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WNIR treatment of employees

L

linesropen

Anyone else disturbed that WNIR is no longer paying Tom Erickson? Seems pretty cheap. He's been there forever and it means very little.

They did the same a few years back to Jim Middock and also their engineer (Sass).

I know - its business and not personal - but for a station that sells itself as a "family" and wants unwavering loyalty from employees and listeners, seems like they should do a little more.
 
This is not indentured servitude.

You feel bad for Tom and his family, but he is no different than employees at any company. You have sick leave, FMLA and access (hopefully) to short and long term disability. Klaus and Co. aren't under any obligation to pay an employee who can't perform their duties. That’s harsh sounding, but factual.
 
All I will I say regarding Tom is that I hope he gets better and has a full recovery. My heart goes out to him and his family.

WNIR is a better operation compared to WKTX, broadcasted in Youngstown or Warren, but located in Lakewood. The facilities I've heard from a friend who tried out for a job is HORRIBLE!

The operations is very cheap, the staffing is beyond slim and everything looks dirty. No one there wears anything that is professional. My friend told me a guy was walking out of the facilities wearing only shorts and flip-flops while holding a cat. Its building looks to be the former Lawson's/Dairy Mart location. Weird how that is now a radio station.
 
I interned, albeit briefly, at WKTK's Lakewood location. This was 1991. It was rough for wear then. My second week there they (the owners) offered me the Operations position. I wisely declined. I lasted two more weeks then bolted.
 
Isn't there a main studio rule they're violating on WKTX, running a Cortland licensed station all the way over in Lakewood? Or do they have a waiver?
 
OhioMediaWatch, who knows. They might have saw a leeway to keep the physical location in Cuyahoga County. WKTX looks to be non-existant until hopefully someone picks up the station. Maybe move the studios to Youngstown or the signal to Cleveland. They have to change how the managers run the station.

VODood, you're lucky to escape such a crummy operation. You definitely were better off elsewhere. I just hope you didn't see anyone shirtless. :)
 
Listened to Bob Golic on the mid-day show yesterday and 2 thoughts came to mind:

1. He would have been the better choice to succeed Howie.
2. Kaiser Bill really screwed up putting that Couch Burner on the schedule. He's more suited for weekends and fill-in.

With the Jeff Kinzbach debacle, the station looked more like a Clear Channel operation than the locally owned station that it is.

But, as OMW stated on his site, the station really lowered their expectations with Couch Burner.

At least they're keeping Tom Erickson's slot open for him, when and if he returns.
 
WNIR thought going cheap would be the way to go here. Not sure how long Couch Burner is signed to a contract but my guess is that it is not for long and it is not for much money. Jeff Kinzbach should have been hired by the station and they could have moved Bob Golic to middays and Kinzbach in afternoon drive. The old saying goes "You get what you paid for" and WNIR is getting that. You have an amateur in a highly competitive time slot.
 
RE: WKTX...it's AM, it's brokered ethnic programming, and doesn't show up in the ratings. And, it's daytime only. No regular broadcast operation will touch it, unless they find some ethnic or religious broadcaster who wants the signal for a full time format.
 
I agree with John Baylor. When I heard Jeff K. on WNIR....I didn't even know it was him.

The Klauses were in a no-win situation. There's no replacing a unique talent like Howie Chizek. No matter who they hired, that person was going to be very, very different, and be a huge change to the audience who'd gotten very comfortable with Howie.

Why move Golic, who's well-established in afternoon drive, and make big changes to TWO of the 3 main time slots? That makes no sense at all.

And, as far as Couch Burner's salary....how do any of you know what he's being paid? You're just guessing. None of us know what he's earning.

Because the station didn't do what you guys wanted, you assume they are cheap. That's not fair.

I've personally and professionally known people at WNIR for 30+ years. None of the daytime hosts have ever complained about what they are paid. And, you certainly can NOT say that about 90% of the radio stations in northeastern Ohio.
 
Tim's got a point and so does John. I personally don't really know what goes on at WNIR and how its employees are.

I think Couch Burner was chosen because of his connection with Howie as a caller, and the station might have gotten some positive feedback on him. Maybe he'll learn and get better as time goes on. I think another reason is that he fits in with the other personalities.

I feel bad for Jeff and how the situation with him was handled. He did deserve better, but he's better off at WNCX as he sounds great filling-in. I wish Jeff all the best, as well as Couch Burner.
 
CleveFan said:
Tim's got a point and so does John. I personally don't really know what goes on at WNIR and how its employees are.

I think Couch Burner was chosen because of his connection with Howie as a caller, and the station might have gotten some positive feedback on him. Maybe he'll learn and get better as time goes on. I think another reason is that he fits in with the other personalities.

I feel bad for Jeff and how the situation with him was handled. He did deserve better, but he's better off at WNCX as he sounds great filling-in. I wish Jeff all the best, as well as Couch Burner.
Click to expand...

Suspect that "Couch Burner" came a lot cheaper. A lot.

We live in an era where professional on-air hosts are no longer deemed necessary by many owners. Just give the secretary the air shift.

Or your assistant promotion director.
 
As former employee at WNIR I can tell you point blank the Klaus family is one of the best employers I have ever worked for. The fact is WNIR has one of most diverse cast of characters each with baggage, personality flaws and some cases failures. The employee turnover is very rare there and it truly an honor to work there.

Why? The Klaus Family is very understanding and loyal to their employees. It is a inner circle where everyone could co-exist even if they had issues with someone. Criticism lobbed at the handling Erikson's health is bitter fact of reality. I know this... Bob and Bill will do what they can within logical reason to help Tom. However, they do have a business to run. Are they frugal as all get out? Yes. Any company that takes lights out of soda machines to save electricity is definitely not a waster. But there is a bigger picture Local Radio.

Every shift is manned. Syndication is used sparingly.I would argue it is a blueprint for LOCAL Radio. In a time where Cumulus and Clear Channel cut for the sake of cutting. WNIR is now looking like big spenders compared to say 10 years ago. Getting a job at WNIR is rare because everyone stays. They may not always be happy or content but, it was never horrible.

I left not because it was bad but I wanted bigger challenges in bigger markets. WNIR gave me an opportunity of a lifetime and I took it. WNIR is giving a chance to a guy with unlimited opportunity. Couch Burner has been given a legendary spot that most radio pros would have Pined after. Bill and Bob know how to win so let them.
 
Jeff Kinzbach is a Cleveland radio ratings winner for many years vs Couch Burner it is easy to figure out that Kinzbach would cost more even if he was many years removed from his radio glory. Be apologists all you want for the Klauses (everybody has apologists) but the fact remains the contest was a sham and most people in the business can figure that out.
 
CleveRadioInsider said:
Jeff Kinzbach is a Cleveland radio ratings winner for many years vs Couch Burner it is easy to figure out that Kinzbach would cost more even if he was many years removed from his radio glory. Be apologists all you want for the Klauses (everybody has apologists) but the fact remains the contest was a sham and most people in the business can figure that out.
Click to expand...
Kinzbach was Cleveland Ratings winner 20 years ago Does he have talent? Yes. However, he is not an Akron Guy nor was he a ratings winner in talk radio. WNIR works by a formula and without talking with the Klauses I bet they were indeed betting on keeping the slot more Howie-friendly than complete rebuild.

Do you remember the replacement process of Jim Albright? They had a week of host tryouts and then midweek decide to go with Tom Leykis. Jim Albright was/is an irreplaceable talent. The move was good for a year and then they eased Tom Erikson's transformation strategically and it worked out for them. They basically did the same thing with Finan and Golic worked out. Funny how some were skeptical on Golic lasting. Regardless, it is the Klauses that have the most to lose and they are rare breed today being locally owned and operated.
 
Maybe Jeff's a great guy. He should've been shown a little more respect in the situation at WNIR, most likely.

But, all in all, in a near impossible task of replacing a local legend....Couch Burner or Jim Isabella are IMHO much, much, much better candidates for Howie's shift than a former music jock, who hasn't been on local radio for a couple decades, and who's really not a natural talk show host. No offense, just being real.
 
Tim said:
Maybe Jeff's a great guy. He should've been shown a little more respect in the situation at WNIR, most likely.

But, all in all, in a near impossible task of replacing a local legend....Couch Burner or Jim Isabella are IMHO much, much, much better candidates for Howie's shift than a former music jock, who hasn't been on local radio for a couple decades, and who's really not a natural talk show host. No offense, just being real.
Click to expand...

Kinzbach was not exactly "a music jock" on WMMS. Jeff and Flash's WMMS AM Drive show was mostly non-music.

I still think it boiled down to money. Jeff is a pro. Pros cost money. Amateurs don't.
 
Supposedly Howie Chizek was in the 150K++ range.

If the Klaus' really thought hiring Jeff was a slam-dunk....if he was so fantastic, obviously money wouldn't have been an issue.

The type of talk Jeff & Flash did on WMMS back in the 70's and 80's is very different from local talk on a station like WNIR in 2012.

It takes a person with a very special skills. And, it isn't an easy format to do day after day after day. Talk stations have a really difficult time finding on-air personalities who truly fit.

And, who knows if Couch Burner or anybody else can adequately replace Howie. For the sake of the station and my friends who work there...I hope so.

I loved Jeff when he and Flash were on WMMS. Not so much when they were on 1100 (I think it was 3WE then). And, during his audition on WNIR recently...I didn't even recognize his voice. Just based on his audition (once he finally gave his name), I think he just didn't fit that station.
 
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