I agree completely. CC did seem to suck the air out of WILM, once they took over. I also hope Mark, if he hasn't already, lands something and is successful. I too enjoyed working for and with Mark during my 7 part time years at WILM and wish him the best.
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WILM LETS GO OF MARK FOWSER
- Thread starter Mattjon
- Start date
Apparently Mark has landed at WHYY.
Total remaining at WILM is three full timers (counting Watson) and two part-timers. It's curious that Clear Channel did not (or has not) dropped Watson. His show is not doing that well in the ratings and as already pointed out, Clear Channel's main interest is in getting their own shows cleared. It seems like Clear Channel would want to get Glenn Beck cleared in Delaware. Given that they only have a skeleton news staff any more, they might as well pick up Imus in the Morning, too.
Total remaining at WILM is three full timers (counting Watson) and two part-timers. It's curious that Clear Channel did not (or has not) dropped Watson. His show is not doing that well in the ratings and as already pointed out, Clear Channel's main interest is in getting their own shows cleared. It seems like Clear Channel would want to get Glenn Beck cleared in Delaware. Given that they only have a skeleton news staff any more, they might as well pick up Imus in the Morning, too.
Mark Fowser will be a good addition to WHYY's news department. Beck is aired on WDOV -Dover , but you're right, it is surprising that CC hasn't put Beck on WILM. My guess is when Watson retires Beck will replace him. Actually, I'd put Ted Efay on, but CC will probably put Beck.
WILM may have a small news team, but they still are putting together an informative news block. Valarie Mack would be more listenable if she somehow got rid of the sing-songy voice she uses, Phil Felciangeli (sp) has a great voice and it's good to hear him being used more, but other than Valerie's voice, WILM provides essentially the same news as WDEL, but with far less spots and hype. WILM gives more emphasis to the weather when they are reading it so you don't miss it vs WDEL gives a very quick snippet which when you're busy getting ready for work you can miss as they hype it so you have to wait to hear the full forcast. WDEL does that and it comes across more like a segway to something else rather than the weather which most people do want to hear while getting ready for work. For me I just don't have time for that, I want the weather the first time around in a clear manner. So for me, WILM in the early morning fills my needs faster with less hype and spots than WDEL. You actually get more news stories on WILM due to the lighter spot load than WDEL (good for the listener, not so good for CC's bottom line).
WILM may have a small news team, but they still are putting together an informative news block. Valarie Mack would be more listenable if she somehow got rid of the sing-songy voice she uses, Phil Felciangeli (sp) has a great voice and it's good to hear him being used more, but other than Valerie's voice, WILM provides essentially the same news as WDEL, but with far less spots and hype. WILM gives more emphasis to the weather when they are reading it so you don't miss it vs WDEL gives a very quick snippet which when you're busy getting ready for work you can miss as they hype it so you have to wait to hear the full forcast. WDEL does that and it comes across more like a segway to something else rather than the weather which most people do want to hear while getting ready for work. For me I just don't have time for that, I want the weather the first time around in a clear manner. So for me, WILM in the early morning fills my needs faster with less hype and spots than WDEL. You actually get more news stories on WILM due to the lighter spot load than WDEL (good for the listener, not so good for CC's bottom line).
What you're referring to is not uncommon in many markets with one outlet doing actual reporting and other outlets airing news. The outlet doing the reporting (TV, radio or newspaper) keeps its website updated with current stories. The AP checks the website and sends stories out on the wire, which the other outlets pick up. Add to that everybody getting the same press releases. It's not surprising everybody does the same news. Once upon a time, stations listened to the competition for news leads, now the web has made that unnecessary.MikefromDelaware said:
I know we are all concerned about CC's bottom line. :
Even so, some of those extra stories often come from the bottom of the barrel. I go to the radio for news a lot less than I used to. The web also allows me to pick the stories I'm interested in for myself and not wait for scheduled news broadcasts either. Any PC and most smart phones have more and better access to news than most radio newsrooms did a few years ago.
In the morning when I'm getting ready for work, I don't have time to fool with the computer or sit and watch TV, so radio is a good choice as I'm moving about the house from bedroom, to bathroom, to kitchen, etc racing to get out the door for the commute to work.
WILM's presentation of the news is easier to follow, especially to catch the weather as they do traffic and weather together. So you hear the traffic report sounder and then the traffic report, you know immediately after that without any spot break, comes the weather read in a clear consist manner without rushing through it as Peter and Melanie tend to do, more like its a segway to something else more important. For me the weather and the traffic report are the most important bit of info either WDEL or WILM is presenting prior to me leaving the house to go to work. I've tried to listen to WDEL prior to going to work and I end up missing the weather as they seem to slip it in and I miss it. So the slower paced less hyped morning news on WILM works better for me than than WDEL's. Others may hear it differently, that's OK, which is why its great that both WDEL and WILM with WDOV similcasting in Dover offer their respective morning drive time news blocks.
WILM's presentation of the news is easier to follow, especially to catch the weather as they do traffic and weather together. So you hear the traffic report sounder and then the traffic report, you know immediately after that without any spot break, comes the weather read in a clear consist manner without rushing through it as Peter and Melanie tend to do, more like its a segway to something else more important. For me the weather and the traffic report are the most important bit of info either WDEL or WILM is presenting prior to me leaving the house to go to work. I've tried to listen to WDEL prior to going to work and I end up missing the weather as they seem to slip it in and I miss it. So the slower paced less hyped morning news on WILM works better for me than than WDEL's. Others may hear it differently, that's OK, which is why its great that both WDEL and WILM with WDOV similcasting in Dover offer their respective morning drive time news blocks.
MikefromDelaware said:
Interesting you mentioned you don't have time for the computer or TV and you didn't even mention the newspaper.
The great advantage of newspapers is you can/could pick the stories you want to read and read as much or as little as you want. Radio got it's foot in the news door when it could offer headlines between newspaper editions. Radio's drawback is they pick the stories and one size must fit all. So stories are dumbed down and can't run longer than 40 seconds. Same applies to the tabloid-trash TV, which is presented as news. Except for the blind, radio is really a poor way to deliver any news beyond bulletins.
I did some research for a major broadcast group a while back. One of things we found is people who listen to music in the morning want to be eased into the day (they also use the snooze button several times first). People who listen to news don't necessarily want the news itself, they want more of a push and the sound of a voice gets them going and the format of the news broadcast gives them time checkpoints to help them know whether they are running late or early in the morning routine (if the traffic is on, I should have my teeth brushed). People who listen to news also tend to be more concerned about being late and to feel time pressure more.
I don't have time to sit and read the newspaper on a weekday (they did away with the evening paper - Evening Journal - when I'd have time to sit and read it). We don't subscribe to the News Journal, because most days it wouldn't get read. We do buy it some days, but we always buy it on Sunday. After church, we'll sit and read the paper. We've got time then, so we can relax and enjoy it. You're right, with the newspaper, you get to pick what stories you're going to read. The other good thing about a newspaper is they go into more detail and depth.
For radio, NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered do a pretty good job of going into more depth than is typical on radio. Also the BBC radio world newshour (at 9am on WHYY-FM) offers in depth news coverage.
But commercial radio doesn't really do much that way, other than maybe the CBS radio Weekend Roundup (an hour program), heard on WDEL 3pm on Sundays if not preempted for baseball or football.
For radio, NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered do a pretty good job of going into more depth than is typical on radio. Also the BBC radio world newshour (at 9am on WHYY-FM) offers in depth news coverage.
But commercial radio doesn't really do much that way, other than maybe the CBS radio Weekend Roundup (an hour program), heard on WDEL 3pm on Sundays if not preempted for baseball or football.
I 'm not sure if anyone posted this yet but Mark Fowser is now a traffic reporter on KYW. I heard him a few times in the last several weeks.
I heard Mark Fowser today as a Delaware reporter on WHYY-FM. So maybe Mark is doing part time at both WHYY and KYW.
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