Apparently I'm not a professional...
Some people just aren't as smart as they would lead you to believe they are. They use big words, put artsy pictures on their website, etc. But they make themselves look like the idiots they are by their rants that are riddled with stupidity. You guessed it: I'm talking about Fort Wayne Mediawatch.
The guy who runs this site, well, I don't know what kind of stick he has up his ass but he's definately got some kind of issue with the media here in Fort Wayne. No newscast is ever professional enough, no print story deep enough and radio, well, forget it. If it's not N.P.R., he hates it (although I've never seen him complain about any of the talk stations, just the ones that play music... well, certain ones anyway).
His rant today really made me think this guy doesn't have it all upstairs. He writes:
Media folks in Fort Wayne have lackluster careers apparently; they can't wait to go on vacation or take extra holidays off.
Ok, this guy is an idiot. By his own admission, he's not in media. Therefore, he has no clue what this business is all about. Granted, he's talking about news media here but they work just as hard as anyone. If he had any experience in this field, he would know that there's more to being a reporter than just standing/sitting in front of the camera and smiling. Before you ask, yes I have worked in TV. I can tell you that a reporter/anchor/whatever not only has to be on camera to look pretty but also has to write the story and sometimes even has put the package together (basically, produce the story). Tell me that's not hard work. Try doing that for six months without a break and tell me that you wouldn't want a vacation or be glad when a holiday comes around.
Now, here's the biggest piece of stupidity I've ever seen:
(Radio people are exempt from our opprobrium. Radio is an entertainment medium mostly, not a serious career, calling for severe professionalism.)
Is it just me or did this fool just say that I'm (or anyone in radio for that matter) just doing this for the Hell of it?? Do I have to be at the station at a certain time (and well before it's time to start my show)? Yes, 11:00 AM to be exact. Do I have responsibilities that extend outside of my four hour air shift? Yes. Sounds pretty demanding to not be a serious career.
Again, this guy has admitted that he's not in media (and I'm assuming never has been). He has no idea the long hours our jobs demand. I don't get there at 3:00 (showtime) and talk for four hours then call it a day. There have been many times when I've put in 12+ hours in a day and gone back to do it again the next. I've worked weekends (sometimes two or more weeks STRAIGHT without a day off), I've worked holidays, I've pulled double shifts... I could go on. I know I'm ready for a vacation or a holiday when I've been working hard like that.
According to the dumbass, radio folk don't act professional because it's not expected of us. That could NOT be further from the truth. Don't tell me that I'm not a professional. I may do crazy things on the air to entertain my listeners but I'm far from being unprofessional. There have been many things that I've learned in radio and one of those things is that an unprofessional attitude will get you fired quicker than anything. You have to be nice to listeners, nice to clients (yes, we do deal with station clients, the people who make it possible for us to collect a check, on a regular basis), nice to label reps... again, I could continue. And don't get me started on the many F.C.C. rules and regulations that we have to follow. Just because we don't wear suits and ties to work doesn't mean that we're unprofessional. But I guess, to him, anything that isn't stuffy public or talk radio is unprofessional.
The bottom line is that this person has no idea what someone working in this field goes through to bring him the news or entertain him. Not to mention letting him know about a missing child, severe weather, road closings, etc. It takes a lot out of us and, yes, we enjoy our time off. But you know what we enjoy more than that? Doing the above mentioned things because it gives us a sense of value, knowing that we're helping people be informed or entertained so they can get through their day.
It's hard to believe that I get a paycheck for doing something I love. Maybe he doesn't view what we do as a serious career because we actually enjoy what we do and get paid for it.
I have a suggestion for this person: Instead of ranting and raving about something you know nothing about, why not get off your duff and make a contribution to society (like getting a job).
And one more nugget of wisdom I'd like to pass along to him: If you live in a glass house, don't throw bricks.
**UPDATE**
A friend of mine made a comment to the Mediawatch people on something they published on their site. A quote:
So, let me get this straight: What he's (the guy who runs the Mediawatch site) saying is that if you disagree with them, you're a moron. Does this guy think he has so much credability that he can call those who disagree with his views idiots? I hate to tell him but he is a laughing stock in Fort Wayne. Nobody, and I do mean nobody, takes him seriously.
The only reason I devoted a blog post to this idiocy was because I really took exception to his saying that radio wasn't a real career and that we were unprofessional. I realize that I'm not the greatest jock in the world but I certainly am not unprofessional and what I do certainly is a serious career.
Again, if you live in a glass house....
--Jonathan
The guy who runs this site, well, I don't know what kind of stick he has up his ass but he's definately got some kind of issue with the media here in Fort Wayne. No newscast is ever professional enough, no print story deep enough and radio, well, forget it. If it's not N.P.R., he hates it (although I've never seen him complain about any of the talk stations, just the ones that play music... well, certain ones anyway).
His rant today really made me think this guy doesn't have it all upstairs. He writes:
Media folks in Fort Wayne have lackluster careers apparently; they can't wait to go on vacation or take extra holidays off.
Ok, this guy is an idiot. By his own admission, he's not in media. Therefore, he has no clue what this business is all about. Granted, he's talking about news media here but they work just as hard as anyone. If he had any experience in this field, he would know that there's more to being a reporter than just standing/sitting in front of the camera and smiling. Before you ask, yes I have worked in TV. I can tell you that a reporter/anchor/whatever not only has to be on camera to look pretty but also has to write the story and sometimes even has put the package together (basically, produce the story). Tell me that's not hard work. Try doing that for six months without a break and tell me that you wouldn't want a vacation or be glad when a holiday comes around.
Now, here's the biggest piece of stupidity I've ever seen:
(Radio people are exempt from our opprobrium. Radio is an entertainment medium mostly, not a serious career, calling for severe professionalism.)
Is it just me or did this fool just say that I'm (or anyone in radio for that matter) just doing this for the Hell of it?? Do I have to be at the station at a certain time (and well before it's time to start my show)? Yes, 11:00 AM to be exact. Do I have responsibilities that extend outside of my four hour air shift? Yes. Sounds pretty demanding to not be a serious career.
Again, this guy has admitted that he's not in media (and I'm assuming never has been). He has no idea the long hours our jobs demand. I don't get there at 3:00 (showtime) and talk for four hours then call it a day. There have been many times when I've put in 12+ hours in a day and gone back to do it again the next. I've worked weekends (sometimes two or more weeks STRAIGHT without a day off), I've worked holidays, I've pulled double shifts... I could go on. I know I'm ready for a vacation or a holiday when I've been working hard like that.
According to the dumbass, radio folk don't act professional because it's not expected of us. That could NOT be further from the truth. Don't tell me that I'm not a professional. I may do crazy things on the air to entertain my listeners but I'm far from being unprofessional. There have been many things that I've learned in radio and one of those things is that an unprofessional attitude will get you fired quicker than anything. You have to be nice to listeners, nice to clients (yes, we do deal with station clients, the people who make it possible for us to collect a check, on a regular basis), nice to label reps... again, I could continue. And don't get me started on the many F.C.C. rules and regulations that we have to follow. Just because we don't wear suits and ties to work doesn't mean that we're unprofessional. But I guess, to him, anything that isn't stuffy public or talk radio is unprofessional.
The bottom line is that this person has no idea what someone working in this field goes through to bring him the news or entertain him. Not to mention letting him know about a missing child, severe weather, road closings, etc. It takes a lot out of us and, yes, we enjoy our time off. But you know what we enjoy more than that? Doing the above mentioned things because it gives us a sense of value, knowing that we're helping people be informed or entertained so they can get through their day.
It's hard to believe that I get a paycheck for doing something I love. Maybe he doesn't view what we do as a serious career because we actually enjoy what we do and get paid for it.
I have a suggestion for this person: Instead of ranting and raving about something you know nothing about, why not get off your duff and make a contribution to society (like getting a job).
And one more nugget of wisdom I'd like to pass along to him: If you live in a glass house, don't throw bricks.
**UPDATE**
A friend of mine made a comment to the Mediawatch people on something they published on their site. A quote:
...we disregard the observations of those who send criticisms about us: those who complain are usually a little deficient in the
intellectual department.
So, let me get this straight: What he's (the guy who runs the Mediawatch site) saying is that if you disagree with them, you're a moron. Does this guy think he has so much credability that he can call those who disagree with his views idiots? I hate to tell him but he is a laughing stock in Fort Wayne. Nobody, and I do mean nobody, takes him seriously.
The only reason I devoted a blog post to this idiocy was because I really took exception to his saying that radio wasn't a real career and that we were unprofessional. I realize that I'm not the greatest jock in the world but I certainly am not unprofessional and what I do certainly is a serious career.
Again, if you live in a glass house....
--Jonathan
posted by Jonathan at
9:14 PM
3 Comments:
He obviously has never been in a radio building... but I must say that radio personalities in Ft. Wayne must be doing their jobs of giving that perception that they have fun, play music, give away cool prizes, talk to/mess with listeners and just overall entertain! Congrats to those peeps- Yes, Jonathan included!
He has obviously never seen the hustle that occurs when your lameass Sales Manager runs to you with a commercial to quickly, voice and produce (about an hour for a GOOD spot) about 12 minutes before it needs to be on the air - He's obviously never been in a ratings meeting AFTER ratings were down - He's obviously never been out to a lameass remote when you get to stand in the heat and deal with the stupidity of people in general - He's obviously never had the stress of wondering "is what I'm doing right now going to end up a success when ratings come out?" --- This idiot gets the (great) perception that it's all fun and games, but like any other job, radio peeps have their performance evaluations too... called RATINGS!!!!!!!!! We just find out every 6 months (in medium and smaller markets) so we must plan accordingly.
Ft. Wayne Media Watch is a joke! Just my opinion- you know... someone who has done almost every position in a radio station!
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