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TRAFFIC

A

aqualung

Guest
So is doing traffic a passion of some sort? Some having been doing it for a few years now and I'm wondering if it's supposed to lead to something else. Not criticizing the people who do it but do they try to get out or is it the end to all means for them?
 
Re: Why does Rhode Island even need radio Traffic reports on the radio?

I was driving down 146 this afternoon around 4:30 and that big yellow sign said "Congeston at exit 20". I needed the RT 10 exit right before that and sure enough The exit for Atwells Ave was backed up.The other night coming home from work IT said "Winter Conditions Drive with Caution". I have also seen these signs from the DOT tell motorists about an upcomming accident. I cant count how many times a report on the radio was wrong or I am sitting in traffic jam just to hear that there is an accident a mile ahead of where I was.If I knew ahead of time I more than likely would go another way.
Now, I do like Mike Sheridan.B101's traffic sounds like its canned and the same report runs on all the other CC stations. Why do I know this? There is no outro or intro saying B101. A generic ending is all I hear and NO interaction with Amy Hagan.How old is that report at 4:20? Was it put in at 3:50.

Moral. With the technoligy out there does radio really need traffic reports now?
 
Of course the traffic reports are needed. Those "winter conditions" alerts aggravate me as they do nothing but tell drivers what they already know. They're not specific. As far as hearing about congestion as you approach it,you can't have all-traffic-all-the-time so you're bound to either miss something or catch it too late when the station you're listening to does a regular update.

As far as traffic reporting itself as a career thing,it's good networking but was better networking when there were jobs to network into,mainly on the weekend. I think David Belanger would sound good on a few stations in Providence as a jock.
 
Mike Sheridan is a staple around here. 25 years in the business. He is the name you instantly think of in Rhode Island when hear the word traffic. Nobody does it better! I also remember that we had the "Spy in the Sky" which was a great catch phrase! I believe his name was Tony Dibiasio? He seemed to have vanished into thin air many moons ago. WPRO had Joe Fusco and the CVS Samaritan Van. That's a guy who I had totally forgotton about until just this moment. But it doesn't matter how many names I can pull out of my memory bank anyway. Mike Sheridan is still the most well known. He is The Man!
 
Ah for the good old days when both WJAR and WPRO had flying traffic reporters.

In the mid 60's I was a student pilot flying with Eastair who had the trade-out with WPRO. Bobby Thornton was the pilot-reporter. I used to fly with him, "under the hood", practicing instrument flying while he reported. got about 40-hours instruction that way.

Bobby later died in an most unfortunate mid-air collision at the edge of what was then called "Hillsgrove".
 
Re: Why does Rhode Island even need radio Traffic reports on the radio?

kenwood101 said:
Now, I do like Mike Sheridan.B101's traffic sounds like its canned and the same report runs on all the other CC stations. Why do I know this? There is no outro or intro saying B101. A generic ending is all I hear and NO interaction with Amy Hagan.How old is that report at 4:20? Was it put in at 3:50.

Moral. With the technoligy out there does radio really need traffic reports now?
Click to expand...
if im not mistaken clear channel went to a new traffick network..... and i think the reports actually come out of boston now..... and im still trying to figure out why big jim went to traffic reporter wouldnt that be a demotion? or im guessing he got a full time job with the network that does the traffic for clear channel... but now that i think about the last few weeks i havent heard big jim doing traffick.... aaron sawyer has been doing..... i dunnno
 
Re: Why does Rhode Island even need radio Traffic reports on the radio?

if im not mistaken clear channel went to a new traffick network..... and i think the reports actually come out of boston now..... and im still trying to figure out why big jim went to traffic reporter wouldnt that be a demotion? or im guessing he got a full time job with the network that does the traffic for clear channel... but now that i think about the last few weeks i havent heard big jim doing traffick.... aaron sawyer has been doing..... i dunnno
[/quote]

Demotion from what?
 
no dis respect to any traffic reporter but he was doing nights on hjy after doug and before quinn and cantara... then went to overnights i think just before going to traffic we was part of the full time air staff
 
I like to have listeners call in and do their own traffic reports..while I pretend to do chopper sound effects in the background..
 
I work for Metro Networks, filling in when people are out(I mainly produce), and I can tell you, if a report is wrong, call PRO's tip line(421-WPRO) that is probably the single biggest help in the mornings, specially if we don't have airborne(he can't fly in the rain, duh!). A lot of time we are relying on the police scanner for info outside of providence, since most cameras are in the Provideence/EP/Pawtucket and Warwick/Cranston area.

As for why I work there? Well, its not the first thing I want to do in life, but it can be a very interesting job, in that it is almost never the same thing each day. I don't want to be there the rest of my life, but if thats how it ends up, I'm cool with it. I like everyone there.

Clear Channel did go to there own traffic, and as a listener, I agree, it sounds Canned, crappy, and more rushed then some of WPRO's reports during the busier hours of the day.
 
I'd like to add my own persective as a full-time traffic reporter in NYC for the past 13 years.

Previously I was the afternoon driver for an oldies am/fm combo (WNNJ, Newton NJ). One day we showed up to find the owners had replaced all us live dj's with the Jones service (they then later sold to Nassau...which sold to CC).

Desperate for work, I shopped my T&A everywhere. A guy I knew from an even earlier gig, who then went on to Shadow Traffic, suggested I apply there. I didn't want to, as I'd always considered it a place for jocks who weren't good enough to actually host a show. But I had bills to pay, so.....

I'm glad I did. They took me on after a tryout and an (unpaid) month long training session. After that though, the perks became very evident. It's an AFTRA gig, so in addition to making 3 times as much money as my old job, we also get medical, dental, guaranteed annual raises and are vested in a retirement fund.

Aside from that obvious financial boon, there is also a less obvious one: relative job security. Shadow Traffic, where I work, is never going to flip format. Similarly, I don't have to worry that my station's book looks lousy this quarter, and will the GM decide to bring in a new team to rectify that. Unless I really screw up to the point where major subscriber stations decide they don't want me on their airwaves, I've got a job.

I grant you, it's not as ego-stroking as jocking my own show. But I've been able to buy a nice house, a couple of cars, keep up my hobby of racing motorcycles, get married, and pack my fridge with micro-brews for almost a decade and a half now without worrying about showing up to work one morning and finding my station has just been sold to Jones again and I'm out on the street. That means more and more to me, the longer I'm in this business.

And just personally, I actually do enjoy the work. Here in the NYC market, there is traffic all the time so the days fly by. It's always busy, there's always something to talk about, and you know that (especially during drive time) tons of people are listening to you. Plus, you get to be on a lot of stations (I'm on 11 every day) and many of them make you part of the show. You really get to show your chops to diverse audiences in several formats. I'm lucky that I'm part of the morning team on WOR, as heavily promoted as the hosts, and am now even more recognizable than when I had my own show at a smaller station. I even get mobbed at their remotes, just like the two hosts - and sometimes their remotes are in great locations, like Ireland for St. Patty's Day! It's weird actually, but...I have to say, I love it :)

So hopefully that answers your question a bit, as to why some announcers don't mind staying "mere traffic reporters" their entire carreer.

Tom
 
Aside from the financial, I agree with every word.
And thanks, Skynet.
 
Mike -

"Aside from the financial"?

Are you in a union shop?

C'mon, after 25 years of being one of the most recognisable voices in your market, you MUST be being well compensated!

Er...right?
 
I think the traffic reportoring have gotten better over the years... Don't they have the DOT camera to keep an eye out on the roadways, now that they no longer go up in the plane? The camera's are real time, so they see it as it happens and I'm sure they work with the DOT with the signs and all.
 
Little Rhody Fan said:
Don't they have the DOT camera to keep an eye out on the roadways... ? The camera's are real time, so they see it as it happens
Click to expand...
Yes. One day that comes to mind is that last good storm we had in March I think, watching one camera as cars spun around on the highway like it was a ballet.
 
Re: Why does Rhode Island even need radio Traffic reports on the radio?

kenwood101 said:
I cant count how many times a report on the radio was wrong or I am sitting in traffic jam just to hear that there is an accident a mile ahead of where I was.If I knew ahead of time I more than likely would go another way. Now, I do like Mike Sheridan.B101's traffic sounds like its canned and the same report runs on all the other CC stations. Why do I know this? There is no outro or intro saying B101. A generic ending is all I hear and NO interaction with Amy Hagan.How old is that report at 4:20? Was it put in at 3:50.

Moral. With the technoligy out there does radio really need traffic reports now?
Click to expand...

All due respects Kenny, Mike hasnt been doing traffic reports on B101 in almost two years!

If you feel the traffic reports on the stations you listen to aren't giving you the information you need, then maybe its time to change channels!!

Skynet mentioned Joe Fusco! Joe worked, in fact still works for AAA, although is no longer involved in gathering traffic information for Metro. The CVS van is still on the road, and driven by Glen!

Jazzy
 
Just to jump in here, Mike did traffic for me when I did PM drive at WMYD 1370 Wickford in 82-83.If I'm not mistaken he also did an Irish show as well....

Dave (Dave Allen)Gardiner

WVCH 740/WNWR 1540

Philadelphia
 
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