And so another term at Fanshawe College comes to an end. This was a short one, because the students have an internship before they graduate. In fact, two students I worked with will be coming to our newsroom at Free 981. …
Kicked Out of the Nest Read More »
Credit where credit is due: Kid Rock is a smart marketer. He says dumb things sometimes, but he’s good at making money and he’s doing something that’s good for his fans, too. …
The (Unexpected?) Wisdom of Kid Rock Read More »
I try not to read the comments section of our major local newspaper, The London Free Press, because it’s a depressing look at humanity. People with half their facts straight and ignorant, rude and mean opinions spew off behind pseudonyms. It doesn’t enhance my life in any way. Â …
The Trolls We Attract Read More »
It’s believed that poll results released last week by Sun Life are the first ever to show that more Canadians expect to work past age 65 than retire. The reasons vary, but most say it’s their plan to keep working full or part-time simply to pay their bills. …
The Big Show is no more. This morning we’re launching a new morning show: The Stax Show with Blair and Brandt on Classic Rock Free 981. …
A New Era at Free 981 Read More »
A flurry of activity has been going on behind the scenes regarding the publication of my next Ebook. …
Spreading the Word Read More »
The voice-over community is an active and idea-sharing one, like the goat-hair knitting community and everyone else with a particular interest that gather on social media. And it’s clear that everyone has their own line they won’t cross for a buck. Â …
When is it Just Stealing? Read More »
There will always be people who behave badly but I wonder if some have changed their ways because of social media? …
Behaving in an ethical manner should not have to be declared as a condition of employment. It comes from within, this knowing of the difference between right and wrong, although organized religion has done a bang-up job of trying to tie it to their ideologies. A child knows the difference. Adult broadcasters know the difference. Some of them just choose to ignore it. …
What do I have in common with Kevin Costner, Uma Thurman, Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Sheen? …
Sometimes You’re the Windshield, Sometimes You’re the BugRead More »
Sometimes You’re the Windshield, Sometimes You’re the Bug Read More »
Bill Cosby. What can I say? I say this. (And some listeners agreed, some strongly disagreed!)Â …
The Cos-man Cometh Read More »
Most of the time what we do on the radio is gone moments later. It’s entertainment and sometimes we provoke thought or create action but most of the time, it’s gone with the wind and it’s on to the next thing. …
Sometimes We Make a Difference Read More »
There’s no faking that I know a lot about the inner workings of pro sports. I’ve worked with enough sports nuts to pick up a thing here and there but it’s not a realm that interests me enough to study. Â …
I’ve witnessed, and somehow survived, decades of changes in broadcasting. The industry expands and contracts. A wave of managerial retirements (if they’re lucky) comes along and the next generation does things differently. Like I said, I’ve seen it before. …
Radio is Dying. Again. Read More »
Radio is a business that eats its young. If you don’t know that going into it, you learn it along the way. Â It throws out good people on whims. You have to expect to one day get fired for no reason, or you’re just not being realistic. But some of us still love it despite its obvious flaws. …
A Smaller Big Show Read More »
This month of Movember, when men are sprouting ‘staches and raising research dollars and awareness to fight prostate cancer, has taken on a life of its own. And around the time Movember started to spread around the world, a 20-year-old Londoner named Jesse Hildebrand-Nestor was losing a number of people he knew to the disease. Â …
Review: Wish You Were Here 4 Read More »
The province’s politicians got into a debate at the legislature about whether government is doing enough to stop harassment, specifically sexual harassment, in the workplace. Harassment in some form or another has been present at virtually every radio job I’ve had and it doesn’t matter whether or not the target is you, the fact that it is allowed to continue affects everyone on staff. …
Harassment at Work Read More »
It is municipal election day but I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that last week’s sad events in Ottawa are overshadowing the delivery of democracy in Ontario cities and towns today. Oh we’ll vote, but there are bigger things on our minds. Â …
Journalists Imploding Read More »