We knew he was going places…

“Be nice to your interns, because some day they may grow-up to regulate you.”
Best wishes to FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell, who, along with Chairman Julius Genachowski, has announced he’s retiring from the Commission.
THE oldest, of many, consultant jokes: “Those who can’t DO, teach.”
I coach talk radio hosts, yet I myself never hosted…
…until I guest-hosted The Jim Bohannon Show; and my very first guest was The Commish himself.

…or, as we called him in my 1985 WTOP newsroom, “Rob the Intern.”

Yes, Washington bigshots THIS big really DO carry a badge.

Smerconish: Canary in Talk Radio’s coal mine?

“Too white, too male, too angry and too old.”
Talk Radio’s audience, in-the-estimation-of Michael Smerconish.
That same demographic wasn’t enough to win Mitt Romney the White House, the candidate himself admitted in his first post-election interview.
That same week, the only Republican talker who has interviewed President Obama announced his exit from a terrestrial radio arena he regards as doomed by its caricature.

READ, in Talkers: Why SiriusXM is the right move for Smerconish, and what this says about Talk Radio.

“Time Management?” FORGET IT!

Time cannot be managed. Tasks can.
Whenever we install a new PD at a client station, I share four techniques I myself have found darn helpful over my own years of dancing-as-fast-as-I-could in several over-tasked management positions.

Are you squandering 10 PRECIOUS seconds?

Does your station air play-by-play?
If you subscribe to my monthly newsletter, you’ve read my scoffing-about the on-hour ID message I heard in a Yankees game on WCBS.
The voice of a Yankee player comes on to tell us that we’re listening to the Yankees station.
Duh.
I was reminded of that when I encountered this, in the market:

Are you making-the-most-of those 10 seconds?
It’s beach front property.
Why squander it on announcing-the-obvious?
Many listeners might only cume your station because you have the game. If you could tell them ANOTHER REASON to use your station, what would it be?
Based on experience, I outline a successful tactic we’ve implemented at lots of client stations, on page 4 of the May 2012 issue. It’s one of an-entire-year-of back issues you’ll get, as a bonus, when you subscribe.

How-specifically can you invite listening?

Because parking around Tropicana Field is like playing a board game, many Tampa Rays fans exit early. Because their team has taught ‘em that it-ain’t-over-’til-it’s-over, these signs, above exit doors, are smart tactical promotion.