Lately, It's been wonderful to hear Sen.Bob Hedlund and the legendary Avi Nelson holding court on 680AM(WRKO) from 12pm-2pm, and 2pm-4pm respectively,on Saturday afternoons filling in for Mariellen Burns and Ellen O'Brien.I say keep these 2 guys and send these 2 irritating liberal hackchicks on a permanent vacation. Hedlund and Nelson are more informative than anybody else currently on the radio spewing about national and local politics.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
WRKO weekend subs 'even better than the real thing'
- Thread starter RickyF
- Start date
W
wavelength9
Guest
I have to agree with RickyF. As I moderate to liberal, I don't agree with Avi Nelson or Bob Hedland, but they both present their position in an intelligent manner. Hedland used to jock at WATD for free and buys time to did his own Monday night political show, and is a student of radio. Avi can be a little dull at times but I like the way he treats his callers and how he frames his argument.
I believe Eleen O'Brien left the staion at the end of the summer so you may hear Avi every Saturday after the Red Sox win the World Series.
I wish RKO didn't have to run those scam infomercials from those get rich quick hucksters on the weekend.
I believe Eleen O'Brien left the staion at the end of the summer so you may hear Avi every Saturday after the Red Sox win the World Series.
I wish RKO didn't have to run those scam infomercials from those get rich quick hucksters on the weekend.
yup...btw years ago there was a book (still around, used, or in libraries) about Avi and also
Jerry Williams: Talk Radio and the American Dream by Murray Levin
(and "Auntie Donna" Halper has a book on talk radio coming out soon)
Jerry Williams: Talk Radio and the American Dream by Murray Levin
(and "Auntie Donna" Halper has a book on talk radio coming out soon)
P
Pat Lucci
Guest
Speaking of Maryellen Burns. Is it me or does anyone else have a problem with the ethics associated with a person who works at a Public Relations firm having a radio show transmitted over the "Public Ether?" Does this not put her in a position to provide her clients with air time not likely available to their competitors? Does it not provide her firm with access to air time not likely available to her competitors?
W
wavelength9
Guest
Can you please share with us the clients who receive free air time on the maryEllen Burns show? Charlie Manning has had his own show and makes regular appearances on WRKO, BZ and TKK and I have never heard any one raise the question about who his clients are?
P
Pat Lucci
Guest
Wavelength,
I do not know who her clients may be. That is part of the point. When I was at WEEI NewsRadio, the sales people were not allowed into the newsroom, not because they would or could influence us to slant a story, but because appropriate ethics does not even allow them the opportunity to make an attempt to influence what goes on there. Therefore they could not even come in.
And yes, if Charlie Manning had a show he shouldn't have, and ditto that for Michael Goldman when he was inappropriately at WRKO.
Proper ethics apply to conservatives and liberals.
I do not know who her clients may be. That is part of the point. When I was at WEEI NewsRadio, the sales people were not allowed into the newsroom, not because they would or could influence us to slant a story, but because appropriate ethics does not even allow them the opportunity to make an attempt to influence what goes on there. Therefore they could not even come in.
And yes, if Charlie Manning had a show he shouldn't have, and ditto that for Michael Goldman when he was inappropriately at WRKO.
Proper ethics apply to conservatives and liberals.
I agree Avi Nelson and Bob Hedlund have been excellent to listen to recently. However, one has to wonder how long WRKO will have any remaining live and local talk on Saturdays with all the cost cutting moves going on there.
I caught Hedlunds show on WATD yesterday and I thought I was hearing things- he had Finneran on. It was pretty entertaining. They were both quite funny. Owner Ed Perry was on too and Hedlund said something about Perry offering a deal to Finneran to lure him from WRKO, and did he have a non compete clause!
I caught Hedlunds show on WATD yesterday and I thought I was hearing things- he had Finneran on. It was pretty entertaining. They were both quite funny. Owner Ed Perry was on too and Hedlund said something about Perry offering a deal to Finneran to lure him from WRKO, and did he have a non compete clause!
Spackle and paste informercials and the occasional N.E. Revs or college sports tilt...weekends on RKO!
W
wavelength9
Guest
So as far as you know she has never talked about a company her firm represents and if she did, you don't think she would have enough integrity to disclose the possible conflict. Ok
I guess by the same token when you hosted your short lived computer show, RKO should have prevented you from doing any computer consulting work because there may be a possible conflict.
Ms. Burns spent over ten years working as a TV reporter and as a spokesperson for the Boston Police and the Mass Turnpike. She brings an interesting perspective to the table and I have no problem with the fact that she works in public relations during the week.
Given the fact that it is pretty hard to find good people to do a two or three hour show on a Saturday I think she was a good hire
I guess by the same token when you hosted your short lived computer show, RKO should have prevented you from doing any computer consulting work because there may be a possible conflict.
Ms. Burns spent over ten years working as a TV reporter and as a spokesperson for the Boston Police and the Mass Turnpike. She brings an interesting perspective to the table and I have no problem with the fact that she works in public relations during the week.
Given the fact that it is pretty hard to find good people to do a two or three hour show on a Saturday I think she was a good hire
B
Bakers_Bookstore
Guest
Wrong thread
W
wavelength9
Guest
How is the fact that she works for the PR company that represents the station a conflict. By virtue of being a a part time employee of Entercom one can't expect her to have a neutral view of Entercom affairs can they?
P
Pat Lucci
Guest
Wavelength,
First, I was not a consultant at that time. I was a full time employee at a chip company headquartered in Texas. I never even said the name of the company on air.
Second, my program was short lived because I couldn't afford the prep time necessary to maintain a quality show. Additionally, I wanted my Sundays back. It simply wasn't fun and it certanly wasn't lucrative.
Third, as I told you, it is not that she ever had a client on. Neither you nor I know that she did or did not. The ethical breach is the opportunity to do so. This is why you cannot even buy a Globe reporter lunch. The Globe has decided that the opportunity for impropriety is worth eliminating.
Fourth, you may think that she was a good hire but if you look at WRKOs raitings and see that Entercom's stock price is hovering just above or just below $1.00 depending on what time it is, I would say the marketplace disagrees with you.
First, I was not a consultant at that time. I was a full time employee at a chip company headquartered in Texas. I never even said the name of the company on air.
Second, my program was short lived because I couldn't afford the prep time necessary to maintain a quality show. Additionally, I wanted my Sundays back. It simply wasn't fun and it certanly wasn't lucrative.
Third, as I told you, it is not that she ever had a client on. Neither you nor I know that she did or did not. The ethical breach is the opportunity to do so. This is why you cannot even buy a Globe reporter lunch. The Globe has decided that the opportunity for impropriety is worth eliminating.
Fourth, you may think that she was a good hire but if you look at WRKOs raitings and see that Entercom's stock price is hovering just above or just below $1.00 depending on what time it is, I would say the marketplace disagrees with you.
W
wavelength9
Guest
I don't know how you can draw a direct connection between a person who hosts a three hour weekend show on one station and the stock price of a large national radio company that has mutiple properties in 23 different markets.
Entercom's problems have more to do with the soft economy, ad dollars being shifted to other places and in this market, the very high price they paid for the Red Sox rights and almost zero to do with who is on from 1 to 3 on Saturdays. Can you name a public radio company that's stock is doing well?
Finally, I give Ms. Burns more credit than to imply that she would have one of her clients on as guest or to discuss a topic that involved a client without disclosing her affiliation with said company.
Entercom's problems have more to do with the soft economy, ad dollars being shifted to other places and in this market, the very high price they paid for the Red Sox rights and almost zero to do with who is on from 1 to 3 on Saturdays. Can you name a public radio company that's stock is doing well?
Finally, I give Ms. Burns more credit than to imply that she would have one of her clients on as guest or to discuss a topic that involved a client without disclosing her affiliation with said company.
W
wavelength9
Guest
Since I don't know what computer company you worked for, how do I know you were not singing the praises of the company all the time? How do I know you were not planning on setting up your consulting business and telling perspective clients that you could use your radio show to help their business?
By your standards anyone who works or worked in the computer industry should be prevented form hosting a computer show because there may at some point be a conflict.
By your standards anyone who works or worked in the computer industry should be prevented form hosting a computer show because there may at some point be a conflict.
P
Pat Lucci
Guest
First, the stock price is a reflection of how the company operates. Entercom makes all sorts of bad decisions on content and who delivers it. I know, I worked there.
Second, if you read my post, I said I worked for a CHIP company not a computer company. I guess I could have done a segment on Cladd D digital audio amplification chips but it probably wouldn't have gotten too many calls. I was doing the program as an industry expert in much the same way as the guys who do financial shows.
Finally, what you don't seem to get is that even if she never had a client on ait, in communications it is considered an ethical breach for her to be in the position to do so. I'm not making this up. That is the way the industry works.
Second, if you read my post, I said I worked for a CHIP company not a computer company. I guess I could have done a segment on Cladd D digital audio amplification chips but it probably wouldn't have gotten too many calls. I was doing the program as an industry expert in much the same way as the guys who do financial shows.
Finally, what you don't seem to get is that even if she never had a client on ait, in communications it is considered an ethical breach for her to be in the position to do so. I'm not making this up. That is the way the industry works.
W
wavelength9
Guest
Mr, Lucci,
As someone who has worked full time in radio since 1981, I am pretty comfortable saying I know how the industry works.
In her capacity at WRKO, MaryEllen Burns is a talk show personality who is paid to give her opinion on a wide variety of topics. Talk show hosts, unlike news reporters, are not expected to be neutral, they shill for products, do live remotes and engage in all sorts of promotions. They are not held to the same standard as a news person.
If I am not mistaken, you hosted a weekend show on RKO for a short period of time. Did this allow you that much insight into the inner workings of the station and Entercom? How often were you at the station during the week when 90% of the staff were there? Did you attend the weekly managers staff meetings? How often did you sit down with Tom Baker or Al Mayers and discuss the decisions that we being made in Bala Cynwood? I worked weekends at BZ radio for more than 3 years and I can tell you I had little insight into why and how decisions were made.
As someone who has worked full time in radio since 1981, I am pretty comfortable saying I know how the industry works.
In her capacity at WRKO, MaryEllen Burns is a talk show personality who is paid to give her opinion on a wide variety of topics. Talk show hosts, unlike news reporters, are not expected to be neutral, they shill for products, do live remotes and engage in all sorts of promotions. They are not held to the same standard as a news person.
If I am not mistaken, you hosted a weekend show on RKO for a short period of time. Did this allow you that much insight into the inner workings of the station and Entercom? How often were you at the station during the week when 90% of the staff were there? Did you attend the weekly managers staff meetings? How often did you sit down with Tom Baker or Al Mayers and discuss the decisions that we being made in Bala Cynwood? I worked weekends at BZ radio for more than 3 years and I can tell you I had little insight into why and how decisions were made.
P
Pat Lucci
Guest
Mr. Wavelength9,
I too know a bit about the industry. From the mid 70s until 1985, I was a reporter at WEEI. I know all about journalists versus hosts because I have been both. I never met with Tom Baker unless it was a casual hello. I reported to Jay Clark, the PD who hired me. When I leftWEEI in 1985, I was asked to stay on part time to do tech reports on a more limited basis. At the time I was working at a lobbibg firm. A condition of mine was that at the end of each report, my sign off had to change to say from XYZ lobbying group Patrick Lucci for WEEI rather than Patrick Lucci WEEI 590 News. It was important for ethical reasons that I was represented as a consultant not a reporter.
We can agree to disagree on this. BTW, if you want to know how the decision to hire her was made, ask George Regan, her boss at the PR firm. One of his clients is Entercom, for as long as they remain in business.
Where I agree that a host should be opiniated, he or she should also be fair. When you are being paid big bucks by a client to provide air time on your show being fair may go out the window.
I'm not saying that she ever did or ever would. I'm only saying she, or anyone else, should not be in the position.
One of my jobs at the lobbying firm was to put a package every week that was distributed via bird to Mutual and NPR radio stations. Clients paid us to write, record and distribute the package. It always went out with a disclaimner that we wrote abd distributed on behalf of our clients.
I too know a bit about the industry. From the mid 70s until 1985, I was a reporter at WEEI. I know all about journalists versus hosts because I have been both. I never met with Tom Baker unless it was a casual hello. I reported to Jay Clark, the PD who hired me. When I leftWEEI in 1985, I was asked to stay on part time to do tech reports on a more limited basis. At the time I was working at a lobbibg firm. A condition of mine was that at the end of each report, my sign off had to change to say from XYZ lobbying group Patrick Lucci for WEEI rather than Patrick Lucci WEEI 590 News. It was important for ethical reasons that I was represented as a consultant not a reporter.
We can agree to disagree on this. BTW, if you want to know how the decision to hire her was made, ask George Regan, her boss at the PR firm. One of his clients is Entercom, for as long as they remain in business.
Where I agree that a host should be opiniated, he or she should also be fair. When you are being paid big bucks by a client to provide air time on your show being fair may go out the window.
I'm not saying that she ever did or ever would. I'm only saying she, or anyone else, should not be in the position.
One of my jobs at the lobbying firm was to put a package every week that was distributed via bird to Mutual and NPR radio stations. Clients paid us to write, record and distribute the package. It always went out with a disclaimner that we wrote abd distributed on behalf of our clients.
- Status