3/25/2007

Do you think the TV business is all glamour and great times? I think most of us in this business- although we love it- would be happy to tell you, working in television is…well, it’s work, just like any kind of job. For on-camera people like me, you get the added incentive of having some of your privacy taken away, since people recognize you all the time (yes, even without the Sven gear!) Additionally, there’s that little nuisance we call ratings- that can make or break you in many cases- and the harsh reality of things outside of your control , like changes in management. There’s that lovely event of new management coming in, and deciding it’s going to be a whole new world- which means getting rid of parts of the old one. My last station ended up in a situation like that- a new station manageress was coming in, and , in a newspaper article, revealed her plans for a new news show at a certain time. Unfortunately, it was the current time that my show was on.(Yes- in this business, it is not uncommon to first find out you’re on your way out or fired by reading it in a newspaper!) While certain management people were giving me the “oh, you’re jumping to conclusions” speech, as soon as the new boss came in, it became apparent that I’d be going. She never once spoke to me, even when I said “hello” to her. Television- the business with a heart! So, no matter how successful your shows were- no matter how good the ratings were- no matter how you proved yourself (like, say, becoming a weatherman, and doing any number of different jobs successfully)- once you were part of the station’s “old image” and not part of the bold new vision for the station, awayyy you went!!! I feel pretty fortunate to be at a station with people running it who are totally different from people like I’ve mentioned above- I guess the bottom line is, they’re real people. Sure, the business aspect is involved, but the human part of it is always evident here. I was reminded of that when recently, a guy who was a good weatherman, well-liked, and obviously doing a good job- found himself suddenly out at the station he’d been at for several years. It’s the same thing with radio stations- you never know when someone in control has a “better” idea- whether it really is better or not- and you’re out of a job in the blink of an eye. Many times, you’re not even given the chance to say goodbye to the loyal people who tuned in your programs- or, to say thank you to them for their support. Maybe you’ve noticed that I do say thank you every once in a while- I guess it’s from old habits, just in case. As I said, though, I’m happy and fortunate to be at a station that has real people at the helm. And- remember- it doesn’t hurt for YOU to thank them for keeping the shows you like on the air. People always have a tendency to write or call when they want to complain, but , not as often when they like things. Remember, you can contact me with either view point of my shows- svengoolie@wciu.com - meanwhile, may you never read about your upcoming unemployment in a newspaper article!