Thought some of you might enjoy this Crawdaddy article

The author of this piece comes off a bit naive to me. The Clear Channel cluster he describes had locally based airstaff. He considers it an oddity that these people voicetracked; yet if he had more knowledge about radio today, I think that he would have considered it a luxury that local airstaff were used at all.

When you sell your soul to the devil. what do you expect. and what good will his college degree do him. do you want fries with that.

Wow, surprised that they didn't move him into part time traffic. If he would have been female, there would have been a mid day, or morning sidekick position waiting after the internship.

CC seems to have no problem throwing recent grad interns on the air in markets far above what their talent level would suggest. But then, how much talent does one need to read liner cards?

Over 40 = Over qualified even if you were wiling to accept the same money.

If Clear Channel was the only company to return his calls, he should be more grateful (or should figure out why nobody else called him back).

The author also admits they waited around until the last minute to get an internship. Not a good idea considering the degree is in "Communications."

It reads to me like a piece written by a radio insider that tries its best not to look like a piece that was written by a radio insider.

Or maybe the author IS that good of a writer and should be recruited by Tom Parker to school frresshie and others on how to write proper English.

Shhesh. Why are you guys sticking up for Cheap Channel?

I think that this guy caught Clear Channel on a good day and it is completely beyond his comprehension that his experience could have been much worse. Seriously, what were his expectations? Did he think that working for a radio conglomerate would be like DJing at a college radio station with the bonus of getting a paycheck?

I always wanted the opportunity to learn "prize closet stocking" Most places I worked for the prizes were doled out to station employees and clients. Tickets if we got 10 pair, we gave two or three. CDs after everyone in the station got one if they wanted it, we gave away the rest Tshirts at my last place, the station thought they were gold and rarely gave one away... almost as tough to win a T as the lottery. They had a Dual spin prize wheel to play the birthday game it had to land on your month as well as day. Maybe two shirts max at a remote but everyone "won" a sticker. They also did plenty of "Win a chance to Enter to win" If you were the right caller and answered a question you would be entered into a drawing to be a contestant for some prize kind of slimy!

Not sticking up for CC. The writer admits they goofed when they tried to get an internship and waited around for the last minute, meaning he got the only one that called him back. If CC hadn't contacted him, the writer would've suffered whatever wrath the school would have for not having a required internship (dismissal, have to wait another year, etc.).

So he got a shot of reality. He can move on, now that his Idealisms are shot to Hell or twisted beyond reason. So as an intern what did he think he was gonnah do, anchor the morning show??? And nothing much has changed about hearing a Jock on the air and then knowing the Jock off air at work and realizing the dichotomous nature cold hard reality.

I feel his pain, as I experienced this type of super exasperating radio station existence once and stuck with it for several years. However, the agony is greater when you are 'old school' and actually know what radio used to be like vs. what it is like now.

I love college kids! So angry...

I think it was a great story, a snapshot taken on the decks of the Titanic!

(sing)
NEEEEAR FAR WHEREVER YOU ARE, I BELIEVE THAT THE HEART CAN GO ON!

God I pray that CC doesn't hop into the CBS buy....

OH GOD! If Clear Channel buys the Cbs stations than hell will have FROZEN OVER. Im also praying that Clear Channel doesn't get their hands on any CBS stations.

How many Portland stations could Clear Channel buy without running into ownership restrictions?

I've heard that Kupl and Kink could go to CC. I hope not.

2 - I'm a man of few digits(something to do with a hunting accident).

KINK being bought by Clear Channel sounds like a pretty scary prospect to me!

Intern guy might want to apply for the Tampa opening!

KINK being bought by Clear Channel sounds like a pretty scary prospect to me!

Why? CC has an excellent standarized format and quality out of market card reading/voicetrackers that will position KINK as one of the 20 best stations within the Portland market while strengthening their position as a solid chioce for ad revenue enhancement in a combination buy with existing stations. Add some solid syndicated talent from the Premiere stable, Fox news, and KINK could become another shell of it's former self as so many others before it have.

(cue mr. generic v/o guy)

"THIS IS THE FORMER LEGENDARY K-I-N-K Portland."
"Ittttt's SIX O'CLOCK. (music sounder) FOX news....

At the risk of being seen as not drinking the anti CC kool aid, I should point out that there are actually many stations around the country that have remained strong and viable and local under CC's ownership.

Might I suggest that the situation in PDX has more to do with local management decisions than with mandates from above.

yes and I am sorry to see Tony leave PDX...

and there are many stations under CC that were gutted despite solid local management.

When you own 1000 of something you tend to neglect details on an individual basis. Easier to plug in a generic template than address individual station issues........

yes thats true but there has to be someone local with the balls to stand up for a station that they believe in. if thats not the case and the station is not making money any owner group would do the same.

Unfortunately we all know that there are plenty of spineless yes men (and women) types in this business. Even more unfortunate is that they tend to rise to the top in this corporate culture....

See we agree on some things!

notalent--you must not be in the business. anytime a local manager stands up the the boss"he risks being let go. not being a "team player"

I have been in this business for 30 years.

I know that risk and take it every single day.

I would rather not work for someone who would let me go for standing up for what I believe.

...Even more unfortunate is that they tend to rise to the top in this corporate culture....

That I will NEVER UNDERSTAND!

...being let go. not being a "team player"

ooooh been there.

....I know that risk and take it every single day.
I would rather not work for someone who would let me go for standing up for what I believe.

My hat is off to you for that. DOUBLE bonus points if you've gone to bat for a co-worker with the same tenacity.

Actual conversation..... (edited for brevity)

"I'd like to.....
"NO."
"Why?"
"I said so."

Fun place to work?

"I would rather not work for someone who would let me go for standing up for what I believe."

Hear, hear!

Doing that is just not worth it --ever.

---> and for those thinking that's message board BS, know I've walked more than once over that! You adapt, you get over it, and you sleep well.

(F)or those thinking that's message board BS, know I've walked more than once over that!
I should've done that a few times, but didn't because I figured I should put in my two weeks instead, just in case the place would say bad things about me. I was ready to get let go right then and there, but that didn't happen.
Then, recently, I found out there are a total of THREE things a previous employer can provide to anyone requesting the information:
1. Ending position
2. Ending pay
3. Length of time employed
They can't say why someone no longer works there.

You forgot the KEY question that tells me all I want to know about you as a hiring manager:

"Is this person eligible for rehire?"

Typically, if terminated, you're not. If you left on bad terms, you're not. Circumstances beyond your control, like a cutback, you are.

Every HR person I've ever checked a reference with has answered that question.

And this is why we network. Having a pool of contacts that know you, what you stand for and who can vouch for you is worth gold.

Agreed! And conversely, having a "farm team" of potential employees when you need one is, too!

I'm inactively recruiting all the time...old habit from managing much bigger teams than I do now...those relationships allow both of us to informally interview each other well before the need arises.

From what I've heard, asking about eligibility for rehire is illegal.

"MAY WE CONTACT THIS EMPLOYER?"

YES___ NO___

Intern, please get them to change 620 from Airhead America back to oldies music, OK??asap!!also, get them to drop the HD from KEX!!!!too much noise!!!