So…yeah. Sorry I haven’t posted much to this blog. But in times of duress, I typically open up a post on this blog and just sorta write. This’ll probably end up going public…
I’m writing this letter to all of my friends, family, acquaintances, or anybody else that has helped or continues to support the efforts I’ve made in the past few years. I’m not asking for a million shares or likes on Facebook or Twitter. I’m simply defending the decisions I’ve made and the people I’m stuck with as a result of those decisions.
I’ve officially been employed at WDNG for six months. About three years ago I set a personal goal to become a “working journalist” and write about current events for a living.
I didn’t start this career in a traditional fashion, mind you. No college-level communications courses. No internship with established journalists. I worked in an electronics manufacturing warehouse for years before getting my size 15 foot jammed in the proverbial door.
The decision to join the ranks of other forgotten alcoholics in the news industry did not come overnight. When I wasn’t working at the warehouse, I was normally found with a newspaper or television in front of me. When I was working at the warehouse, I was often found with some form of talk-radio in the background.
Conservative or liberal. Commercial or non-profit. Status-quo or conspiracy theories. It angered me. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me lose faith in humanity from time to time. It mostly entertained and kinda informed.
I put entertain before informs for a reason. Why? Because it is talk-radio.
Listening to talk-radio will keep you informed about a tiny hint of public sentiment and can put all sides of a conversation on an equal level. Along with that, listening to talk-radio in Anniston (I hope) keeps you informed of events that may not be getting coverage elsewhere.
But it is only a single source of local, state, national and world news. Exclusively listening to talk-radio for news and information is a terrible idea. I say that as the news writer for a talk-radio station.
Talk-radio, especially call-in shows, are not news programs. The format of the Sean Hannity Show (Weekdays at 2 p.m. on WDNG-AM 1450) is in the same category as the format of The Big Show w/ Joseph Anthony (Mon – Thur from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on WDNG-AM 1450).
But Mike, how can you put Joe in the same column as Hannity?
I don’t. I put the format in the same column.
But the content is completely different between the two programs. Sure, both shows make room for civic leaders, elected officials, business folks, or the dude flipping your burger. Hannity delivers national and international talking points in a well produced show with writers, directors, engineers, interns, and call screeners. Anthony flies solo and still provides hyper-local listeners a platform to talk about anything within reason.
I use the term “reason” loosely, but then again my standards are weird.
Local shows aren’t heavily pre-produced by a suit in a office or underwritten by an advertiser with an agenda. Local shows are sponsored by local people, produced by local personalities and facilitated by a local business owner. The public conversations enabled are directly from the peoples’ mouths. No keyboard warriors or other, more anonymous entities–possibly having nothing to do with local events–contributing to a hyper-local conversation.
The keyword is “local.”
This rant comes a day after criticism thrown in the direction of the radio station which I proudly declare as my day job. Joseph goes over the top to respect the privacy of people when he’s on the air. I, on my personal blog, don’t give a flying duck about reposting stuff that’s already on teh interwebz.
Thank you, digital age.
In an internet post on Monday, an Anniston resident and retired police officer started an online campaign to get others to boycott WDNG and its advertisers. The reason for the boycott is due to his anger that The Big Show “reportedly provide a platform for the irresponsible slandering of an honorable public servant” and the “show’s host also reportedly participates in the accusations.“
I’m a news writer that uses the word “reportedly” if I didn’t directly see something.
I’m also a writer that copied the quote verbatim.
Anywho…
The conversation raged online and was shared more than 100 times! (I exclaim with fervor because that just means more people might start listening) It put some of the other staff here in a flurry by Tuesday morning and it sounds like a small number of advertisers have noticed this blip on their radars. In just a few hours, the Buckalew campaign was apparently able to “make sure that WDNG’s sponsors know that they’re providing a forum for people to make FALSE attacks against a good & decent public servant.“
But what Buckalew forgot to mention was the fact that WDNG does more than that. WDNG also provides a forum for people to set the record straight. WDNG provides businesses with the only news-talk radio station for advertising. WDNG provides listeners with international, national, and local headlines every hour.
But the real kicker for me, personally?
WDNG continues to give me the opportunity to live the dream I had three years ago.
WDNG provides alternative coverage of community events.
WDNG facilitates the conversations that some people don’t want to hear.
We’re a pretty small group here at this tiny little AM radio station, but the political views and opinions vary greatly between listeners, staff, management, and advertisers.
Because we’re human. Just like you.
I’ve been coming to work for the past six months and (for the most part) am pretty stoked every morning I walk up the stairs, sit down at my desk and start freaking out about the long list of things to do on painfully short deadlines.
It’s what I signed up for. It’s what I hope to do for the rest of my life. Call me a masochist, but I love the whole job…including public criticism.
So, now to get down to the brass tacks: do you like WDNG? Do you like knowing there is a phone line open for four hours each morning that will let you blast your frustrations across the entire county? Do you just think it’s kind of cool that a radio station gave someone with no professional training a chance?
If you answered “yes” (or even “meh”) to any of those questions, I humbly ask for your support.
Local businesses like Furniture Outlet, Oxford Carpet Coldwater, Marie’s Pool Store, Mike’s Treasure Chest and others advertise on WDNG because people engaged with current events at any level are more aware of advertisers. It makes sense for business to have that type of exposure whether it is a slow news day or Day 3 of WDNG SlanderGate.
-MDS
Thank you all for all that you do! Reposting on facebook! 😉