do so by using the secure contact feature of RadioDiscussions.com.

It's time to hold the unfair park folks to account for their blatant miss management. And that's what the FCC license renewal process is great for.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Sarah Colmark sounds like a typical corporate "hit person". No, she's not going to shoot anybody - but when owners of a business - any business - have a list of people they don't like personally, they hire a specialist who invents reasons to terminate people, even if they are complete fabrications. The goal is to unload people they don't like, and as such this type of person is not going to be a particularly good manager. The core business is likely to suffer, perhaps irreparably, by mistakes made by this type of person. Ironically, the bottom line of the company will look good because of the reduced payroll, but the company is unlikely to come out in any sort of shape to survive.

I speak from experience - I was considered one of those undesirables at a major semiconductor company located in Dallas. I was put under one of those corporate hit men - and a few inquiries to his former employees reveal a pattern of psychological terror that left many paranoid and emotionally scarred. As I mentioned, I suffered a minor stroke - while driving - because of this monster. I became a defacto counselor, having people still under him call me for advice and re-assurance. Under his "guidance", the division of the semiconductor company saw many failed products that never even made it to market. Of course he can always point to the "bad employees" he had to terminate and fix blame on them. Management, who knew what his purpose was, back him up and he will move to the next department to cleanse. And the congratulatory billboard speaks wonders, she is doing exactly what she is supposed to - terminate people the city of Dallas doesn't like for whatever reason.

I am very concerned that if the city of Dallas is doing this to WRR, it is the beginning of the end for the station. It shows a distinct disregard for the well being of employees, no desire whatsoever for the long term well being of the station - who in their right mind would want to work there now? Without top talent, the station's quality will plummet and long term listeners depart for streaming and iPod for classical.

Because my daughter is a professional actress, I have access to some celebrities who are trying to raise concern about bullying. Most of them are more interested in school bullying - particularly of gays, but the workplace bullying issue is on their radar as well. I have documented stories of workplace bullying victims - one of whom was a friend of mine who suffered a heart attack while driving and had a fatal crash - after being under one of these corporate hit persons. We are presenting the concept of a documentary to the networks, and hopefully it will put this issue on the radar of the general public and get some laws passed to criminalize this type of behavior. I suspect it is a very widespread problem, and the stories of workplace bullying will bring many victims out into the open.

 

[Robert Bass]

Although it was not to the extent of what we're hearing about WRR, I was given similar treatment at KEOM after Griffin retired.

R

 

[bturner]

It seems this 'terror' is frequent in radio. I recall one station where I worked utilized trades to get me to take less salary. I did. I was working in sales, face to face with business owners. When a drunk pulled out in front of me and I totaled my car, I needed a new vehicle and was only able to afford a good used car. My client, a car dealer, had nothing on the lot and this went on a month. I knew I should buy from my client in this situation. I had a heart to heart, they agreed I should buy the car I needed elsewhere and ny ad budget would not be penalized. The day I went to pick up the car, my boss said if I took delivery on the vehicle I was fired. Since I had a trade for housing, a restaurant trade and gas trade, I was told I'd have no place to live, eat or gas up the new car. I could keep my job if we drove right then to my car dealer client and bought the car they suggested. I did, having no other option. After all, the lack of transportation had hurt my commission check severely and quitting to live under a bridge was a worse option in my mind.

Sure, this is wrong but it is awfully common in radio. Luckily for me, I was able to find a great job working for a guy that not only was one of the finest people I've ever met, but the best owner I'd ever worked for, bar none.

 

[Lancer]

I'm amazed they are still on the air & it hasn't been sold. Prime spot on the dial with a 100 kW stick. Just because they are city owned doesn't mean they are exempt from FCC rules.

Maybe they are up to 4 listeners now & feeling a bit full of themselves.

 

[Chuck]

I haven't lived in Dallas for about 11 years, but when I did, I used to advertise on WRR. At least at the time, they had enough listeners to make it a good buy, assuming you were trying to hit their demographic. I suspect it is still that way, but it upsets me to learn how things may have degenerated.

 

[JRZFM100]

Sarah Colmark sounds like a typical corporate "hit person".

Naa, I don't think I'd go that far...

When I was there talking with them, the Ops/Pgm Manager was complaining how the City of Dallas Purchasing Department kept on sending him consumer grade CD players for their ON-AIR studio;

And the PROMO Director was complaining vehemently how he couldn't get the right sized vinyl banners with the correct fonts and colors that he wanted from the City's purchasing department;

AND, Ms. Colemark openly and overtly dissed and dismissed my graduate degree from a highly respected department at a Tier-3 ranked university as worthless because, "My sister goes there and that's a horrible school."

I know hit people; Colemark hardly has the professional tact to be one!

So let's see, the biggest problems at WRR were consumer grade CD players, incorrectly sized promotional banners with undesirable fonts and colors?? REALLY?

OH yea, forgot, their public file is in an engineering room (looks circa 1965) with racks of equipment including STL, processing and the computer network/automation. It was a constant 85 degrees with ZERO HVAC or ventilation in there. Never saw anything like that. Ever.

 

[JRZFM100]

And one additional fact...

The WRR GM's compensation agreement is in the public domain, I obtained a copy via a simple Google Search.

Ms. Colemark is highly motivated to remove and replace vintage personnel, as every dollar saved in operating costs is a dollar earned.

While not such an unusual fact, that compensation agreement being readily available via a simple internet search makes the reduction and replacement in staff (and thus the reduction in costs) look very greedy and self serving.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Maybe the city will sell the station to EMF -- Air1 can have a better signal!

 

[Kent]

From reading the article, Colmark didn't come across to me as a corporate "hit person." She came across more as someone who was in over her head while her boss was the one who came across as evil. I seem to remember someone posting on the New Mexico board that Sarah was in over her head as GM at KHFM and wouldn't have had the job at all other than that she was related to one of the company's owners or managers. That post, however, has been deleted. I pretty well dismissed that notion because the person who posted it has long been bitter over his firing by that company, and another poster said he enjoyed working for her.

 

[JRZFM100]

She is the daughter of the licensee of KHFM; It's public knowledge.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Naa, I don't think I'd go that far...

When I was there talking with them, the Ops/Pgm Manager was complaining how the City of Dallas Purchasing Department kept on sending him consumer grade CD players for their ON-AIR studio;

And the PROMO Director was complaining vehemently how he couldn't get the right sized vinyl banners with the correct fonts and colors that he wanted from the City's purchasing department;

AND, Ms. Colemark openly and overtly dissed and dismissed my graduate degree from a highly respected department at a Tier-3 ranked university as worthless because, "My sister goes there and that's a horrible school."

I know hit people; Colemark hardly has the professional tact to be one!

So let's see, the biggest problems at WRR were consumer grade CD players, incorrectly sized promotional banners with undesirable fonts and colors?? REALLY?

OH yea, forgot, their public file is in an engineering room (looks circa 1965) with racks of equipment including STL, processing and the computer network/automation. It was a constant 85 degrees with ZERO HVAC or ventilation in there. Never saw anything like that. Ever.

I would go that far. What she is doing is incredibly dangerous. If someone has a history of abuse, being bullied, alcohol or substance abuse, and is depressed - a corporate bully like this is, in the best case scenario, will increase the tremendous psychological damage already done to the individual she is bullying. Lack of hope, fear, poor self esteem, lack of control - and being bullied is a shooting rampage waiting to happen. That is why I strongly advocate criminalizing corporate bullying behavior. The corporate bully is lighting a fuse on a bomb - it might not go off, but there is a chance it will. The person being bullied, in order to have their moment of power, their moment of being in the limelight, will take out other people. You can't predict who will not be able to cope with bullying, who will react in a shooting rampage. If there is even a 1 in 10,000 chance a corporate bully will trigger such a reaction, then it is well worth it to remove them from positions of authority to protect those around them. It is in the interest of employers, because if it can be proved corporate bullying caused a rampage - the lawsuits will destroy the employer. It certainly will destroy all semblance of productivity and team spirit at the company, which is also not in the interest of the employer. The bully is also putting themself in extreme jeopardy, because if they set off a rampage, they are going to be the first target. It just isn't worth it. There is almost no positive benefit to a company that promotes one of these monsters to positions of authority. I would think - after that incident on the Bounty over 200 years ago - that the management techniques of William Bligh would be discredited. But that seems to be one of the default modes of management that is preferred by corporations that are in financial trouble - despite the ever increasing body of evidence that this leads directly to shooting rampages in the workplace.

A lot of this comes from managers who have come from military backgrounds, and feel that the command structure of the military translates directly into management techniques in corporations. When faced with subordinates who have not come from a military background - 20 somethings who don't respect authority - the situation will quickly escalate to firings, bullying, and even violence.

What is most beneficial to corporations is an environment of support for employees from managers, who lead by example, kindness, rewarding accomplishments. Companies with this management model are almost always listed on lists as the best places to work, and are also large and financially secure.

I really fear for the long term survival of WRR if they have corporate bullying. WRR is a treasure for all of Dallas, sometimes ratings shouldn't be the primary reason for a station's survival. Some things, like classical music, are just plain good for the image of the city. WRR generates respect nationwide, and is good publicity for Dallas. How many times has the presence of a full time classical station on a full power stick served to dispel the redneck image of Dallas? When Dallas has a full time classical station, the same as the snobbish cities of the East, it helps to put Dallas into the exclusive club of sophisticated cultural stations. Much more so than if the city of Dallas sells it so yet another hip-hop station can clutter the airwaves with something far from noble and cultural and sophisticated. Once gone, WRR can never come back. Just ask Houston, which let KLEF go. It took decades to get a full time classical station back, and the signal is not nearly as good.

 

[JRZFM100]

Hi Bruce:

I wanted to reach out and empathize with you for a second on bullying.

I was a victim of bullying by a fellow co-worker, it happened in the last decade. And the abuse was so tough emotionally that it a took serious physical toll; I woke up one morning in ICU and stayed for ten days. Luckily, I fully recovered, both physically and emotionally.

The characteristics of my personal bully are all but complete in the book "The Sociopath Next Door" by Martha Stout.

My bully was so aggressive and obsessed with me that on the four year anniversary date of my ouster from the organization, a departure which he wanted, he called me on my home and cell and laughed out loud, with his name and phone number clearly visible on my caller ID so I could be sure who was laughing at me.

Who keeps the personal home and cell numbers phone numbers of an ex coworker for four years? And who would be bold enough to call em up four years later and laugh out loud?

I was so stupid that I actually believed that this grudge was against me personally... it was not, as the person who was hired as my replacement became the next victim, and was treated in the same exact hostile manner as I. Thus bullying is an EXTREMELY SERIOUS workplace problem that is much more prevalent than most understand.

So I completely understand your passionate feelings on this matter.

Regarding WRR, let me pick that topic up in a separate post. [Hard Break / Top of the Hour]

 

[JRZFM100]

With regards to WRR, I have personally spoken with Senora Munoz-Blanco, who heads OCA, the city department under which WRR falls. She was kind enough to return my phone call.

It was clear from our brief phone conversation (regarding my questions about the City of Dallas and thus WRR's exact EEO/AA policies) that OCA has little to no concept of what a radio station is.

For example, OCA is unaware that WRR is a licensee of the Federal Communications Commission and what that implies at the most basic administrative levels.

In my experience, WRR does not or will not use the City of Dallas website, the place where every other city job gets posted, as an advertisement or recruitment source. Now that is very strange.

And that's only the beginning of the story.

Unconscious incompetence ("they don't know that they don't know") is a much better model to explain WRR's seemingly erratic operational strategy.

I believe WRR's long time former general manager was promoted to WRR from the City of Dallas Police Department communications center; an individual with zero broadcast experience.

With the hire of the current general manager in 2012, WRR had a great juncture to add the much needed missing element of professional broadcast competency to the station.

My empirical experience with WRR runs concurrent to the recent article in the Observer. Conditions their have unfortunately devolved.

 

[Lancer]

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. They may find that out the hard way if they get an unscheduled visit from Uncle Charlie.