1. There's a reason traffic reporters SHOULD be local. Not only can they recite the streets and freeways and accident scenes (which anyone can do, as it's often provided by some governmental agency's website or map,) but the LOCAL reporter knows the alternate routes, how many lanes there are on a given freeway, where construction hotspots are, etc. The LOCAL reporter also knows those little intricacies, like there being no southbound exit off the Dallas North Tollway to Walnut Hill, although there IS one northbound. That sure helps when you're trying to establish alternate routes. My calling card for this job was not my Bachelor's degree, not my limited broadcasting background, but was the 500,000 miles I drove on North Texas roadways as a courier and courier business owner in the 1990s. It was a perfect fit.
2. Little1, the words I have for you violate the TOS, but you can use your imagination. Your personal grudge against me that started many aliases ago is appalling and disgusting and pathetic. I guess you don't perceive any value in Monty Cook or Dick Siegel's or Laura Houston's interaction with Hal Jay in the mornings on WBAP for the last 28 years to have been of any ratings value. Then again, maybe you do...it's me that you can't stand getting any personal satisfaction out of a job I did well for six years. It may be small potatoes in your book, but it served me well, it provided me plenty of stability, and I did OK with the salary. (Have I ever said I expected $500K a year for my contributions? Have I ever compared my value to a DJ? Just doing my job and expecting to be paid fairly for it, and I was.) Your two cents and continued effort to run me down and run down the occupation is irrelevant. Find another target for your bitter venom, and feel free to use your own name here sometime and quit hiding behind yet another alias. It sure devalues your "facts" when you won't own up to them with your own name. If you're such a pivotal figure at your company, surely there's no one above you that could justifiably have any issue with it.
3. TrafficChief didn't re-address the salary issue. Perhaps I can provide you all a statement by one person I know personally that was offered "$11-something" an hour. For me, YES, I CHOSE not to even entertain any offer from Metro if it was going to be on those terms. Case closed. Traffic.com was fun and rewarding, but it's over. I'm moving on. I still get my radio ya-ya's every week on my show, so I don't need to thrust myself back into the cesspool of terrestrial radio to counteract the killer disease Sudden Loss Of Fame Syndrome (S.L.O.F.S.)
4. One more visit to Little1's concerns on the subject:
little1 said:
If there was a market for higher paid traffic reporters, there would BE higher paid traffic reporters.
So why would Justin Frazell be paid $80,000 a year by Susquehanna, and briefly by Cumulus, to do his traffic schtick on the air for 8 years? That was an estimate given to me by the late John McCarty, who provided the traffic info for Justin to use on KPLX, and provided Justin a seat in the traffic chopper...so I'd guess it's pretty reliable information.
And you think Monty and Laura do this for free? (well, Monty may NOW with Metro.) Monty, Laura, KSCS's Michael Scott and Justin (before) are more like traffic "personalities" who are (were) paid handsomely for their contributions. Little1, if it's an issue of being afraid of having to lump me in with those likes and having to admit that there's some value to traffic, well, don't worry. I wasn't a "personality," just a reporter. No need to beat me down further. I'm in my place right now, thank you.
5. This Traffic thread has more hits than either of the Russ Martin threads, so, sure, keep it going. Strange that, for as value-less as some people consider traffic reporting, there sure seems to be a lot of ongoing interest.
6. My name is Mike Shannon, and I stand by my postings and my opinions. I don't hide behind a cloak of darkness just to spread lies and p**s people off. As it's been for the last NINE years I've posted on this board: If you have a problem or issue with me or my comments, say so on the board, or send me a private message through the board, or email me at
[email protected], or you can even give me a call at 817/642-8383. I don't always have it right, I hear rumors and hearsay just like you all do, and most of what I write here is OPINION. Sometimes it comes out sounding worse that I intended. And, like each of you, I have radio people I love, and those that I loathe. I have people who've p**sed on me, and surely a few that I've p**sed on myself, although that's really not my style.
I urge each and every one to research anything you read on this entire website before you accept it as gospel.
It's probably necessary now to remind folks of the small print found at the bottom of EVERY page on Radio-Info.com:
"Postings on Radio-Info.com are the opinions of the people who post them. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of Radio-Info.com or its parent in3 media, inc. In fact many of the views expressed here are just plain wrong. But they are opinions and this site allows us all to discuss those opinions.
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Done with it!! See ya!
