why do they hire out of region

[cbsstaffer]

This has been going on since the explosion of radio in the late 50's, why do PD's, station owners., etc., always look out of the area for jock talent. There is so much talent in the area of the station so why do stations always go far outside the area to hire jocks. It would be more acceptable for a station to hire people who know the region and metro instead of someone from omaha, programming music for my taste and pretending to know all the hot spots in town. Hire locally for sakes alive....

 

[PhillyWatch]

With WYSP's recent ordeal, I would have had much more respect for them if they at least kept the talent local. They basically could have reverted to their pre-Free lineup since everyone was at their disposal- Spike was willing to come back, Matt and Huggy were ALREADY THERE, there was apparently some turmoil with Ed, but Tommy Conwell was (and is) employed there... you have a roster yet you search the country for talent. They expect that to bring back the ratings? (though we all know the major reason ratings are gone- theyre no longer broadcasting from high atop that Stern building anymore, plus their clueless running of the Talk format did not help matters)

 

[WTUX]

Hiring out of region is to seek talent which has proven itself in a major market outside of this area. It is viewed as if you made it there, you have a shot here. Even if you are from the Philly market, you need to develop your gig in other locals to be ready to make your mark here.

As pointed out, this was done extensively from the 50's onward. In the past, it was done to seek voices that did not have "local" accents. I am not sure how valid that view is today, with every market sounding like every other market to begin with. But it dos make you stronger as a radio talent.

 

[amfmsw]

It wasn't always so. Some of the biggest names in the Phila broadcast history were local hires.

Hy Lit WIBG from WHAT
Frank X. Feller WIBG from WTTM
Ed Hurst WPEN from WFPG
Tom Lamaine WIP-KYW-3 from WOND
Jim Nettleton WOGL/WCAU-FM/WFIL from WPAZ
Christy Springfield WXTU/WOGL from WAYV
Rod Carson WMMR from WMID Some with intermediate moves, some directly.

Many came from WAEB, WRAW, WPAZ, WCOJ, WCAM, WAYV, WMID, beginning part-time and moving up. Some from WGLS, WRTI, WXPN.

But those were the days when stations were live 24/7, and the overnights were fabulous for gold mining and developing talent.

 

[amfmsw]

Add one more.


I worked with Merle Reese when he was doing High School Football on WPAZ with Bob Eppheimer! I think Herb Scott paid $25 a game.

 

[sack]

It wasn't too long ago that there was a thread complaining that some Philly jocks keep getting recycled. Barsky comes to mind.
For a local talk show about local topics, a local would be best. But there is something to be said about bringing a new perspective to an area with someone that isn't local. I've moved around a little and picked up on the local stuff pretty quickly. In fact most station personel have been great about helping me settle in to and understand a new location.
For music, does it really matter if the liner card reader is local or from 1000 miles away?

Hire the best talent. If they have 20 years experience or 2 years, talent matters,,, not your hometown address.

 

[DToTheJ]

Christy Springfield WXTU/WOGL from WAYV

And as one resident poster would tell you, she also was at the old WCAU-FM.

 

[FM Dial]

I think with YSP they wanted to reimage the station and bringing back the same talent people would keep the FREE Disaster format fresh in people's minds. Also I think they hired came much cheaper!!

 

[PhillyWatch]

Also I think they hired came much cheaper!!

Yes, thats another reason- Its cheaper to bring in randoms from Tennessee than deal with former talent.

 

[WTUX]

To amfmsw. Nice list and interesting. Several local "kids" made good. One thing though. Jim Nettleton had to do a stint at WDRC in Hartford before being picked up by WFIL.

That often happens in major markets. A local talent may work at one or more suburban station, but must go to another city for awhile before coming back to home turf. In NYC, even Dan Ingram had to do that, leaving the metro area to work in St. Louis before landing at WABC.

 

[amfmsw]

Like I said, some with intremediate moves, some directly. Ingram also worked at WICC. He's still my favorite of all time. He didn't use pre-produced bits, just his quick wit. It also got him into trouble from time to time. Same with Joey Reynolds' stream of conciousnes. I don't remember him using bits until the WFIL days in the 80's.

Niagara was dramatic, like in his read for Muntz TV in the 1957 Cruisin' LP. Lit always made me smile as to how any human could speak so fast, yet easily comprehend every syllable. Even on AM. Nettleton had a great smile in his voice. Wasn't a huge fan of O'Brien though, as he somehow sounded phony. Loved him as Action News Weather Man though..he was perfect. Jerry Stevens was great on WMMR and WIBG. "93-three, W M M R, Philadelphia (cut from the Wizard of Oz: Dorothy "We're not in Kansas anymore Toto") "The Radio Station". I think Jerry came from Trenton as well as Frank X.

Oh well, this belong in another post.