[BC] Broadcast Engineers = wimps?

[Mike McCarthy]

Dana,

We do tell our managers and owners about these issues.  THEY choose to 
ignore our advice and keep their heads in the sand because it costs LOTS of 
money to file and fight. Broadcasting IS a business first and foremost.  So 
in reality, many things occur here which occur in ANY business regardless 
of industry.  It's a reality which we have adapted to and accept as 
fact...like it or not.

Also...We also like keeping our jobs.  So there are some things we don't 
comment about in public forums beyond this where deep money can be made or 
lost. There is an art form of knowing which forum to speak openly and when 
to shut up.  When my money is on the line, I don't want a subordinate 
saying something which might loose me a pile.

There probably ARE no-hire lists. I know in my mind some who I probably 
won't hire or be overruled if I make an offer. The reasons can be many. 
Criminal convictions, destructive behavior at a previous position, rank 
insubordination, etc.  A person's reputation can put him there too.  That's 
the tricky part.  If one lives up or down to that reputation, then that 
perception is re-enforced.  Conversely, if one counters that reputation by 
action over time, then someone might think otherwise and extend an opportunity.

Radio is a small business.  So bad reputations travel wide and far....and 
are hard to get rid of...

MM



At 09:59 AM 4/21/2007 -0400, Dana  Puopolo wrote
>What have we become?
>
>Are we so afraid of losing our jobs that we now let everyone walk all over us?
>Do we so desperately need the general managers' pat on the back that we're
>willing to do anything to get it?
>
>Have we all beccoem a bunch of wimps, afraid to tell the truth about things
>bad for radio such as IBOC-AM? We seem to all KNOW the truth (at least from
>what I read here). We seem to bitch back and forth to each other about how
>crappy the business has become - yet we remain stangely silent outside forums
>such as this one.
>
>I've been doing a lot of research over the last few months for an article
>about Broadcast Engineering, circa 2007. It isn't pretty. Want a preview of
>what many of you have told me?
>
>Age discrimination runs rampant. Though the average age of a broadcast
>engineer is in his fifties, good luck trying to get a new job if you're over
>50. Very few will hire you. Its almost as if experience counts against us! By
>the way, job discrimination by age is illegal.
>
>Every group broadcaster has a 'No hire list'. They might not be in writing,
>but they nontheless exist. A few VP's have told me this is not true, they
>consider everyone equally, but based upon what dozens have told me privately
>who would know, the VP's are lying. After all, the have to....these might well
>be illegal too.
>Many of you are very unhappy with what you do every day. The business is now
>run by accountants. It's become a science instead of an art.
>
>There's a lot more......
>
>WE have LET these situations happen. We have LET our business go down the
>tubes! Now, what are YOU willing to fix it?  Anything?
>
>I know-maybe the SBE will help. Their charter states that their very reason
>for existance is to improve the professionalism of broadcast engineering. From
>what I've seen, perhaps it's time for the leadership there to (finally) READ
>that charter.  Otherwise, don't expect any help from them...
>
>-D
>
>
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