This is my thirtieth year in radio and I'm still inspired by the spirit of the business, with all of its varied aspects. There are layers stacked on entertainment, journalism, community service, marketing and a camaraderie that has always spoken to me. It touches people and binds us to those in other worlds and about town.
There's also a moving timeline that is intriguing and exciting. There's a rich history that creates this aura of heritage, yet it's full of people always working to enhance and polish the processes that make the sound come out of the speakers and the words ever-relevant.
I'm not a purist. I think that's too limiting for such an evolving medium. I love new ideas and exploring ways to change up my craft. Besides, pure is relative to an individual and the period of his entry into the business.
The earliest broadcasts were always live, as there was no means to record them. Later, programming was produced using test acetate (lacquer-coated discs cut using a needle modulated by sound), reel-to-reel and "carts" (continuous loop tape cartridges of various lengths). However the basic gear -- the mic, a transmitter and many inexpensive receivers -- still comprises the magic of radio.
It's okay to wear your tape-splicing ability on your sleeve or to extol the virtues of the cart deck, but you have to be amazed at our ability to edit in the digital realm and file reports, with photos and video, armed with nothing more than a mobile phone and the radio smarts to know what to capture.
Radio is as it's always been; people with eyes on the streets and a smile in their voices. The constant is that talent creates the imagery of a window that looks over the city to an extent that one might think of them as omniscient. Listening makes you feel connected to the world outside while you may be confined to your home or your car or your office. They are a collective voice coming from several places seemingly at onces, providing comfort and a sense of companionship.
People will forever pontificate about whether radio is dying. Until it's dead. But I know on this day it's not. It's thriving as a medium and reaches impressive audiences over-the-air -- and now across a global digital fabric. The biggest challenge today is not that the medium is losing its viability, but rather the challenges facing the guiding business model.
I have been extremely fortunate to be able to work at some of the most prolific radio stations of the midwest. I've always worked alongside stellar performers who carry on the positive spirit. They've been unquestionable assets to our industry and the stations they support.
But if radio ever does die, I hope entertainment, journalism, community service, marketing and a camaraderie survive.
There's also a moving timeline that is intriguing and exciting. There's a rich history that creates this aura of heritage, yet it's full of people always working to enhance and polish the processes that make the sound come out of the speakers and the words ever-relevant.
I'm not a purist. I think that's too limiting for such an evolving medium. I love new ideas and exploring ways to change up my craft. Besides, pure is relative to an individual and the period of his entry into the business.
The earliest broadcasts were always live, as there was no means to record them. Later, programming was produced using test acetate (lacquer-coated discs cut using a needle modulated by sound), reel-to-reel and "carts" (continuous loop tape cartridges of various lengths). However the basic gear -- the mic, a transmitter and many inexpensive receivers -- still comprises the magic of radio.
It's okay to wear your tape-splicing ability on your sleeve or to extol the virtues of the cart deck, but you have to be amazed at our ability to edit in the digital realm and file reports, with photos and video, armed with nothing more than a mobile phone and the radio smarts to know what to capture.
Radio is as it's always been; people with eyes on the streets and a smile in their voices. The constant is that talent creates the imagery of a window that looks over the city to an extent that one might think of them as omniscient. Listening makes you feel connected to the world outside while you may be confined to your home or your car or your office. They are a collective voice coming from several places seemingly at onces, providing comfort and a sense of companionship.
People will forever pontificate about whether radio is dying. Until it's dead. But I know on this day it's not. It's thriving as a medium and reaches impressive audiences over-the-air -- and now across a global digital fabric. The biggest challenge today is not that the medium is losing its viability, but rather the challenges facing the guiding business model.
I have been extremely fortunate to be able to work at some of the most prolific radio stations of the midwest. I've always worked alongside stellar performers who carry on the positive spirit. They've been unquestionable assets to our industry and the stations they support.
But if radio ever does die, I hope entertainment, journalism, community service, marketing and a camaraderie survive.
