I’ve always admired Sharon Taylor. She was Canada’s first female radio Program Director. She’s smart, sensible and insightful and that’s never been more evident than in a recent post she wrote in her position as consultant with Byrnes Media. …
Straight Talk for Media Divas Read More »
Reaction to our first CJBK Mean Texts video was terrific, so we are back with a second instalment. …
Imagine if someone was let into your workplace specifically to tell you what a bad job they thought you were doing. They responded to your every move in a negative way and repeated, often using foul language, how unqualified or unfit you were do be in your position. They made blanket statements and assumptions and battered you with their verbal assaults. Imagine also that you had no idea who they were. Their identity was hidden. That’s what it’s like to be a host in talk radio. …
Tables Turned on Meanies Read More »
Jamaica is beautiful. You probably don’t need proof, but here’s a photo I took off Montego Bay when I was there in the early 1990s. …
Throwback Thursday – Jamaican Dreams Dashed Read More »
The January edition of the Byron Villager features an article on my hubby’s workshop pursuits. It’s drawn a lot of reaction, from people taking down old homes offering him a walk-through to salvage what he wants, to those ordering custom furnishings and lamps. Â …
One of Byron’s Hidden Talents Read More »
The next time I’m asked to speak about my career to a university or college class, I’m going to say no. It’s not that I don’t want to help them, it’s that I don’t think that I can. Â …
It’s Not About Me Read More »
One of the things I try to teach my news-writing students at Fanshawe is to avoid presenting a story as good or bad. It just is. It’s up to your listener/viewer to decide whether something is positive or negative. A prime example of this is the state of the Canadian dollar. When it goes up or down it can be good or bad depending on what you want to do with it. If you want to spend money in the U.S., it’s not so good when the value of our dollar falls. If your business relies on selling goods to the States, it’s not so bad. …
The best-kept secret in broadcasting was finally revealed, and sent a shock through the broadcasting world yesterday. After nearly three decades on CHFI mornings, Erin Davis announced her retirement. …
“Upset” describes what Donald Trump pulled off and how many people feel this morning. …
It’s been eight years since I made a permanent move back to London from Toronto. Eight. I hope that by repeating it, it will sink in as real because it’s a big number for what feels like a short amount of time. …
Throwback Thursday – Eight Years On Read More »
Pay equity is still a thing. Decades after provincial rules came in that governed equal pay for work of equal value, the federal government is about to do the same for organizations that are federally regulated. Like broadcasting. …
Pay Equity Protestation Read More »
My first radio job when I moved back to London 8 years ago was midday host on 1039-FM, a station with an identity crisis. Now it’s a country music station. Then, it was struggling to find a niche in a radio cluster that included the city’s top FM station, and another one that places in the top 5. …
Throwback Thursday: My Boss, My Brother Read More »
It’s been a year since I started at CJBK. And we’re already launching the second morning show of my career stop there.Â
…
Throwback Thursday – Morning Show Past Read More »
After weeks with different on-air partners, and no partners at all, I can finally announce that I have a new cohost on what’s being called The All New Morning Show on 1290 CJBK with Lisa and Ken! …
The Summer of Substitutes Comes to an End Read More »
My regular job as newscaster and cohost of the News/Talk 1290 morning show is challenging enough. Filling in on The Live Drive for a week while Andy Oudman was on vacation gave me flashbacks to the years I hosted Midday on Hamilton’s 900 CHML. This, my friends, is work! …
What I Learned on Andy’s Summer Vacation Read More »
Funny 1410 in London is shutting down in the coming months. The company I work for, Bell Media, got approval from the CRTC to revoke its license to operate the station. It’s just not viable anymore. Powering down its frequency brings an end to a legendary radio station, one that I was proud to call my radio home for a couple of years in the 1980s. No jobs will be lost because those jobs were lost years ago. To shut down 1410 it will only take powering down a computer. …
Word is getting around that First Thing With Mike Stubbs and Lisa Brandt is no more. It was just about one year ago that Mike and I started working together and we had lots of laughs, collaborations, and great moments on the air. But Mike was always clear with me; First Thing was his second thing when it came to professional satisfaction. …
Reporting on sports is my least favourite part of my job as a newscaster. This is not new. I don’t generally watch sports, with limited exceptions. And I’ve never been such a fan that my happiness – even in the short term – depends on a bunch of people I don’t know scoring more points than a bunch of other people. No offence to rabid fans, it’s just not how I’m wired. Sometimes I’m a band-wagon jumper, but I generally just don’t really care. …