Act III

Did the salesperson in question become more timely, with less chaotic copy? No. But the "rest of the story" is that before burning the script, I photocopied it. Later, I recorded the spot, and no one lost any revenue.

My Proudest Moment as a Broadacaster, Part II

After years of being handed ad copy to voice right as I was leaving work, one cold January day I'd had enough. The salesperson in question was famous for getting things to people late, and the copy was always full of errors. This copy was no different. From WCLV's back door, I picked up the coffee can, the one used for cigarette butts, and placed it on the front walkway from the parking lot to WCLV's entrance. A WRMR colleague's cigarette lighter was used to flame the copy, and I flung the burning paper into the butt can and let it incinerate. Suddenly, I heard a voice familiar to WCLV listeners: "Jackie... We have heat in here." It was WCLV's co-founder and then-president Robert Conrad, who, from one of the production studios, had seen the whole thing. "I'm protesting!" I said. His expression changed. "What are you protesting?" I didn't mention the salesperson's name, but I strongly suggested that salespeople provide better copy and get it to the "talent" in a more timely manner. Months later, I learned that when news of my bonfire traveled around the building, my reputation among my WRMR colleagues, all of them radio old-timers, went up about 3,000 per cent. They were impressed that somebody protested shoddy treatment by a salesperson. Years later, when a new sales rep was being indoctrinated, she was told: "You better make sure your copy is in good shape, or Jackie will burn it."

My Proudest Moment as a Broadcaster -- Part I

In radio, announcers -- known as "the talent" -- live in a circumscribed world of live air shifts, show prep, and studio work recording programs for future airing, plus voicing underwriting announcements or commercials, depending upon whether the station is public or commercial. Salespeople who are not distracted, who follow up, and who write copy that makes sense are exalted in my book, because that's a tall order. It's a rare salesperson who gives you copy that is grammatical, without misspellings and organized. Salespeople are infinitely flexible, except when it comes to thinking of how the spot will sound. They're usually frantic to get the copy written and produced and get it on the air to satisfy the client. The talent are the final link in the process, and the least thought of. Until I took decisive action, which I will explain in Part II. It's my proudest moment as a broadcaster, and all I did was apply a flame.

Rules for Early-Rising Workers

Here are rules for anyone who, like a morning drive announcer, has to be at work before 6 a.m.: 1. Make sure your headlights, turn signals and tail lights are in working order. There is no surer bust in the wee hours than a cop noticing your illumination shortcomings. 2. Add battery-operated clocks and radios to your wake-up regimen. If the power fails overnight, you'll still have one or more working alarms. 3. Keep snacks in the car in case the batteries in #2 have died and you're running late. At least you won't go hungry.