The Voice From New York City

[Radio Wreck]

Bouncing back and forth between NYC, all throughout the Garden State, and the Philly area for over 5 decades now, I’ve listened to thousands of hours of radio. One thing that I’ve noticed is that many NYC broadcasters have thick NYC and/or North Jersey accents on the air. It comes with the territory, and I don’t think that most people even give it a second thought. The same is true while driving through the Southern states; listeners can expect to hear many broadcasters with Southern accents, especially in smaller rural towns throughout the Carolinas and Georgia.

The same cannot be said in Philadelphia. With very few exceptions, if there is even a hint of the Philadelphia or Delaware County dialect in your voice, you aren’t getting within 100 feet of a radio microphone (unless of course you are a listener who calls in).

I have to wonder why this rule seems to exist, especially since Philadelphians are very proud of their city and heritage. And that accent goes along with said heritage.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Why do Philadelphia radio companies insist their talent speak Standard American Dialect while many other cities obviously do not? Do they believe the accent is too abrasive? I know that many actors who aren’t from the area struggle for weeks to learn the dialect when filming movies and TV shows that are based in Philly.

 

[radiodx10]

This is genuinely a fascinating discussion. I hail from South Jersey and grew up saying wooder and tues-dee etc. I refuse to get rid of my accent. When I started in radio on my college station (WGLS), I remember early on one of the professors who worked there heard me saying "Dubba-you" GLS instead of "Double-you" which I think comes from the accent, too. That one I did fix for my on-air work.

Honestly, the reason I think you don't hear the Philly accent on the radio as much anymore is that the accent itself is, much to my chagrin as a fan of dialects and accents, dying. The New York accent is dying, too, just not as quickly. The only real hint people have when they meet me that I'm from the Delaware Valley is when I ask for a bottlawooder. Or they REALLY get the hint when I mention Wooder Ice, that's always fun conversation lol. The Delco-Philly accent is definitely still around, but compared to a super obvious Southern accent, it's barely noticeable in most people from the area these days.

Truthfully, this goes with the broader conversation that American English is increasingly being homogenized thanks to globalization and the internet. One more anecdote: a dear friend of mine is from Buffalo, NY. I didn't know they had a distinct accent cause he doesn't have one. But, when his mom came down to visit for Christmas, wow did I hear that accent come out. I later asked him why he hides his Buffalo accent - and he said point blank it's because he worries people may find it ugly or strange, and beings that he works in the media industry as do I, he wants to present himself as malleable as possible, hence adopting a standard American accent. I think it's a real shame! Accents give regions a distinction and a sense of pride, community and a connection to their past history. We should absolutely embrace our accent and it deserves more representation on air.

 

[radiophiler]

One localism that I find those on KYW Newsradio and Action News "keep": Shtreet. It's so common on Channel 6, even among those who did not grow up in this area, that I wonder if, when they're teaching them how to properly say local places, they also coach on-air people to say "shtreet."
I grew up in the Lehigh Valley on the PA side but right on the NJ border. Cable TV in the 1970s brought us Philly, NYC and WB/Scranton stations, but mostly Philly. My interest in broadcasting started young, so I heard a combination of accents on TV in addition to those in my family and community.
The differences in my family alone were significant. I had one aunt on my dad's side who said "warsh my clothes." My dad and other siblings didn't. My mother-in-law grew up in suburban DC (northern VA) and also says "warsh." The same aunt said "Ac-uh-me" while other people in my family did not. I had an aunt on my mother's side who married young (early 20s) and moved one hour away into north Jersey. She always sounded like she had the north Jersey/NYC suburbs accent to me.
In college in upstate NY, I had a broadcasting professor who prided himself in being able to tell where you grew up by your "accent." I stumped him. He said I either sounded like a flat Midwest accent, or alternatively guessed that I grew up in upstate NY. I wasn't trying to not have an accent, I was speaking naturally when he made those guesses.
A station I worked at in the 1990s brought in two voice coaches. I said "dubba-ya." They were horrified and said I'd never progress in my broadcast career if I didn't correct that to "double-you."
Do news anchors in Boston say "Pahk yah cah in Hahvahd yahd"? I'm serious about that ... curious if some of them have that Boston accent.

 

[TheBigA]

Why do Philadelphia radio companies insist their talent speak Standard American Dialect

I'm not sure that's true. First of all, the "Philadelphia radio companies" are mainly based in other cities. Yes Audacy is now based in Philadelphia, but KYW was originally owned by Westinghouse and later CBS. iHeart, Urban One, and Beasley aren't based in Philadelphia. Hiring isn't restricted to Philadelphia residents or natives. That's the case in New York as well. People who work in either city might originate in the midwest or south. I've worked in both cities (and in between), and no one ever "insisted" I speak a certain way. There is a way to teach someone to normalize their dialect. Sometimes it's done. Sometimes it's not. It depends on the format and if the talent gains credibility by having that accent. Jeff Foxworthy does a funny bit about not wanting his brain surgeon walk in to the operating room talking like a redneck.

 

[Radio Wreck]

I'm not sure that's true. First of all, the "Philadelphia radio companies" are mainly based in other cities. Yes Audacy is now based in Philadelphia, but KYW was originally owned by Westinghouse and later CBS. iHeart, Urban One, and Beasley aren't based in Philadelphia. Hiring isn't restricted to Philadelphia residents or natives. That's the case in New York as well. People who work in either city might originate in the midwest or south. I've worked in both cities (and in between), and no one ever "insisted" I speak a certain way. There is a way to teach someone to normalize their dialect. Sometimes it's done. Sometimes it's not. It depends on the format and if the talent gains credibility by having that accent. Jeff Foxworthy does a funny bit about not wanting his brain surgeon walk in to the operating room talking like a redneck.

I understand what you mean when you say that no one ever “insisted” that you speak a certain way however I’m sure that whoever hired you heard your audition tape before they put you on the air. If you (or anyone for that matter) sounded too “Philadelphian” you probably wouldn’t have even gotten the interview. Anecdotally speaking, I used to roadie for a pretty well know Philly personality back in the 90’s and I asked him about a certain disc jockey who had recently been out of work and was trying to get a job at this other station. His response was “we didn’t hire him because he sounds too South Philly.”

 

[TheBigA]

If you (or anyone for that matter) sounded too “Philadelphian” you probably wouldn’t have even gotten the interview.

I don't know what "too Philadelphian" means. If you're from Cherry Hill or one of the suburbs, you likely don't have any regionalisms. To me, it's more of an urban vs suburban thing. I know what you mean about "too South Philly." But even that is changing.

 

[ILOVERADIO]

I don't know what "too Philadelphian" means. If you're from Cherry Hill or one of the suburbs, you likely don't have any regionalisms. To me, it's more of an urban vs suburban thing. I know what you mean about "too South Philly." But even that is changing.

Growing up in Chicago, almost none of the DJs had Chicago accents. I agree that many NYC radio stars like Sid Rosenberg and Cousin Brucie on WABC have thick (to me annoying) NY sounding accents. Kudlow does too, but it’s less thick and doesn’t annoy me. NYC radio people often assert their region has the best talent, but I think with the exception of the excellent WQXR classical station, ( and a few NY standouts) Chicago has more entertaining personalities with better voices. In my opinion, nobody in NY radio whom I’ve heard sounded as creative and fun as the late Larry Lujack and Ron Britain who spent most of their careers in Chicago. Bob Sirrott at WGN in Chicago is another radio great. I did like Pete Fornatelle at WNEW and later at a public station in NY before he passed away.

 

[AM-FM-DXer]

Bouncing back and forth between NYC, all throughout the Garden State, and the Philly area for over 5 decades now, I’ve listened to thousands of hours of radio. One thing that I’ve noticed is that many NYC broadcasters have thick NYC and/or North Jersey accents on the air. It comes with the territory, and I don’t think that most people even give it a second thought. The same is true while driving through the Southern states; listeners can expect to hear many broadcasters with Southern accents, especially in smaller rural towns throughout the Carolinas and Georgia.

The same cannot be said in Philadelphia. With very few exceptions, if there is even a hint of the Philadelphia or Delaware County dialect in your voice, you aren’t getting within 100 feet of a radio microphone (unless of course you are a listener who calls in).

I have to wonder why this rule seems to exist, especially since Philadelphians are very proud of their city and heritage. And that accent goes along with said heritage.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Why do Philadelphia radio companies insist their talent speak Standard American Dialect while many other cities obviously do not? Do they believe the accent is too abrasive? I know that many actors who aren’t from the area struggle for weeks to learn the dialect when filming movies and TV shows that are based in Philly.

I always noticed that Rocco on Q102 had a very thick/strong Philly accent.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

When I think about the Philly accent, it's this interview attempt that always comes to mind.

 

[XCountry285]

I'm not sure that's true. First of all, the "Philadelphia radio companies" are mainly based in other cities. Yes Audacy is now based in Philadelphia, but KYW was originally owned by Westinghouse and later CBS. iHeart, Urban One, and Beasley aren't based in Philadelphia. Hiring isn't restricted to Philadelphia residents or natives. That's the case in New York as well. People who work in either city might originate in the midwest or south. I've worked in both cities (and in between), and no one ever "insisted" I speak a certain way. There is a way to teach someone to normalize their dialect. Sometimes it's done. Sometimes it's not. It depends on the format and if the talent gains credibility by having that accent. Jeff Foxworthy does a funny bit about not wanting his brain surgeon walk in to the operating room talking like a redneck.

My father is born in Brooklyn and he grew up in Northern NJ he says warsh instead of wash.

 

[CTListener]

Do news anchors in Boston say "Pahk yah cah in Hahvahd yahd"? I'm serious about that ... curious if some of them have that Boston accent.

Many of them come from somewhere else, including parts of New England that don't have a trace of that broad accent. The ones who do have homogenized, generic accents. I remember Don Kent doing weather on WBZ-TV decades ago with his strong Boston accent, but even the meteorologist these days are told to keep it as neutral as possible.

I notice that sportscasters on the national networks are permitted to keep their accents, especially if they're from the NYC metro.

 

[fybush]

Many of them come from somewhere else, including parts of New England that don't have a trace of that broad accent. The ones who do have homogenized, generic accents. I remember Don Kent doing weather on WBZ-TV decades ago with his strong Boston accent, but even the meteorologist these days are told to keep it as neutral as possible.

I notice that sportscasters on the national networks are permitted to keep their accents, especially if they're from the NYC metro.

When I was a writer and editor at WBZ many years ago, even the native New Englanders on the air staff had mostly tamed their accents, especially on the news side. (Paul Sullivan, when he hosted nighttime talk, was a notable exception with his strong Lowell accent!)

But at least one anchor used to crack us up after airshifts by demonstrating what our copy would sound like read in a pure North Shore townie voice. There was even a threat to do a last airshift before retirement in that accent, but alas it didn't materialize.

 

[CTListener]

When I was a writer and editor at WBZ many years ago, even the native New Englanders on the air staff had mostly tamed their accents, especially on the news side. (Paul Sullivan, when he hosted nighttime talk, was a notable exception with his strong Lowell accent!)

But at least one anchor used to crack us up after airshifts by demonstrating what our copy would sound like read in a pure North Shore townie voice. There was even a threat to do a last airshift before retirement in that accent, but alas it didn't materialize.

In Lynn, Revere rhymes with square. Riveah. Squeah. I'd love to hear the news done in that accent!

 

[radiofan2023]

In Lynn, Revere rhymes with square. Riveah. Squeah. I'd love to hear the news done in that accent!

I used to work with someone from Mass and I thought maybe she had just moved recently, because she had a strong accent. I asked her how she was enjoying living in California and she told me, “I’ve been livin’ heah fah fohty yheahs!”

 

[Radio Wreck]

In Lynn, Revere rhymes with square. Riveah. Squeah. I'd love to hear the news done in that accent!

That almost sounds like a Mid Atlantic or Transatlantic accent that was used in the 1940’s.

 

[Radio Wreck]

I don't know what "too Philadelphian" means. If you're from Cherry Hill or one of the suburbs, you likely don't have any regionalisms. To me, it's more of an urban vs suburban thing. I know what you mean about "too South Philly." But even that is changing.

The South Jersey accent is much more tame than Philadelphia except for the letter “O”. It’s hard to describe in writing but it’s very noticeable.

 

[CTListener]

That almost sounds like a Mid Atlantic or Transatlantic accent that was used in the 1940’s.

Like FDR's accent? Superficially, perhaps, but several degrees less refined. A very blue collar accent.

 

[Miguelito]

The South Jersey accent is much more tame than Philadelphia except for the letter “O”. It’s hard to describe in writing but it’s very noticeable.

It's a fantom "a" sound: "Haome" instead of "home."

My boyfriend is from Bridgeton (I grew up closer to Philly), and I am constantly interrupting him and saying, "Wait. How do you spell that word you just said?"

 

[XCountry285]

The South Jersey accent is much more tame than Philadelphia except for the letter “O”. It’s hard to describe in writing but it’s very noticeable.

It is noticable in the word home sounds like "huh oooohhh m."

 

[XCountry285]

It's a fantom "a" sound: "Haome" instead of "home."

My boyfriend is from Bridgeton (I grew up closer to Philly), and I am constantly interrupting him and saying, "Wait. How do you spell that word you just said?"

I live in North Jersey and I do not have that accent. My friends in South Jersey do.