There has been plenty of discussion among broadcasters since a nurse in England killed herself on Friday. If you missed the story, she was the nurse who accepted a call from a prankster radio host in Australia and, believing the caller was the Queen, put her through to another nurse who gave the caller details about Kate’s condition as Prince William’s wife was being treated for a severe form of morning sickness. …
Pranks and Pranksters Read More »
Hi Lisa, I was wondering if you could answer a question for me.  …
A Reader Writes About Radio Read More »
Nay-sayers and outsiders have been sounding the death knell on radio for decades. Â I remember in the 80’s people were saying it would be dead by the turn of the century. Â I have one response: Ha! Â Â …
Radio Still Rules Read More »
Last Thursday and Friday our regular Free-FM morning show was not on the air in preparation for the launch of our new show today.
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It’s the first rule of improv and the key to performing with another person. Â Whatever they do, wherever they go, say “yes, and” not “no, but”. Â …
This is a blog posting I published at www.blackburnnews.com and www.981freefm.ca this week under my banner of Morning News Anchor. Â It just offers a little peek into something that can go on behind the scenes. Â …
Okay that’s just a slight over-statement! But so far I’ve been on radio from Halifax to Chatham, from Wingham to St. Catharines.  And today, it’s CFRB 1010 Toronto. …
The Naked Truth Takes the Nation Read More »
This summer our newsroom grew from 3 to 4 people with the addition of Blackburn London’s paid summer news intern.  That person is Elise Copps-Smith and today is her last day as she goes back to Fanshawe College to finish her course. …
Here in London, one of the most competitive radio markets in the country, you can tell that fall ratings are almost upon us. Â In Toronto radio stations are now rated by People Meters but here we still go by the old spring/fall ratings periods and this fall is going to have more changes than any season in years. Â …
The Chess Game: Radio Read More »
Our radio station is in a nice part of the city. Â It’s in a beautiful building on Richmond Row, the mecca of London’s downtown shopping and dining spots. Â Just so you know that what I’m about to describe isn’t a shack in a derelict district of town. Â …
Weird Week at Work Read More »
I wasn’t feeling well when we left for Michigan on Saturday morning. I had a headache and a mildly queasy tummy. Â After we stopped at the Port Huron Cracker Barrel, where I had a bland breakfast of plain oatmeal with raisins, the queasiness turned into full-blown nausea. Â I spent an hour of the trip with my seat reclined, under a blanket. Â If only I had taken that as a sign of what was to come! …
If Only They Knew Me Read More »
An occurrence in St. Thomas yesterday morning made my day as a newscaster. Â …
Story of the Week Read More »
There are some real dinosaurs in the journalism game. Â I just can’t understand the way some of them cling to the “way things have always been done” and refuse to realize that the world is being shaped by young geeks and we’d better fall in line or get left behind. Â …
In the radio announcer coaching part of this little enterprise my mantra is always; Â If you have to choose, always choose being clear over being clever. Â If only the members of Coldplay had heard me! Â …
Chris Martin Backs me Up! Read More »
Why do the people who are the most vocal about what’s wrong with the broadcasting industry no longer work (or never have worked) in it? Â …
Unanswerable Questions Part 348 Read More »
Perhaps you missed this one. Â Although I’m not hockey’s biggest fan, it brings a tear to my eye to see what happens when a bunch of guys playing pick-up hockey get the star treatment. Â …
Superbowl Ad for Canadian Hearts Read More »