[BC] Some perspective on the list

[Barry Mishkind]

At 10:40 PM 10/8/2005, RRSounds at aol.com wrote
>Mike, I echo the others. I always read your posts.
>
>The comments and opinions from your combination of expertise and position are
>valuable, and enhance the list. I wish more CC regional guys contributed.
>
>So don't leave. Please.
>
>Kind Regards,
>David

         Mike, I can't say it much better than David did.

         I do feel a little "out of sync" here, as I am
         about five or eight time zones from "reality"
         at times. (And that is not always during
         my vacation!)

         A lot of what I see on this list, and as you know
         I do try to keep it from getting vicious, is a
         general dissatisfaction with the way the
         industry treats its own.  Not that broadcasting
         is any different than car sales, for example.

         But ... and this applies across the board,
         in many ways ... not just to engineers ...
         there is no long term "view" of operations
         personnel in most stations.

         We can debate the reasons, and the exceptions,
         but the fact is that radio is more a business than
         when most of us got started, when it was more
         a "public service" run as a business.

         Long time programmers, especially those now
         over 50, have a hard time getting jobs. Is it
         the age of the new PDs (20s), voicetracking,
         lack of long black hair?

         Possibly a little of each.

         On the engineering side, consolidation has
         made it necessary for many to consider
         leaving the markets that they know
         well, and move to where there is work.

         However, the reality is that in far too many
         places, it is possible to have a job where you
         are expected to work on high voltage alone,
         late at night, and possibly in dangerous areas.

         Some of the corporations make statements
         about having a policy of personal security.
         But even Mike's example of Jerry doing
         13 stations - is there a second man ready
         at any time to be there for safety during
         any transmitter site work?

         Clearly, we need to have someone take
         an initiative to enhance the working
         situation of many engineers.  As we have
         thrashed out many times before, this is
         apparently not going to be the SBE
         (and if you have not heard "education"
         less than a hundred times, you haven't
         been listening at all. Still, there are few
         changes at the small and medium market
         level).

         Come to think of it, even in larger markets
         I hear from guys who want out, or can't
         wait until they can retire, or just plain
         and simple get pushed out the door.

         Mike had a list of four things to consider,
         and while some are worth discussion,
         I feel he missed a major issue, and yet
         can't really spend the time on replies
         until I get back...

         One last note: please remember, yes
         there are many EXCELLENT guys and
         gals at Clear Channel, as with other
         companies.  We can do without
         and and all mindless bashing.

         However, no monolithic
         solution will work for all. Until and
         unless the structure is changed where
         the engineer finds himself all alone
         in the field against a "power structure"
         that is weighted against him before
         he starts, nothing will change.

         Mike may or may not unsub. I hope
         he stays... like David, I hope and
         encourage the lurkers to become
         more visible. There are positive things
         that can be done. It takes more effort
         than pot shots... but it can be done.

         barry