A week late, true, but anyway...

http://www.oregonlive.com/O/tvandmovies/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1203726323 32300.xml&coll=7

This was a good article.
The writer is correct about the way people are fired -- with no notice and immediately locked out of the computers. But the more common scenario, I believe, is when staff are fired and NOT replaced.

And while we're evaluating the contributions of our employees and their value to the corporation... just how are those sales figures for KINK these days?

From the article, quoting Rebecca Webb: "...the day before I got canned, I was reprimanded for not talking more about 'American Idol,' " she wrote Friday in an e-mail. "I was more focused on Super Tuesday."

KINK: True to the Lowest Common Denominator. No wonder KOPB's NPR programming is rated about 50 percent higher (12+).

Interestingly this paragraph below (also highlighted by Randy)is in the online story in the Oregonian but not in the article in the paper version.

>>>More recently, she says, were run-ins with program director Dennis Constantine about her choice of news stories, and particularly her resistance to lifestyle and entertainment stories.

"On Feb. 6, the day before I got canned, I was reprimanded for not talking more about 'American Idol,' " she wrote Friday in an e-mail. "I was more focused on Super Tuesday." <<<

"On Feb. 6, the day before I got canned, I was reprimanded for not talking more about 'American Idol,' " she wrote Friday in an e-mail. "I was more focused on Super Tuesday."

I think we have some damn fine reporters who need to have the leverage for honest and thorough news gathering, not an edict to hype product. So, the idea is to drive listeners to watch television instead of listen to the radio?

Ouch.

Look at what happens the moment there is no longer a solid "Neal Penland Standard" in our market for broadcast journalism.

Yep I have noticed that Dave Scott and Shela are talking A LOT more about American idol in the afternoon. Infact I caught a long talk break with them on Friday. Im sure they are doing this because they are worried they will get the axe next.
Kink is REALLY going downhill FAST!
First they lost Inessa in the middays( Who in my opinion was one of the most solid talents on that station, Than Rebecca gets thrown out. And it didn't surprise me that they canned Inessa because SHE WAS MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY!! So thats what happens in radio, you start making a decent wage and you get thrown out because these big wigs will be able to replace you with someone much Cheaper! Im still sad that Inessa is no longer doing middays, what an absolutely great talent she was!
Kinks loss!!!!

just how did this payola grabber get this kind of power anyway?
Is there still a casting couch?
The destruction of one of the greatest radio stations in America has been sad to watch/listen to.
Mr. C must have something on someone at CBS to keep his job.

Payola? Maybe instead it has something to do with the fact that 1) American Idol is the overwhelmingly popular Television show in the past 5 years. 2) Nothing they could talk about on the air could relate to more listeners (even KINK listeners who hunker down to watch something G rated with their kids; 3) And it's the most popular MUSIC show on TV in history. The quickest route to failure is looking down your nose at your audience!

When I worked at NBC, our exec VP sent every morning show a subscription to People and the Star -- and told them they'd be fired if they were caught reading R&R.... because their listeners read the former, and had absolutely no interest or knowledge of the latter.

(And in any downsizing, I'm guessing those who post here would have been the first to go!)

Yeah, that Super Tuesday stuff just doesn't relate! Off with her head! ;-)

Political interest is perhaps best left to Talk Radio eh? Is this what we are saying here, collectively? A short mention would go a long way for "super tuesday" and then more energy put on the tabloid 'puff pieces' so to speak. I got into an issue with this the last year I worked for a 'new country' station. I was required to talk about a lot of inane country artist tabloid rag stuff some of it that I considered trivial and stupid. I did it anyway, but they knew I didnt like it and was uncomfortable with it and that hastened my retirement from radio, I suppose.

As shallow as this may seem, oh how true it may actually be !

You have to know who your listeners are and WHY they listening to your signal, whether you personally like it or not.

Tanner is right.

Still when Mash, or Fraisier, or Seinfeld were wildly popular must see tv shows, I don't remember news story tie ins.

Now if anyone wants to share their thoughts on how "freckles" wound up with baby Aaron on Lost, or your thoughts on who might be the early favorite on the upcoming "Dancing with the Stars"
please shoot me an email. I am in the process of cutting a news demo tape and I want to incorporate the important stuff in it. Billary/OH-BAM-A/Maclain/Hucklebee.... YAWN... Who CARES!

Why would the black team cut their own throat by voting out Paul. He was steadily the Biggest Loser for the team! Let's go in depth on that story!

I don't know; he did pretty well for himself in the 70s!

News Demo, Better have Britney and Idol on it to even be considered! Maybe even an update on how Kirsten Drunkst, I mean Dunst is doing in re-hab.

Right on TDanner - and thanks for saying exactly what I was thinking.

I see so many posts on this board bemoaning the lack of "more music variety" or "new and local artists" and news coverage with gravitas, the average radio listener just wants to hear something they know when it comes to music...or at least something with a familiar sound. And when it comes to news coverage on a music radio station, with few exceptions it needs to be light and pop-culture oriented.

Rebecca Webb is no doubt a talented, highly intelligent person. But her comment about being "more focused in Super Tuesday than on American Idol" (paraphrased) is just elitist. The fact of the matter - whether you and I think it's wrong or shallow or whatever - is that more listeners are interested in AI than in Super Tuesday.

And isn't serving those listeners why we're on the radio in the first place?

Actually, the quickest route to failure is looking down your nose at a mirror. You remember those days? It was right before the programming for entire continents came out of a cluster of skyscrapers. Ah, those were such heady and wonderful times to be in radio.

An hour long show about karaoke critiqued by a panel of pilled-out has-beens might not be the most popular show on television if more people were focused on elections. When you believe your audience is made up of fools, it is called pandering. I was taught that underestimating a person was far more poison than a display of intellect.

I understand it all now, thank you. My priorities were all wrong, you are so wise. Screw information, screw journalism, screw democracy and screw community advocacy because the sales department is God. After all, that kind of civic duty stuff belongs in the low-powered ghetto on the left side of the dial. Elections? I guess one would actually have to love our country to want that rate card killing garbage on their airwaves.

I really hung on as long as I could, but the truth has set me free. I am so glad that CBS has to stoop to promoting a competing network instead of continuing the spirit and tradition of Edward R. Murrow. The bubble has burst, the credibility gap has widened to reveal a gorge far broader than the mighty Columbia, and I can laugh as I turn my radio off.

Goodnight, and good luck.

The Britney news and American Idol are certainly important stuff to cover, but when the huge corporation announces that a certain percentage must be cut, I become a skeptic. I think at that point a management person is often told to "affix the blame" so we can cut this or that person, and do the company's bidding.

Not to go all "4 Non Blonds" here, but the secret to success in morning radio is to reflect what's going on to your particular audience. That's the mission statement. It requires dozens of instant judgments by the air team, with help, not micromanaging, from the PD in understanding the target demographic's interests and behavior. Air talent should know what their intended listeners are watching on TV and what movies they're seeing, and should be conversant and opinionated. That's really, really basic radio that any successful air talent understands and practices, and PD's can help by supplying information like local, and I emphasize local, TV ratings and qualitative data.

Any PD who doesn't realize the extent to which KINK's target is tuned into this presidential race hasn't visited YouTube lately. But air talent have an obligation to realize the water-cooler juggernaut that American Idol has become. Whether that belongs in the news is less clear, particularly if it's a topic of crosstalk with the jock outside of the cast. My own view is that AI works best in banter, and that it's not news unless something really unusual happens. Still waiting for the Paula wardrobe malfunction. But AI definitely belongs in the mix of morning content, unless you're doing mornings on KBPS-FM--maybe. Britney, not so much--she's over.

I loved Rebecca, but for all I know, She could have been the biggest pain in the ass to work with. I know plenty of women who pull the "I am the allmighty women and I know what must be done". If you're working with a Diva and she is absolutely impossible to get along with, than maybe you should give her the boot. Think about how many people YOU have worked with in your radio career. Remember that one person, who no matter how hard you tried to get along with, made your job a living hell!! I've heard stories of certain women in portland. When the mics went off, the claws came out.("HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME LIKE THAT ON THE AIR, DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM???) And by no means I am talking about Rebecca, infact I have heard nothing but good about her, BUT beware of the Divas! I just feel bad for the poor saps that have to work with these "Divas".

Obviously, Beano, this must apply to Divos as well. The problem is not peculiar to women.

Again, a big "Amen", TDanner. I've found the attitude that Beano speaks about to be just as prevalent in men (particularly MORNING men)as in women.

Some, not all, of the hardest people to work with have had some of the best ratings success. Air People, PDs, GMs, Owners

I agree Egor, it usually is some of the best, hardest working people who have these "diva" factors. They know they are good, so they can get away with it.

Now take an average or mediocre talent pulling a "Diva move", Well that is just funny!

It's not just that they can get away with it. Occasionally it's a needed tactic, or a justified reaction to mediocrity and incompetence.

People branded as divas and divos (I hears ya, TDanner!) sometimes deserve it--but sometimes they get that rep from people they've run over on a fast track.

Quoting from somebody over on the OMI site..."Radio done right involves immediacy, because that's its only edge, and you've got to be nimble as hell. Slowpokes will get run over, and they'll call you a diva, but tough. And you have to keep pounding fresh stuff. You've got to be able to do instant story research...Listeners check you out, and if you're not on it, they're gone."

Rebecca demanded the best tools and the best people. She had an old-school work ethic that alienated people who didn't meet her standards. She also had the track record to back it up. I've worked with her before and I'd be honored to work with her again.