[BC] Some perspective on the list

[Larry Bloomfield]

What Barry says is true of all aspects of the broadcast world, including 
TV. To quote my good friend and associate, Burt Weiner: "I remember when 
the typical station's Chief Engineer was a much respected, knowledgeable 
member of the staff and his word was not questioned.  He was considered 
to have the best interests of the station at heart.  I rarely see that now.
 
"I see "chief engineers" that are no more than handymen, scapegoats that 
have no knowledge of the technical side of the business and in all 
reality should not be allowed in the front door.  This is because no 
self respecting knowledgeable will accept the job, the pay, and its 
headaches.
 
"What I perceive as the real issue in our industry's workplace is that 
the engineer is seldom treated as a worthwhile person.  They are 
generally treated as a "necessary evil" at best.  "Burn them out and 
then get another one".  I know of many situations where individuals are 
over worked, 12+ hours per day, expected to accomplish their assigned 
tasks and are not allowed to put in for any overtime.  I think that to a 
small degree this would be more palatable if the engineers were at least 
treated with demonstrative respect.
 
"What I see as a most amazing fact is how little a knowledgeable 
(employee) engineer's advice is generally accepted.  Of course there are 
exceptions but they are indeed the exceptions to the rule.  When I see a 
really knowledgeable engineer being truly mistreated I suggest that they 
get out on their own.  That's easier said than done but it is doable if 
they have or can develop the business sense.  Quite often the same 
person coming back from the outside is considered to be much more 
knowledgeable and their advice is generally treated as good advice.  
Management is much more willing to accept this advice for a handsome fee 
than they were when they had it essentially for free.  Is it because 
they are now paying handsomely for it?  I've experienced this and have 
seen it quite often."

The one thing in life we can be sure of is change. We will never have it 
"the way it was," but there is no reason why things can get better and 
the respect that was once out there for we engineers, be rekindled. It 
is very hard to speak to a group of students looking to our industry for 
a possible carrier when non-technical management types have the 
attitudes many of them have while treating the technical side as they do 
in many cases.  Some how the FCC, or whoever, needs to revisit the 
fiduciary aspects of local broadcast licenses. It seems to be 
non-existent in the modern era. Local interests can NOT be managed from 
an ivory tower in Manhattan or Tinsel Town, much less any other 
corporate center by people who are interested in ONLY the bottom line.  
Yes, the bottom line is important, but it is NOT the only thing 
important. Perhaps time will tell, as they say.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Larry Bloomfield, KA6UTC
Bloomfield Enterprises, LLC
dba - Tech-Notes
1980 25th St., Florence, OR  97439-9717
(541) 902-2424 - Home/Office/Cell
WWW.Tech-Notes.TV  -- See you on the Road Show.




Barry Mishkind wrote:

> 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
>
>         
>
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